Meet a Funeral Director: Michell Sharpley-McCarver
How long have you worked at Sharpley McCarver Funeral Home? How did you first get into the profession?
I've been working in death care for over 15 years and am very passionate about the families I serve and the loved ones I'm taking care of on their behalf. I started working with my father in the business that he started over 40 years ago. I will be honest I had no interest in being in the business but as I grew older I grew to love learning from him about the death car business. I opened Sharpley McCarver Funeral Home in April 2025 in Quinton, Alabama
What is your job like? What are you responsible for in a typical week?
Funeral directing is pretty demanding, but also extremely satisfying. The administrative side of the job is fairly straightforward, but the families provide endless stories, scenarios, and variety. The real pressure comes with the seriousness of the responsibilities. There is no room for mistakes. Funeral directors are here to take the burden of details out of the families hands so they can have space to grieve and start the process of adjusting to a new normal. I tell the families that I am here to do all the heavy lifting for them so they will not have to worry about anything. Here at Sharpley McCarverFuneral Home we offer a variety of services : Traditional Funerals, Cremation, Memorial Services, Green Burials, Monuments, Notary Services, Pre-Arrangements, In-Home Arrangements. We try to offer affordable services for everyone. Here at SharpleyMcCarver Funeral Home our motto is "Where Service Is An Everlasting Memory" and we try to honor that with every family we serve in the community.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of my job is making connections with a family and gaining their trust. I love hearing stories about the descendants I'm serving. I would never have known these people. This is my opportunity to know who they were.I also really appreciate the honesty of emotion people have when I'm helping them. It is not like other customer service or interactions. There is not a lot of room for facades when someone is trying to receive help for a loved one that has recently passed. The purity of emotion, whether it be hostile or gracious, is refreshing and centering for me.
What do you wish more people knew about funerals and cemeteries?
One of the things I wish people knew about funerals, and maybe they do, is that funeral homes are here to guide you. This is your loved one and you have the right to honor their life however you see fit.
What was the most memorable burial that you've helped with?
My most memorable burial was for a lady that was in the nursing home and everyone there was told that she did not have any family but they knew what her final wishes were. I did my due diligence and found her child and I had to inform him that his mother had passed away. The deceased's last wish was to be buried next to her husband and that is exactly what we helped her child to do for her. With doing that it was a proud memorable moment knowing that we helped carry out the last wish for their loved one.
Do you have any thoughts or recommendations for people who are grieving?
My recommendation would be to slow down and breath deeply You do not have to get everything right on the first day If you don't know, ask questions to the funeral director Take the time to grieve
Is there anything else that you'd like to share with our audience?
Thank you all for taking the time to read this and considering our company for your loved ones. I hope that I have given some helpful information.
