Our Story

Our Story

 The Trusted Name In Funeral Service Since 1880

When it comes time to make the decision regarding the funeral home you will trust to care for a loved one or to take care of your pre-planning arrangements, we offer the following information about our company history and our valued staff.
In those days, coffins were wooden boxes built by skilled carpenters or cabinetmakers. It was a natural step for a skilled cabinetmaker to decide to become an undertaker and manufacture his own coffins. Charles studied Mortuary Science in Baltimore, and opened his undertaking business on Mary Street in Hedgesville in 1880. Tradition states that he was a familiar sight as a professional, wearing a black leather bow tie. He was one of two undertakers in Hedgesville at the time, one to lay away the Democrats and one for the Republicans!

Howard Kyner Brown (1894-1976)

son of Charles Mortimer, was born in Hedgesville in 1894 and attended Hedgesville High School. After serving in the military during WWI, he studied Mortuary Science in Philadelphia, beginning in the fall of 1922. H.K. moved to Martinsburg, the present site of the business, in the spring of 1924, and remodeled this facility in 1941. It was here that Charles M. Brown was born in 1926!

Charles M. Brown (1926-2012)

Charles was the son of Howard Kyner Brown. Born on King St. in 1926, he graduated from Martinsburg High School in 1944 and attended West Virginia University. He studied Mortuary Science in Cincinnati. Charles started working in the business officially after his discharge from the Navy in June 1947. During his years as a student at West Virginia University, he worked for his dad during the summer months. In 1952, he went to embalming school and was licensed in 1954. Charles was a faithful servant and supporter of our community for decades.

Robert C. Fields

Licensee-In-Charge and President / Owner. Bob is a native of Martinsburg and started with the funeral home in 1982. He is a graduate of Martinsburg High School, attended Shepherd College and graduated from the Catonsville Mortuary College. Bob's wife, Donna, is the Secretary of Brown Funeral Home, Inc. Donna is a graduate of West Virginia University with a Masters Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling.

Robert R. Rigot (1981-2007) 

After 26 years of dedicated service to our community, Bob passed away June 19, 2007.
Bob and Donna have three sons: Brandon - employed by, and manager of, Brown Cremation Services, LLC; Robert - a director and graduate of Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science; and Jordan – a full time Brown employee who has graduated from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science and is an Apprentice Director.

Bob is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, a board member and prior President of the West Virginia Funeral Directors Association, and is serving as Secretary on the board of the West Virginia Board of Funeral Service Examiners by appointment of the Governor. He is a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International, and a member of other local and national organizations.

What Makes Us Unique

We are proud to embrace traditional values, diversity and innovation in honoring the spirit and life of each person we serve. We offer a full selection of:
  1. Funeral and memorial services, ranging from traditional to uniquely innovative and personal
  2. Burial services and cremation options
  3. Celebrant Services
Letting go of a loved one is usually a very difficult process. In order to provide your family peace-of-mind, our funeral home offers complete care, so you can focus on comforting each other as you prepare to say goodbye to someone dear to you.
Although there are many decisions you may have to make, we assure you that we will guide you through the entire process every step of the way. We promise to help you:
  • Design the most fitting memorial or funeral service to honor their memory and pay tribute to their life achievements and experiences.
  • Select the most appropriate products, including a casket, burial vault, cremation urn, cemetery or mausoleum, to fit your budget and suit your needs and desires.
  • Write a fitting obituary to honor your loved one’s life experiences and social connections.
  • Assist in the publication of the obituary in the newspapers of your choice.
  • Create a Book of Memories™, a beautiful, permanent online memorial, where you and your friends can build a legacy of memories by archiving treasured photos and memories.
  • Welcome your family and friends to our funeral home for your planned services, including a viewing, visitation, funeral or memorial service.
  • Make all arrangements with regard to the services whether they are held at your place of worship, our funeral home, cemetery, or alternate gathering place.
  • Provide you with beautiful funeral print materials, including memorial folders, prayer cards and book marks. We also offer personalized note cards for you to acknowledge the emotional support you received from friends, co-workers and community members.
  • Provide an elegant hearse and funeral cars, as well as arrange for escorts.
  • Help in the selection and on-site arrangement of floral tributes.
  • Provide access to grief education and support materials, and referrals to counseling services.
  • Prepare all paperwork, including vital record statistics, permits, filing and obtaining death certificates, and assistance with life insurance, veteran’s benefits and Social Security claims.
We hope you will turn to us for compassionate care and impeccable service. Our pledge is to honor your loved one and family with dignity, respect and personal attention to every detail.
Share by: