COVID-19 Update: Our family and team remain ready to serve you 24/7.
Call 1-828-464-1555 if a death has occurred or to plan ahead.
Learn more about what we are doing to keep our families safe.
View our "Stay at Home Arrangement Helper"
Our Staff
Carl Jenkins
Owner/ Manager
A graduate of NC Wesleyan College and the department
of funeral service education at Fayetteville Community College, Jenkins opened
in 2004, with his wife Lori, Jenkins Funeral Home.
He is fulfilling his
life’s passion of guiding families in their difficult times. He has a lifetime of
community service, having been a member of various service clubs. In 1988, he
founded The Widowed Persons Organization and helped start similar groups at
funeral homes across the region.
Carl’s focus is family. His service to local families
proves his compassion for the needs of those suffering a loss.
Lori Jenkins
Owner
"I am experiencing a reward beyond words by
working side-by-side with my husband Carl. We truly have something unique to
offer our families: A husband and wife team that care for the community and the
families. We value your support and thank you for allowing us the opportunity
to show you how we uniquely serve your family."
Lori is a Fred T. Foard graduate and a NC licensed
insurance agent. She invites all her friends and classmates to call upon
Jenkins Funeral Home for the best in service.
Ben Jenkins
Assistant Manager/Funeral Service Licensee
"I have been around funeral service all my life.
Since I have been working at our family firm, I am learning so much about how
to truly serve families correctly. My dad is a professional and a Christian and
I am so fortunate to be learning from the best."
Ben joined the family firm full-time in 2013. He
is a 2006 graduate of Newton-Conover High School and a 2012 graduate
from College of Funeral Service. He is a NC Funeral Service
Licensee (funeral director/embalmer). He
is proficient in his work and family service skills. He and his wife Meghan
(Bush) have a son, Tucker and a daughter Anderson. They make their home in North West Hickory.
Kim Pugh
Aftercare Coordinator
"It is great to work with a family funeral
home where decisions are made quickly in the best interest of the family, I
invite anyone wishing to plan ahead and also those that may already have
existing plans elsewhere, to give me a call and let us provide tremendous
savings to your family."
She has extensive experience in cemetery and advance funeral funding as
well as helping families in follow-up activities and offerings as a way of
maintaining complete family satisfaction. Kim joined our staff in 2013 as an
Aftercare Coordinator. She and her family are members of Huntington Hills
Church of God and they live in Newton.
Amanda Bailey Ward
Funeral Director
Amanda graduated from Hickory High School and Lenoir-Rhyne University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Health. She has worked in Health Care since graduation. She previously joined our staff as an Aftercare Coordinator and recently has obtained a Funeral Director's License. She and her husband, Nathan have a son, Oliver, are Hickory natives and are members of Corinth Reformed Church in Hickory.
"In the time that I have worked with
Jenkins Funeral Home I have witnessed endless acts of compassion from all the
staff, it is a true blessing to have the opportunity to work with such a caring
organization. I am eager to help walk your family through this most difficult time. I encourage you to visit Jenkins Funeral Home and witness for
yourself the true love and compassion this family has for the families and
community we serve."
Aaron Causby
Funeral Director
Aaron is serving as a licensed funeral director and chaplain. He is the pastor of the Connelly Springs Freewill Baptist Church. He graduated from Catawba Valley Community College in 2014 with his Associate Degree of Nursing, and he is a recent graduate of the funeral directing program at Fayetteville Technical Community College. He and his wife, Allison reside in Connelly Springs along with their son, Elisha. Aaron loves to minister to families and will often play the piano and officiate services.
"I am humbled and honored to serve alongside the Jenkins family. The people I work with are genuinely compassionate and serve each family with dignity and respect."
Linda Cooper
Front Desk/ Pet Family Specialist
Linda is the first person one sees when visiting Jenkins Funeral Home and the first voice one hears when calling our office. She offers the soothing voice of compassion that a grieving family expects. In addition, Her love of animals of all sizes provides our pet families the same love. Linda is our pet family Specialist. She makes us all feel comfortable in a sometimes unsettling vocation.
Many remember Linda as the former owner of Dad's Place Restaurant in Hickory, where she is famous for her chicken salad. To no avail, we all try to capture that secret recipe from her. She is now with us at "daughter's place." (Linda is the mother of Lori Cooper Jenkins, co-owner of Jenkins Funeral Home.)
Pete Hager
Administrative Assistant / Funeral Assistant
"I am pleased to help families and I derive great
joy in doing so. It is a pleasure working at the funeral home with such great
staff."
Pete is a lifetime Catawba County resident. He
is a member of Gateway Baptist Church in Newton. He and his wife, Treva (Miss
Treva's Dance Studio) live in Conover.
Mike Groce
Funeral Assistant
“It is a pleasure being a part of a caring
organization. I never realized how much goes into putting together a meaningful
ceremony until now. Jenkins Funeral Home goes well beyond what is expected and
we are able to do it at a very reasonable cost. Having worked in textile
management and sales, I understand the pressures of operating a business and
trying to balance the needs of both the public and the company. Our team at
Jenkins does a good job with that. Our service reflects it and our costs
reflect it.”
Jeannine Glaze
Receptionist
"Having worked in the funeral profession for many
years at another funeral home, I found it the most rewarding work of my career.
I feel like I am back home now... working with the Jenkins family."
"Jeannine is one of the most compassionate people
I know and we are fortunate to have her be a part of our team." -
Carl Jenkins
George Biscos
Funeral Assistant
“I want to invite my Romanian and Slavic friends to
visit with us at Jenkins. We are here to help you with services that will
accommodate our culture. I am personally aware of the needs to the Romanian and
Slavic communities and am here to work with you when you need us.”
Nhia Khang
Hmong liaison/ Funeral Assistant
“The Hmong families appreciate having a Hmong person
help them with services. Jenkins Funeral Home is a friend to the Hmong people.
No other funeral home caters to our needs as Jenkins. Therefore, for many
years, 100% of the traditional and many Christian Hmong families rely on
Jenkins Funeral Home."
Howard Cooper
Funeral Assistant
“What a joy it is to work with my daughter and
son-in-law at the funeral home. I have the opportunity to meet new people as
well as help serve so many people whom I am already acquainted. I 'd like
to invite all my friends from the trucking industry to seek information about
pre-planning with our family funeral home."
Audrey Cooper
Receptionist
"In my role as office assistant, I find it
rewarding to help keep things going smoothly and well organized.
Working within our son-in-law and daughter's family business is truly
satisfying."
IN MEMORY Rocky Hager
Funeral Assistant
Rocky was a lifelong resident of Newton-Conover. He had vast service experience working with funeral homes in the area. Rocky is
retired owner of 4Speed Auto Parts and has worked with other parts stores in
the area.