Our History
Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home
Earnest L. Oulla (1881-1960) acquires, in the early 1900s, a business long-remembered as “The Vaughan Undertaking Company.” The new business was operated as Oulla’s Inc., and it was advertised as offering “Furniture and Pianos, Ambulance Service, Funeral Directors.” The funeral home was located on South Dargan Street next door to St. John’s Episcopal Church.
Expansion became necessary as Mr. Oulla’s clientele began to increase. The residence of Dr. Frank H. McLeod, Sr. at 300 South Dargan Street became available. The McLeod house, which was completed in 1917, was one of the residential showplaces of Florence. A brick structure, it incorporated many elaborate architectural details and had been the family home of Dr. McLeod for nearly 20 years.
In the early 1930s the price of the McLeod residence was reported to be 10,000 dollars, a tremendous price at that time. In order to purchase the house, Oulla used the property on which his funeral home stood as a down payment. Oulla Funeral Home moved into the old McLeod home at the corner of Dargan and Palmetto Streets.
In 1946 Conner D. Stoudenmire (1911-86), purchased the Oulla Funeral Home. In 1948 the name of the business was changed to Stoudenmire Funeral Home.
In 1973 Stoudenmire incorporated his business, allowing his employees to become stockholders. Two of them, Alton Parker and Merle Baxley, remained stockholders and active employees until their deaths.
In 1980 John F. Dowling joined the staff as a funeral director and embalmer. A native of Darlington County, Dowling had been associated as a stockholder with funeral homes in both Darlington and Hartsville. In early 1981, he was named manager of the firm, and purchased a portion of the business. Upon the death of Stoudenmire in 1986, Charlotte C. Stoudenmire was named the president, and Dowling was named vice president and general manager. On June 30, 1988, Dowling purchased all of the outstanding stock in the corporation. Since that time he has served as president and general manager, and his wife, Wanda Haynes Dowling, as vice president and office manager. In 1990 the name of the corporation was changed to Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home, Inc.
In 1996 Dowling came to realize that just as Florence was experiencing a rapid growth, so was his business. It was apparent that his beautiful facility was not going to be adequate to handle the needs of their clientele. After several months of searching for the right location, the Dowlings purchased a four acre tract on the outskirts of Florence on Highway301 and 52 South. After extensive site preparation construction was begun on February 27, 1998 for the new facility.
The new facility is a two story colonial design with a front porch with four columns. The approximate 16,000 square feet on the lower level is designed with large rooms and high ceilings. The entry foyer offers access to the office complex which is comprised of a business office, a bookkeeping office, private offices for John and Wanda Dowling and the arrangement office. The arrangement office is conveniently located next to the Casket Selection Room, which will exhibit 26 adult caskets, a vault display and a clothing display. Also adjoining the arrangement office is a cremation display room with both cremation caskets and cremation urns.
The foyer also offers access to the center of the building where the large reposing rooms open into a large center hallway accented with columns and chandeliers. The foyer will also offer entrance to the chapel area. The chapel has its own large foyer which can be used as a reposing room. The chapel has an adjoining family room. Together they have a seating capacity of275 people. A custom-made 3 –piece stained glass window highlights the pulpit area. The building is equipped with 2 sound systems, one in the chapel and one for the remainder of the building. The chapel also has a wheelchair area and equipment for the hearing impaired. One person from an area adjacent to the pulpit area will control the sound and lighting systems. The preparation room is a two-station facility with state of the art equipment. It has a cooling and ventilation system utilizing a custom designed air exchanger. The preparation room is joined to an enclosed garage area that will allow unloading directly into the prep room. Also adjoining the preparation room is a dressing and cosmetology room which provides a more suitable area for visiting hairdressers to work.
A minister’s study is situated near the family entrance to the chapel and to the pulpit. This was designed to give the ministers a quiet area for meditation and study yet easy access to the families arriving for services.
Florists are able to deliver flowers directly into a floral delivery room and will have access to the room during all business and visitation hours.
The paved parking lot can accommodate in excess of 150 automobiles. Handicapped parking is available on all four sides of the building.
The Dowlings are proud of their funeral home and its rich heritage, and they are also proud to be a part of the Florence community.
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John F. Dowling Funeral Director / Pre-Need Counselor
John graduated from St. John's High School in Darlington, SC Class of 1965 and graduated from the Kentucky School of Mortuary Science in 1970. He was a member of the first class to complete training at the Medical University of South Carolina to enucleate eyes for transplantation in 1975.
John is a licensed South Carolina Funeral Director and Embalmer and a licensed Pre-Need Insurance in SC. In 1996 he was appointed by Governor David Beasley to serve on the SC State Board Funeral Service, a Department of the Labor, Licensing and Regulation where he served as President the Board from 1997 – 1998. He is a past member of the Executive Board of the South Carolina Directors Association, a current member and past president of the Pee Dee Funeral Directors Association, a current member of the South Carolina Funeral Directors Association and a current member of the National Funeral Directors Association. He was awarded Pee Dee Funeral Director of the Year in 1997.
