History & Staff
We have years of experience caring for families, from all walks of life. Each family comes to us because they know we are leaders in our profession, dedicated to excellence in service, and have the highest integrity.
When we sit down with a family, we have just one goal: to create a fitting, memorable and affordable service for their loved one. Together, we explore the wide variety of services and products available, as well as a wealth of creative ideas and suggestions.
Together, we'll design a memorial or funeral service that suits their needs now, and in the future. Families who come to us know that years from now, they will have deep peace-of-mind because in coming to us, they've done their best to honor their loved one.
Our History
The roots of Hathaway Percy Funeral Home can be traced to the 1890s when the Williams Furniture and Undertaking Company operated in the 600 block of East Elk Avenue in downtown Elizabethton. Early in the 20th century, Nat C. Nave, E. E. Hathaway, and J. B. Nave purchased the business and changed the name to Nave Furniture Company. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the Naves and Mr. Hathaway "lost everything they had," which was the case with so many people, and the business was taken over by the courts.
In 1932, Roy Hathaway, E. E. Hathaway’s youngest son, bought the undertaking department of the business from the courts and opened Roy Hathaway Funeral Home. In 1935, Mr. Roy moved the establishment into the old Moreland Home, a stately residence at the corner of "F" Street and Lynn Avenue. In 1954, Mr. Hathaway took in Mr. Frank "Bob" Percy as a business partner and changed the name of the firm to Hathaway-Percy Funeral Home. The firm was moved to its present location at the corner of "F" and Roan Streets, after the purchase and renovation of the former Watauga Hotel Building, which had been built in the mid 1920s. In 1974, the Sunset Chapel was added to the existing structure.
Our Valued Staff
Paul Dailey, Manager
Paul Dailey is a licensed funeral director and embalmer, and is a resident of Elizabethton, Tennessee. He is a graduate of Happy Valley High School and a 1997 graduate of Mid-America College of Funeral Service of Jeffersonville, Indiana. He is a member of the Elizabethton Kiwanis Club. Paul is married to Lora Stutzman Dailey, and is the father of two sons, Mitchell, a student at T.A. Dugger Junior High School, and Matthew, a student at Westside Elementary School.
Terry Cole, Administrative Assistant
Terry has worked for Heritage Family Funeral Services since 1995, and in 2000 became the administrative assistant for Hathaway-Percy Funeral Home. She has an Associate Degree from E.T.S.U. in Secretarial Science. Terry has three children, three granddaughters and one grandson. She is active in her church, Unaka Baptist, where she serves as a children’s Sunday school teacher, children’s church assistant, and children’s committee member.
Earlene Blevins, Office Assistant
Earlene started her career as the office manager of Hathaway-Percy Funeral Home in Elizabethton in 1961. Earlene is a native of Johnson County and graduated from the Watauga Academy. She attended East Tennessee State College and Elizabethton Business College. She retired from full time work in May 2000, but helps Hathaway-Percy Funeral Home and Tetrick- Bluff City Chapel as a part-time associate.
Don Friesland, Funeral Assistant
Don was born in Sullivan County and educated in the Bluff City school system. He retired from Tennessee Eastman after 32 years as a chemical operator. Don serves as a part-time associate for Hathaway-Percy Funeral Home and Tetrick Funeral Home’s Bluff City Chapel. He is married to the former Marie Stanfield and has one daughter. Don and his wife are members of the Chinquapin Grove Baptist Church.
Deborah Reeves, Advance Funeral Planning Counselor
Deborah Reeves is a native of Shady Valley, Tennessee. She is a 1979 graduate of Johnson County High School and is also a graduate of Milligan College with a B.S. degree in Business Administration. Deborah has one daughter and son-in-law, Bridget and John Jeter of Abingdon,VA and one grandson, Larenzo Jeter. Deborah has been with Heritage Family Funeral Services since 1999.