H.R. No. 662
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         WHEREAS, Hawthorn Funeral Home is celebrating its 100th
  anniversary in 2021, and this occasion presents a welcome
  opportunity to reflect on the many contributions this respected
  business has made to the community of Carthage; and
         WHEREAS, Members of the Hawthorn family first came to Panola
  County in the 1860s, and in 1921, one of the descendants of the
  original settlers, Stephen Adolphus "Tebe" Hawthorn, founded
  Hawthorn Hardware and Company, which also sold caskets and rented a
  horse drawn wagon for use as a hearse; Tebe Hawthorn's son Neal
  later joined the business, and he eventually turned his home on West
  Wellington Street into Hawthorn Funeral Home, the first
  full-service undertaking business in Panola County, offering
  livery, caskets, embalming, and funeral direction from one
  location; and
         WHEREAS, The family went on to hire Mark Osborne, a licensed
  funeral director and embalmer, and after Neal Hawthorn died in
  1947, Mr. Osborne continued to run the business; in 1965, he
  oversaw an expansion of the facilities, adding a full sanctuary, a
  music room, private family seating, and the building's distinctive
  formal colonnade; he married Neal Hawthorn's widow, Alice, in 1968,
  and together the couple operated the funeral home until their
  retirement in 1975; and
         WHEREAS, In the following years, the funeral home changed
  hands several times, until it was purchased by Carlton Shamburger,
  who started at the mortuary as an apprentice funeral director in the
  1990s and rose to become manager and funeral director in charge;
  guided by the experience of former owner Mark Osborne and longtime
  employees Don Honeycutt and Melvin Johns, Mr. Shamburger took over
  the business and oversaw a renovation of the building; and
         WHEREAS, Today, Hawthorn Funeral Home is owned and operated
  by the Shamburger Family Partnership LP, which includes
  Mr. Shamburger's children, Katherine, Meredith, and Benjamin, who
  help to carry on the long-standing traditions of this historic
  Panola County enterprise; the legacy of the Hawthorn family is
  maintained by the granddaughters of Neal Hawthorn, Beth and
  Barbara; and
         WHEREAS, For the past century, Hawthorn Funeral Home has
  played an invaluable role in the lives of countless families in
  Carthage and Panola County, and it is fitting that this notable
  enterprise be recognized for its compassionate and dedicated
  service; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas
  Legislature hereby congratulate Hawthorn Funeral Home on its
  centennial and extend to all those associated with the business
  sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
  prepared for Hawthorn Funeral Home as an expression of high regard
  by the Texas House of Representatives.
 
  Paddie
 
  ______________________________
  Speaker of the House     
 
         I certify that H.R. No. 662 was adopted by the House on April
  23, 2021, by a non-record vote.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House