H.R. No. 662
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Hawthorn Funeral Home is celebrating its 100th
anniversary in 2021, and this occasion presents a welcome
opportunity to reflect on the many contributions this respected
business has made to the community of Carthage; and
WHEREAS, Members of the Hawthorn family first came to Panola
County in the 1860s, and in 1921, one of the descendants of the
original settlers, Stephen Adolphus "Tebe" Hawthorn, founded
Hawthorn Hardware and Company, which also sold caskets and rented a
horse drawn wagon for use as a hearse; Tebe Hawthorn's son Neal
later joined the business, and he eventually turned his home on West
Wellington Street into Hawthorn Funeral Home, the first
full-service undertaking business in Panola County, offering
livery, caskets, embalming, and funeral direction from one
location; and
WHEREAS, The family went on to hire Mark Osborne, a licensed
funeral director and embalmer, and after Neal Hawthorn died in
1947, Mr. Osborne continued to run the business; in 1965, he
oversaw an expansion of the facilities, adding a full sanctuary, a
music room, private family seating, and the building's distinctive
formal colonnade; he married Neal Hawthorn's widow, Alice, in 1968,
and together the couple operated the funeral home until their
retirement in 1975; and
WHEREAS, In the following years, the funeral home changed
hands several times, until it was purchased by Carlton Shamburger,
who started at the mortuary as an apprentice funeral director in the
1990s and rose to become manager and funeral director in charge;
guided by the experience of former owner Mark Osborne and longtime
employees Don Honeycutt and Melvin Johns, Mr. Shamburger took over
the business and oversaw a renovation of the building; and
WHEREAS, Today, Hawthorn Funeral Home is owned and operated
by the Shamburger Family Partnership LP, which includes
Mr. Shamburger's children, Katherine, Meredith, and Benjamin, who
help to carry on the long-standing traditions of this historic
Panola County enterprise; the legacy of the Hawthorn family is
maintained by the granddaughters of Neal Hawthorn, Beth and
Barbara; and
WHEREAS, For the past century, Hawthorn Funeral Home has
played an invaluable role in the lives of countless families in
Carthage and Panola County, and it is fitting that this notable
enterprise be recognized for its compassionate and dedicated
service; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Hawthorn Funeral Home on its
centennial and extend to all those associated with the business
sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Hawthorn Funeral Home as an expression of high regard
by the Texas House of Representatives.
Paddie
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 662 was adopted by the House on April
23, 2021, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House