Floyd Co. citizens respond to Maberry’s passing

By Roger Mannon
The Floyd Press
Published: July 3, 2008

When Carlin Maberry died, people responded in his family’s hour of need, just like he had done for them, for over half a century, at Maberry Funeral Home.

In addition to the families he had touched, Maberry was honored by funeral home directors throughout the region. “It was an overwhelming response,” JoAnn Maberry, his widow, noted. “We’ve gotten hundreds of cards. We haven’t been able to count them all.”

Maberry Funeral Home started in Willis in 1927 when Carlin was a boy. It was moved to Floyd in 1936. Carlin began working in the family business in 1951. He became manager in 1960 and president in 1992.

Country funeral customs evolved over the years, said Rodney Thomas, who worked with Carlin. “The family used to get a casket and have the visitation in their home, and then we’d take care of the burial. Now it is all done here.”

In 2003 Carlin was cited by the Virginia Funeral Directors Association for his 52 years of service. He was Past President of the Southwest Virginia Funeral Directors Association and Board Member of the Virginia Funeral Directors Association.

He was also known for community services. Even before the county had a formal Rescue Squad, he provided ambulance services.

When the county’s Rescue Squad was formed in 1974, Carlin was a charter member. “We were so glad to see that happen,” Jo Ann said. “We would take people to the hospital at all hours of the day and night. We’d go to Roanoke, Galax, Stuart, Martinsville.”

Carlin also worked with the volunteer fire department, serving as an officer for many years. Fire calls would be sent from the funeral home.

“He was a very generous, giving person, who helped people night or day, with no thought of himself,” said Richard Thomas, a minister who worked with Carlin. “He had a giving, caring way and wasn’t someone who wanted glory or prestige for himself.”

His daughter, Mitzi Roberson, said her father “was the only person I knew who would wear a suit to a funeral, wear a suit to fight a fire, and wear a suit to work in the garden.”

Jo Ann said her husband didn’t have any hobbies or interests outside of work. “He didn’t care about hunting or fishing or ball games. He was always working.”

The family did like to travel and attended state and national conventions for funeral directors. “We never did understand why he was always calling back home to check on things, and why we sometimes had to cut short our trips,” said his daughter Ann Phillips.

Carlin never took a lunch break. “All he would ever have would be a pack of Nabs and a Coke; he was known for that,” Jo Ann said. “So when we had the meal after his funeral, that’s what we served. Coke and Nabs.”