Last Updated on October 20, 2026 6:15 am
NEWLAND — Reins‑Sturdivant Funeral Home will celebrate the grand reopening of its fully renovated Newland facility on Tuesday, October 20, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., marking a significant milestone in Avery County’s ongoing recovery from Hurricane Helene. A ribbon‑cutting with the Avery County Chamber of Commerce and a dedication prayer will take place at 5:00 p.m. Guided tours of the renovated funeral home at 296 Ash Street will be offered, and guests will be treated to a full BBQ dinner.
Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm, struck Avery County on September 27, 2024, causing the most severe flooding in the county’s history. Nearly 100% of residents were initially without power, and six lives were tragically lost. The funeral home sustained extensive damage, requiring a complete relocation of operations and a long‑term rebuilding effort.
For the past two years, Reins‑Sturdivant staff have continued serving families from a temporary location at 508 Pineola Street in Newland. When families wanted to hold services in a church but weren’t affiliated with one locally, Newland Presbyterian Church generously opened its doors and provided a dignified setting. All preparation and care of loved ones were handled at Tetrick Funeral Home in Elizabethton, Tennessee, approximately forty minutes away.
“With every challenge, our focus remained on ensuring families received the same level of compassion, dignity, and care they have trusted for generations,” said Garrick Smith, Location Manager. “This reopening is not only about restoring a building—it’s about restoring a home for the community.”
The renovated funeral home features a dedicated reception area, an enhanced planning center, and updated spaces designed to support modern funeral service needs while preserving the warmth and familiarity families expect.
As part of the reopening, Smith expressed deep gratitude for the team who carried the funeral home through its most difficult period. “Debbie Gragg and Sheri Cornett stood by us from the very beginning after Helene, providing stability and compassion when everything around us had changed. And over the past four months, Bruce Shomaker and Missy Baird have worked tirelessly to help reestablish our operations. I could not have done this without them—their resilience and heart are a defining part of our recovery.”
From its beginnings in the early 1900s as Hughes Funeral Home to its evolution into a cornerstone of compassionate service in Avery County, Reins‑Sturdivant has remained committed to innovation and community care. A modern facility was constructed on Ash Street in 1989, and throughout the 1990s and 2000s the funeral home continued to advance its offerings, including early adoption of webcasting capabilities.
“We are honored to welcome the community back into this space,” added Smith. “Reins‑Sturdivant has stood beside Avery County families for more than a century, and this reopening represents both resilience and renewal.”
The public is invited to attend the grand reopening and open house. For more information, please contact Reins‑Sturdivant Funeral Home at (828) 733-2121 or visit www.rsfh.net.
