Dodd and Reed Funeral Home was established in March 27,1933 by Charles E. Dodd as Dodd Funeral Home for service to Webster County and surrounding areas. Charles E. Dodd well known among funeral directors in West Virginia and other states brought many innovative idea and traditions in funeral service to Webster County. Charles Dodd was the first person to practice the art and science of embalming routinely in Webster County.
The original location was in the E.J. Gillespie store building on Church Street adjacent to the First Baptist Church. In 1937, J.C. Hurt became a partner and the firm was renamed to Dodd and Hurt Funeral Home. On April 1, 1942 the funeral home moved to a southern colonial building on South Main Street. This location was destroyed by fire May 4, 1961. The following year saw the opening of a new funeral home at it present location on McGraw Avenue on May 17, 1962. Open house and formal dedication services were held June 23 & 24, 1962. The partnership between Charles E. Dodd & J.C. Hurt was terminated in 1947 with the retirement of J.C. Hurt, but was operated under that name until 1984, when the firm was purchased by John D. and Alice Reed at which time it was renamed Dodd and Reed Funeral Home, Inc.
October 2, 1997 began another era with the purchase of Adams Funeral Home of Cowen, West Virginia and renamed Adams-Reed Funeral Home. Inc. Adams Funeral Home was established December 1, 1969 by Joe Adams who operated this business until his death Jan. 10, 1995. Both Dodd & Reed and Adams-Reed Funeral Homes are operated as two full service businesses.
Joe was a native of Pine Grove, WV, attended Pine Grove High School and graduated from Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. Joe was also a Veteran of the Marine Corp. Joe was involved in many aspects of community service being an member of the Webster County Commission for 12 years and served as Webster County Coroner for 25 Years. His wife, Jean Robinson Adams, resides in Cherry Falls and is the mother of four, Joe Adams, Tim Adams, Kathy Perrine and Karen Williams.
John Reed served Webster County as an owner for over 30 years. He served as president for the West Virginia Funeral Director's Association and secretary, then eventually president, for the National Funeral Director's Association. John, an Elkview native, and his wife, Alice, still reside in Webster Springs, and are blessed with two children, J.D. Reed and Kristin Street, as well as six grandchildren.
On May 1, 2015, after many years of service, John and Alice Reed sold the businesses to Matt and Cathy Pettry. Their hopes are to serve the Webster Springs and Cowen communities with the same caring compassion that the Adams, Dodd and Reed families have served with.
