Our staff provides excellent funeral planning services
We have years of experience caring for families from all walks of life, cultures and faiths. Our unsurpassed staff and our family provide kind, caring, professional service. Each family comes to us because they know we are leaders in our profession who are dedicated to excellence in service, adhere to the highest funeral industry standards, and have exceptional integrity. We consistently earn phenomenally high customer satisfaction survey results.
Our licensed, professional staff is here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please call 910-582-4011 anytime. We will even come to you to make arrangements in the comfort of your home.
Prompt, compassionate service is always just a phone call away, where and when you need it.
Managing Partner/ NC & SC Funeral Service License
Chad Woody was born and raised in South Carolina; he came to live in Richmond County in March 1995 when he was hired by Walter T. Stephenson at Watson-King Funeral Home. Chad became a Funeral Service Licensee in March 1996. Chad joined the Richmond Memorial Park team in April 2011 as Managing Partner and has his North Carolina Cemetery License. He lives in Hamlet with his wife, the former Julie Venable, daughter of Carole Venable and the late Ronnie Venable, and their three sons, Nic, Chase and Trent.
Chad graduated from St. Johns High School in Darlington, South Carolina in 1993 and from Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service in Atlanta, Georgia in February 1995. While in high school, Chad earned his Eagle Scout title and also became member of the Order of the Arrow Brotherhood.
Chad attends Marks Creek Presbyterian Church in Hamlet; he is a member and President of the Rockingham Kiwanis Club and also Seaboard Festival Planning Committee in Hamlet. In his spare time, Chad enjoys watching University of Georgia Bulldogs Football, playing golf, and fishing and hunting, along with spending time with his family. Chad is the son of Kenneth and Eloise Woody of Santee, South Carolina.
NC Funeral Service License
James H. “Jimmy” Eason son of the late James and Kathryn Eason was born and grew up in Hamlet. After graduation from Hamlet High School he received his A.S. Degree in Mortuary Science from Miami-Dade School of Mortuary Science in Miami, Fla. While attending school he was employed with Joseph B. Cofer funeral home in Miami, Fla. Jimmy has many years of experience in funeral service and is a licensed N.C. Funeral Director and Embalmer. He joined the staff of Powell Funeral Home in Southern Pines in 1972. In 1983 he became manager of Edwards Funeral Home in Kinston, N.C. where he later became Owner and President. In 2017 he retired from Edwards Funeral Home and sold the business. After retiring he stayed on for one year to assist the new owner then relocated back to Richmond County. He has been employed with Watson-King Funeral Homes in Rockingham and Hamlet since 2018. He is married to the former Janice Boroughs of Southern Pines. They reside here in Richmond County. Jim follows NC State Sports and a long time member the Wolf Pack Club.
NC Funeral Service License
Tom Stephenson is a native of Richmond County and the son of the late Walter and Jane Stephenson, the former owners of Watson-King. He is a graduate of North Carolina State University with degrees in Economics and Business.
Prior to returning home, Tom spent 18 years in Human Resources with an Engineering and Construction group on projects ranging from nuclear power, to pulp and paper, to chemicals.
Tom began work with Watson-King in 1997. He completed the course work in Mortuary Science at Fayetteville Technical Community College, where he was named a J. M. Nolte Scholar for Academic Excellence. Tom became fully licensed to practice funeral service in 1999.
Tom is married to the former Libba Williamson, and they reside in Hamlet.
NC Funeral Service License
Amarinda
Wilmot was born in North Carolina and raised in numerous states. Coming from a
military family, Amarinda spent many of her adolescent years in Florida and
Washington State. After relocating back to North Carolina with her family, she
would go on to graduate from Fayetteville Technical Community College with her
A.S. In Funeral Services July 2022. Along with completing her degree, she has
also achieved a certification in Anatomical Embalming.
When Amarinda is not busy with work and school she likes to spend time with her family, or she’s occupied with a new art project. Amarinda dabbles in various mediums but loves sculpting and portrait work the best. She enjoys being able to use her creative and unique skills to offer personalized care to families that have lost a loved one.
Funeral Service Student
James Mims was born and raised
in Ellerbe, by his parents Frank and Jessica Mims. James attended Temple
Christian School beginning in kindergarten, until his graduation in 2022. James
has since completed classes at Richmond Community College and is currently
enrolled in Fayetteville Technical Community College where he is working to
obtain his License in Funeral Services. James first came to work with
Watson-King Funeral Homes in May of 2022, and in November of that same year he
began his full-time employment with the funeral home and with Richmond County
Memorial Park.
James is a member of Victory Baptist
Church in Lilesville, North Carolina, and many Sundays James can be found
bringing the word in the county and surrounding areas at churches in need of
someone to fill the pulpit.
James highly enjoys spending time with his
extended family. James is blessed with three sets of grandparents in his life.
His maternal grandparents, John and Linda “Faye” Hatcher, and on his father’s
side, his grandparents Frank Mims Sr. and Kathy Mims, and his
great-grandparents Danny and Jane “Honey” Mims.
James enjoys being able to work in a field
in which he can firsthand see the positive affect that he and all within the
funeral field have on the families that they have the honor of serving. James
also enjoys being able to officiate funerals when a family is in need of a
minister.
In his spare time, James enjoys doing
photography and other volunteer work for Richmond County Hospice, spending time
reading, studying for sermons and just being in the county with the public he
has grown to love over his lifetime here. James is always easy to spot by all
who know him for he is never seen without his cowboy boots or his hat.