Longtime Funeral Director and Local Businessman to Open Heritage Funeral Home

James Cannon and Andy Byrd to Carry on 132-year Family Tradition

FOUNTAIN Inn, SC – January 12, 2012 – Longtime funeral director James A. Cannon and local businessman Andy Byrd have established Heritage Funeral Home to offer traditional, graveside, cremation and memorial funeral services for the families served.

James Cannon is nationally recognized for his expertise in the industry, serving as a member of the National Selected Morticians, and for having held numerous officer positions over the years with the National Funeral Directors’ Association, the South Carolina Funeral Directors’ Association, the South Carolina Cemetery Association and the Southern Cemetery Association.

The Cannon name is synonymous with quality funeral care, and James Cannon, a third-generation funeral director, is well-known in the Upstate for his professionalism and caring for families that are faced with creating an appropriate remembrance for a loved one.

“My grandfather Jim Cannon founded the Cannon Funeral Home in Fountain Inn in 1879,” Cannon explained. “We understand that each person’s death is unique to their family and friends, and Heritage Funeral Home is committed to providing the highest level of grief support and professional funeral care to the families we serve.”

Above photo: Andy Byrd, James Cannon, who will serve as Senior Funeral Director and Mrs.Carol Cannon Hopkins

Heritage Funeral Home is a partnership with James Cannon, who will serve as Senior Funeral Director, and Andy Byrd, who has been a longtime friend of the Cannon family and business associate of Al Cannon, James’ son. Together, Byrd and Cannon and Mrs. Carol Cannon Hopkins strive to ensure the continued commitment of attention to families served that the Cannons provided for decades.

“I have been in the funeral business since I graduated from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 1949, and it’s been my lifelong calling,” Cannon added. “Whether it’s an unexpected loss or the expected celebration of a life well lived, helping families navigate through these arrangements demands a dedication and compassion that have been hallmarks of my family’s name since 1879. I am pleased to be working with Andy and Carol to revive this personalized tradition to support members of the surrounding communities as they thoughtfully deal with the loss of their loved one.”

Byrd added, “Having the opportunity to partner with the Cannon family to continue what they started in 1879 is an incredible opportunity for all of us involved to continue to serve the community. I feel extremely blessed.”

Heritage Funeral Home is currently remodeling the former Seacoast Church, located at 2307 Highway 14 in Simpsonville. Heritage Funeral Home will be conveniently located near the intersection of Woodruff Road and Highway 14, and is adjacent to Graceland East Memorial Park Cemetery.

In addition to providing traditional funeral services to area residents, Heritage Funeral Home will also offer cremation and grief support services, including individualized counseling and referral services.