John is a member of the Hampton Lodge #204 AFM, member of the Scottish Rite, a member of the
Omar Shrine and a member of the Pee Dee Shrine Club. He is a member of the Philadelphia Southern Methodist Church in Lamar and currently attends Southside Baptist Church in Florence.
John and his wife, Wanda, have four children, Heather Gail Dowling Burnham, of Florence, John Christopher Dowling of Montgomery, AL, Jessica Leigh Dowling Bowman and her husband, Josh, of Florence and Keri Nicole Dowling of Charlotte, NC and two grandchildren, Terry Jason Burnham, Jr. and Karlee Gail Burnham, both of Florence. -
Wanda Haynes Dowling
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Daniel W. Jordan Manager / Funeral Director
Daniel was born and raised in Florence, SC. He attended West Florence High School and is a graduate of Fayetteville Technical Community College with an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science (Funeral Service Education). Mr. Jordan is a member of Cornerstone Baptist Church. He has two daughters, Caryss and Ellisyn.
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Sandy Dowling Associate Director
Sandy was born and raised in Darlington, South Carolina. He began his career in funeral service working part-time while in high school and has been involved in the profession for over 30 years. He attended Clemson University, Francis Marion University and also earned Certificates of Advanced Training in Sales and Management and has been trained in OSHA and DHEC compliance. Sandy has been associated with Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home since 1990. He is married to Debra Cole Dowling and they have two daughters, Amanda Dowling and Courtney Dowling Freeman and her husband, Thomas and a grandson. Sandy and his family attend Central Baptist Church in Darlington.
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Heather Dowling Burnham Office Manager
Heather was born and raised in Florence. She graduated from South Florence High School and attended Francis Marion University. She and her children, Jason and Karlee, are all members of Central United Methodist Church in Florence. She has worked for Stoudenmire-Dowling since 1999.
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Wayne Campbell Funeral Director and Embalmer
Wayne was born in Little Rock (Dillon County), SC on November 18, 1968. He graduated from Dillon High School in 1987 and graduated from Fayetteville Technical Community College in 2005 and received an Associates Degree in Funeral Service Education. He served his apprenticeship under Raymond Kannaday in Latta, SC and earned his dual license in 2007. Wayne served in the United States Marine Corps from 1987 - 1991 and was part of the 3rd Marine Air Wing. He is the very proud husband of Lynn Campbell, proud father of Courtney Marie Campbell and step-father of Mitchell Cockfield. He was also a Past Master Mason in the Mackey Lodge #77 AFM in Dillon, SC.
Wayne joined Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home in September 2013 as a Funeral Director, Embalmer and is a certified crematory operator. -
Mr. W. Pete Hoogendonk II Funeral Director and Embalmer
Pete is a native of The Netherlands. He attended East Carolina University and graduated from Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science. He holds a dual license as Funeral Director/Embalmer in both NC and SC. Prior to coming to Florence in 2001, he Had worked in NC for 25 years. He is a member of the Florence Kiwanis Club, having served as its President, and is currently a Trustee of Region 8 of the Carolinas District Kiwanis and has been named a George Hixon Fellow. Pete served in the US Air Force during Vietnam and is a member of Florence VFW Post 3181 and Calabash, NC American Legion Post 503. He and his wife, Marti, are members of Central United Methodist Church and the Sarah Blanton SS Class. Pete also is active with the United Methodist Men, serves as a Crucifer and is on the Columbarium Committee.
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Lenora Haynes Starling Insurance Specialist
Lenora was born and raised in Florence and graduated from South Florence High School. She is a
member of Palmetto Street Church of God. She has three children, Anna S. (Roy) Moss, James I.(Ashley) Starling and Stephen A. (Becky) Starling and four grandchildren. -
George Hammond Associate Director
George was born in Florence and raised in Darlington, SC. He graduated from St. John's High School, Darlington. He has lived in Florence since 1989 and retired in 1999 after 35 years as an Insurance Agent.
He and his wife, Patty, are members of Unity Baptist Church, Florence. He has worked for Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home since March of 2000.. -
Harold Reynolds Associate Director
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Wally Smith Associate Director
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Jay Anderson Associate Director
Jay was born in Darlington Co., SC and graduated from St. John's High School, Class of 1959. On March 4, 1961 he married Barbara Andrews and they have two children and two grandchildren. He retired from DuPont in 1998 after 33 years. He has been employed with Stoudenmire-Dowling since 1998.
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Jerome E. Register Associate Director
Jerome E. Register was born October 16, 1934 in Darlington Co., SC. At the age of two he moved to Florence and has been a resident ever since. He is a veteran of the United States Air Force having been honorably discharged in November 1955 and is a member of First Baptist Church where he serves as a Deacon and is a member of the Charles White Sunday School Class. He was employed by the City of Florence in February of 1956 and retired after 32 1/2 years in 1988 as Florence Fire Chief. After his retirement, he worked for McLeod Regional Medical Center for 4 years as a mail courier and has been employed with Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home since December 2006. He married Cheryl Stites in 1956 and together they have two children, two grandchildren and one great-grandson.
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Ron Pruitt Associate Director
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Zac Calcutt Associate Director
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Ed Sprenger Associate Director
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Billy Richardson Associate Director
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Brittany Hyatt Collins Apprentice Funeral Director