Mr. Earl Mack Shaw Jr., president/CEO Stephenson-Shaw Funeral Home, passed away, today.
He was 61.
Stephenson-Shaw Funeral Home, Inc. was initially established under the name of M.J. Stephenson Funeral Home. It was founded, by the late Mr. Mack Stephenson on June 6, 1937, in a sincere and successful effort to provide the Madison County community, quality service in their times of bereavement.
Following his passing, Mrs. Evelyn D. Stephenson, also a licensed Embalmer and Funeral Director, worked untiringly and courageously to fulfill the ideals of her late husband. It was this passion for service that led Mrs. Stephenson to recognize the dire need of reliable mortuary service for the people of Chester County and adjacent communities. In 1952, a branch Funeral Home equipped with spacious Chapel facilities to accommodate visitations and funerals were established in Henderson, Tennessee.
Mrs. Stephenson’s quest to provide the community with excellence in funeral care perhaps achieved its finest accomplishment when Mr. Earl M. Shaw, Sr. and Daisy Trotter Shaw became Co-Owners on July 1, 1954. Mr. Shaw of Jackson, Tennessee, was a Licensed Mortician graduating from Lane College, and The New York School of Embalming and Restorative Art. Mr. Earl Shaw, was a true pillar of the community, and was notably experienced in the field of Mortuary Science.
However, it was the steadfast dedication to the concerns of the people that served as the cornerstone in making Stephenson Shaw Funeral Home, Inc. Jackson’s premier choice for funeral services. He along with his wife, Mrs. Daisy T. Shaw, and Mr. Lewis T. Brantley, Sr., a close family friend and licensed Funeral Director, worked as a team to provide the community with excellence.
The son of Mr. & Mrs. Shaw, Earl M. Shaw, Jr. received his license as a Funeral Director in 1978 before graduating from Morehouse College in 1982. Later that same year he attended John A. Gupton College and received his Associative Arts degree in Mortuary Science in 1984. After earning his Embalmer’s License he assumed the position of Chief Executive Officer of Stephenson-Shaw Funeral Home, Inc. and began to work directly with his father.
After the passing of Mrs. Daisy T. Shaw in 1984, and Mr. Earl M. Shaw, Sr. three years later; their son, Earl M. Shaw, Jr. assumed the responsibilities of President and Chief Executive Officer.
With the full support of his wife, Beverly Wade Shaw, Chief Administrative Officer and his sisters, Essie Shaw Woods, Earline Shaw Williams and Stella Shaw Wilson who are Licensed Funeral Directors, Earl has led the company in the tradition of excellence begun by his father.
Together they serve families in seven counties of West Tennessee.
(PHOTO: Earl Mack Shaw)
