Two Pines Funeral Home

The Two Pines Funeral Home had long been a respected fixture in a small, rural Carolina community before it was abandoned. Its reputation was tarnished, however, after state regulators uncovered improper handling of prepaid burial funds. In 2017, the state board received complaints from family members concerning prepaid funeral expenses.

The complaints prompted an unannounced inspection and audit of the funeral home’s records. During the investigation, regulators discovered discrepancies between the financial records and the business’s bank account. Funds that should have been reserved to cover future burial expenses had instead been diverted for other purposes, including the owner’s personal benefit.

As a result, the funeral home was placed on probation for three years. The sanctions also required the owner to complete additional training on the proper management of prepaid burial funds. Several months later, in 2018, a state inspector conducted a review of all prepaid burial contracts for which the funeral home served as trustee. The inspection revealed more than two dozen contracts had either not been properly filed with the state board or were missing required documentation.

In January 2019, the state board suspended the funeral home’s permits and licenses for prepaid burials for two years, through January 2021. The sanctions included a $3,000 fine payable within 30 days, an additional $500 fine for the owner, and a requirement that the owner complete training courses on prepaid burial regulations by 2021.

In July 2021, a state board inspector once again examined all the prepaid burial contracts that listed Two Pines as the trustee. The inspection uncovered a handful of contracts that were either improperly filed or not filed at all. As a result, the board voted to send a warning letter to the owner allowing him to fix his mistakes.

A follow-up examination in December 2021 noted that the issues discovered in July had not been rectified. A few months later, the board sent a letter, offering for the owner to attend classes and the case would be dropped. However, The owner never responded to the letter, or to a second letter sent in September 2022.

Although the owner attended some of the required classes, he failed to complete the coursework as mandated. Once the state board scheduled a hearing for July 2023, the owner completed the required training. Since he already failed to comply with the board’s 2019 suspension order, the additional violations in 2021 further complicated the matter.

In August 2023, the funeral home voluntarily surrendered its prepaid burial permit. This action marked a significant turning point in the establishment’s decline and was among the factors that contributed to its eventual closure and abandonment. The owner subsequently relocated his business to a neighboring town, where he continues to practice today. This funeral home was left behind, its doors closed and its future uncertain.

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