Purcell
But Purcell's years in business are extensive and varied.
"I was selling sunflower seeds when I was six,"said the director of Purcell Funeral Home on North King Street. "Then I sold those nameplates for bicycles when I was a little older."
Purcell also ran a small bike shop as a young teen, repairing bikes for other children. He hired other children to work for him.
Purcell also drove a school bus from his sophomore year in high school through graduation.
By the age of 14, Purcell was working on bikes at Western Auto store in Raeford. A few years later, he was doing landscaping.
He also established the Humbolt Organization, a social association that helped families in times of need.
Purcell credited community support for his early business successes.
He then took a plunge and decided to go into funeral directing.
"I like helping people at the lowest part of their lives when they can't go anymore," Purcell said.
He attended Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Services in Atlanta in 1985, becoming a licensed funeral director at 22.
This was something of a struggle for Purcell. For most, being a mortician is a family art, passed down through the generations. People get their knowledge of the industry and eventually a funeral home through their family.
Purcell had to start from scratch, which is not easy in a less-than inviting profession.
Purcell said that of the 150 people who were in his class when he started funeral service school, only 35 to 45 graduated. Of that, only a fraction went into the business, he said.
Purcell worked in Atlanta for a while before starting his own funeral home in Southern Pines in 1995. He opened the funeral home in Laurinburg in 2006.
There have been a lot of changes in the industry since Purcell started in 1985.
"They are personalizing more," Purcell said. he pointed to DVD players, refreshments, even catering, as some examples of this phenomenon.
The process of buying caskets have changed, too.
People used to order caskets from cabinet makers. Now, people order them through cabinet stores, sometimes in person, sometimes online. The caskets are being made out of country more and more, especially in China.
Purcell also said that corporate funeral homes are becoming more common. He said that there are advantages to them, especially since a lot of funeral homes no longer embalm in-house. He said that a lot of money can be made in sales by family-owned funeral homes.
Laurinburg currently consists of family-owned funeral homes, which Purcell says he likes. He said that community value goes along with these smaller outfits.
Purcell also handles a lot more cremations than he used to.
"They're definitely on the rise," he says. "Normally, African Americans don't go for cremation, but based on the rising education level, they're more likely to use it."
Purcell said his business in Southern Pines had a great start. His funeral home was number one by his second year in business.
He has not captured that same success in Laurinburg, at least not yet. He gives a lot of credit to his top local competitor, Richard Boles, for being genial and out in the community.
However, Purcell plans to improve business the same way he has everywhere else he's been in business - get more involved in the community and continue to impress people with his professional attitude.
Purcell is married to his wife, Barbara. They've been together more than 20 years and have two sons, Dion, 23, and Kenrick, 21, and one daughter, Shire, 24.
Purcell's wife runs several Curves and the two together started McKeithen Family Care, and assisted-living facility in Vass, N.C.
Purcell's sons are following him into the funeral home business.
Along with these other businesses, Purcell also sells insurance and runs a limousine service.
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