Roanoke Rapids daily herald., 1948-12-05
Stainback Was
First Weldon
Funeral Director
BY Janet SchnitEer

days? Let's travel down men,
ory lane to the year of 1876 when
Peter Nathaniel Stainback came
to Weldon as a preacher, mer-
chant and funeral director. The
hearses in those days were wag-
ons drawn by horses. Mr.. Stain
back would be away from home
three days sometime going out
in the country to a funeral. He
was officiating minister as well
as funeral director. In his last
days he was quite interested in
Weldon's new Methodist Church
which was under construction i.
After a life of love and grace
fulness, Mr.. Stainback's funeral
was the first to be held in the
new Methodist Church before It
was finished. Temporary chairs
were placed in the church. At
the announcement Of a death I,
the bells in the Episcopal church
tolled long and loud.
In 1894 Herbert Graham Rowe,
of Richmond was married to
Miss Annie Stainback, Peter
Stainback's third child. Mr.. and
Mrs. Rowe first lived in Rich
mond, then in 1897 they came
back to Weldon. Mr.. Rowe be-
came Weldon's undertaken and
was also engaged in a furniture
business located where Mr.. Ra-
bills department store is today.
In winter, Mr.. Rowe would leave
home for a country funeral and
have to change horses some
times as many as three times
and spend the night with farmer
friends before he reached tn e
place of interment.
Undertakers wore dark hats.
Prince Albert coats and stripped
pants. in later years, leaned to
tuxedos and formal dress.
Johnny Coleman, was coach :
man for Mr.. Rowe for a num-
Der Of years and a most respect
ed and faithful colored man.
Herbert Graham Rowe was a
past president of North Carolin-
as Funeral Directors and EN-
balmers Association. Along with
DR.. Charles A. Renourd, he was
very active in creating the first
State Association for North Caro-
lima. For many years he was
president OF the association for
embalmers license. Mr.. Rowe
was graduate of the Cincinnati
School for Embalmers and for
number of years he served as
coroner in Halifax County.
The late Herbert Graham
Rowe and Mrs. Annie Rowe
have three sons. all sre under
takers. The oldest son, Herbert
Graham Rowe, Jr. was the
youngest licensed embalmer in
North Carolina, obtaining h IL
cense at the age Of II. So far
as known he still holds that re-
cord today. He attended the Gin
cinnati School for Embalmers as
did his father and also the old
New York Embalmers School :.
Today he is an undertaken in
Arlington, Virginia.
The mex: son, F. N. Rowe at
tended Browns Embalmers
School in Raleigh. Today he is
with American Graves Registra-
ton Military Attachment.
The youngest son Hardee I'll
Rowe, is the undertaken in Wei
don and graduate of Renourd
Embalmers School in New York
City. Hardee can remember, as
a kid riding with his father in
an open touring car after horses
retiring from funeral use; as
they were riding slowly, "Galla-
CHER one of his pet horses
(Which Ed Dickens had) came
beside the car. Mr..
Rowe stopped and Gallagher put
mis- head in Mr.. Rowe's lap.
What wonderful picture, of
Mr.. Rowe's personality. There
Was commanding air in his
which excited re-
spect from children, old people
and even animals. Mr.. Rowe
was continually going, never had
lime to rest but was never hur-
lied nor ever negligent, but
seemed ever prepared for the oc-
casion. His memory still lives.
His widow, Mrs. Annie Rowe
who makes her home in Weldon
with her daughter, Mrs. D. w.
,eifert, is great character her
self and is loved and honored
~ US all.