Barnett-Strother Funeral Home History

The Barnett-Strother Funeral Home was founded in 1922 as the Barnett Funeral Home by Mr. Tom Barnett and Mr. Delmont Utley. This was the first funeral business in Hopkins Co. run strictly as a funeral home. The original building was at 109 S. Main St. where the Masonic

Funeral Home at 108 S. Main St.

Building is now. In 1924 Mr. Utley sold his interest to Ben Slaton and the business was moved across the street to what was then the W. A. Morton House at 108 S. Main St. This site is now the present location of York Neel & Co and was previously Madisonville First Federal Savings & Loan. Mr. Slaton then sold his part of the business to Mr. Barnett. Mr. Barnett died in 1931 and his widow Mrs. Mourning Hall Barnett continued to run the business. Over the next few years she, her stepson, William L. Barnett and her daughters, Mrs. Elizabeth "Betty" Barnett Schmetzer and Mrs. Mary Jo Barnett Crumbaker, all helped in the running of the funeral home.

Mr. & Mrs. Strother

Mr. W. Fred Strother started the W. Fred Strother Funeral Home in July of 1938 at 406 S. Main St. which was on the south corner of Hall St. and South Main St.. Mr. and Mrs. Strother closed the funeral home and sold off the equipment and the building in 1941 preparing to go into the military service. Mr. Strother was turned down for the service because of physical problems so they moved to Henderson, KY where he worked for the Rudy Rowland Funeral Home until returning to Madisonville in 1943. They then bought the Barnett Funeral Home on May 11, 1949 from Mrs. Barnett. The name was changed to the Barnett-Strother Funeral Home so as to distinguish it from the William L. Barnett Funeral Services run by Mrs. Barnett's stepson. The funeral home was then completely renovated and redecorated. It was equipped with all the very latest equipment and offered a 24 hour ambulance service to the entire county.

Funeral Home at 304 S. Main St.

In 1955 the Strother's bought 406 S. Main St. from Mrs. Amelia Ruby and moved back into their original funeral home. The address had been changed to 304 S. Main St. The funeral home stayed there until June 15, 1969.

The business was then moved to 2285 N. Main St. where a new funeral home had been built. The Strothers were told at that time that it would never be a success because it was just too far out of town; about five minutes from the center of town.

Mr. W. Fred Strother died May 15, 1975 and Mrs. Artie Mae Strother died December 28, 1991.

Today the funeral home is owned and operated by Steve & Charlene Clark Carson. Steve started to work for the funeral home full time, July 15, 1969 and is a licensed funeral director and embalmer. Charlene started June 1, 1983 and is a licensed funeral director.

They are joined by a staff of dedicated individuals. Tom Hemmerle, Kerri Oldham and Wayne Burton are all licensed funeral directors and embalmers and Matthew Tolbert is serving his apprenticeship.