Our History
Our family first became involved in the funeral business in 1917 when Lewis McBryar opened McBryar Brothers General Store in Trenton, Ga. The business had a slogan “If it is in Trenton we have it, if we don’t have it we will get it”. He sold items such as food, clothing, shoes, farm supplies, feed, seed, furniture, lumber, hardware and eventually included necessary items and cloth materials for homemade caskets. He eventually started selling ready made caskets and in the 1930’s included a funeral director sign outside of his home. He obtained the professional services of Smith Funeral Home in Fort Payne, AL for families that wanted embalming. Lewis purchased the Smith Funeral Home in 1943 and continued operating the business with the same personnel.
Sherman C. Moore, married Lewis McBryar’s daughter Gladys McBryar in 1938. They lived in Nashville, TN where he worked as an architectural engineer for Vultce Aircraft Industry and started a family (Sherman Jr, Ronnie, Larry). Sherman realized the need for a licensed funeral director to continue the business in Fort Payne and Trenton and saw the opportunity to move his young family closer to home. He discussed the situation with Lewis and enrolled in classes at John A. Gupton College of Mortuary Science in Nashville and changed to a second shift job at Vultce. Upon graduation he moved his family to Fort Payne, AL and assumed full operations of the funeral home with the assistance of Gladys.
The name of the business was changed to McBryar Funeral Home in 1945 to reflect the new ownership and they began to sell monuments and provide 24 hour ambulance service in the area. Sherman managed and operated the funeral home in Fort Payne for ten years while continuing to serve an increasing number of families in the Trenton area. Realizing the need for a full service funeral home in Trenton he began construction of a new building in 1955. He purchased the business, equipment and inventory of the McBryar Funeral Home from Lewis and moved to Trenton in October 1955. The name was changed to Moore Funeral Home and the McBryar Funeral Home was closed. Sherman operated the funeral home, ambulance service and monument company with the assistance of his wife and three sons as they became of age. He was also the Dade County, GA coroner.
Sherman C. Moore passed away at age 51 in 1968 and Gladys continued to operate the funeral home. Larry Moore Sr. entered Gupton Jones College of Mortuary Science in Atlanta, GA where he graduated and became a licensed embalmer and funeral director in 1970. Gladys would later retire from the business the same year.
Ronnie D Moore owned an ambulance service in Chattanooga, TN and started plans for a new funeral home in Trenton soon after his father passed. He sold the ambulance service in 1970 and entered the funeral business. The new funeral home opened in November 1970 and was incorporated the business in 1971. He opened a second chapel in Bryant, AL in 1982. Ronnie served as president and funeral director while Larry Sr. served as the vice president, embalmer and funeral director. In 1989 he built a new funeral home building adjacent to the original 1955 building. Ronnie died at age 54 in October 1997 and Larry Sr. became president and assumed full operations of the business as the last surviving son and family member.
Tragedy struck the city of Trenton in April 2011 when it was struck by devastating tornados. The funeral home was completely destroyed by the storms but luckily no one was injured. Larry Sr. decided to rebuild at the same location. He operated the business out of a temporary trailer while the new building was constructed. He embalmed at his funeral home in Bryant, AL and held funeral services in local churches. The current funeral home was completed in July 2012 and serves families today.
Larry Moore II joined the staff full time in July 2018 to continue the business as a fourth generation family member.
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Larry Moore 1946 - 2023
Larry Moore grew up in the funeral home and worked in the business his entire life. He assumed full operations of Moore Funeral Home in 1997 after the passing of his brother Ronnie D. Moore. He oversaw tremendous growth during his tenure and reconstructed the Trenton Chapel after it was destroyed in 2011 by a tornado.
His compassion for others was felt by thousands throughout the community. He always had a kind word and helping hand for anyone in need. The kindness and integrity that marked his professional career was shown in his private life as well.
Larry was a long-time public servant who served Dade County as the Sole Commissioner of Dade County from 1980 – 1992. He was a faithful Christian man and a life-long member of Trenton First Baptist Church.
He valued the youth of Dade County and was very involved with youth sports for many years. He relished memories of coaching the Redskins and little league baseball teams.
Although his presence is greatly missed, his legacy continues to live on at Moore Funeral Home. -
Larry Moore II Licensed Funeral Director / Embalmer
Larry Moore II is a fourth generation funeral professional with a family history dating back over 70 years in funeral service. He is the son of Larry and Mary Moore.
He received his Funeral Service Degree from Jefferson State Community College and holds funeral director and embalmer licensure in Georgia and Alabama. He assumed operations of the funeral home in 2018. -
Mary West Moore Administrative Assistant
Mary Moore, widow of Larry Moore, works part-time as an Administrative Assistant. She resides in the New Salem community and is the mother of Misty Morris, Larry Moore II & Wendy Kernea.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren Gavin, Olivia, Trey, Meghan and Catilyn. She is a member of Trenton First Baptist Church. -
Craig Westbrook Licensed Funeral Director / Embalmer
Craig is a native of Walker County, Georgia and graduated from LaFayette High School Class of 1996 and currently resides in the Rock Spring community. Craig served for many years as a Firefighter/EMT with Walker County as well as an Emergency Medical Technician with EMS agencies in Walker, Chattooga, and Catoosa counties. Craig is the proud father of his son, Joel, and enjoys spending time together as much as possible. He is a member Crawfish Springs Lodge #300 F&AM of Chickamauga.
In 2016, Craig graduated from Jefferson State Community College in Birmingham, Alabama with his Associate of Applied Science Degree in Funeral Service Education. Craig is a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in Georgia and Tennessee. Additionally, he is a Certified Crematory Operator with the National Funeral Directors Association. Through the funeral service, Craig considers it an honor to serve families during their time of loss and cares for them as though it were his own.
In his spare time, he enjoys playing guitar and talking around the world through Amateur Radio. -
Patrick Moore Apprentice
Patrick grew up on Sand Mountain and graduated from NSM in 2007. He attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he dedicated his life and career to compassionate service to others. He graduated in 2018 with his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science & Public Service.
Patrick currently attends John A. Gupton College in Nashville, Tennessee where he will receive his Mortuary Science degree and become a licensed funeral director and embalmer. He looks forward to serving the communities that were so instrumental in his upbringing.
His hobbies include antiques and enjoying the outdoors, where he can be found biking or gardening. -
Brad Bridges Apprentice
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Naomi Cranfield Funeral Assistant
N aomi Cranfield has worked for our funeral home since, 1996.
She plays an active role for our Bryant Chapel working all of our visitations and funerals, she also works visitation at our Trenton Chapel
Naomi loves to garden and work in her yard. She is married to Carl Cranfield, has two sons, Billy and Mike. Loves spoiling her granddaughter, Torri; three step grandchildren, Devin, Taylor and Damian and great granddaughter, Harper. She is a member of Mountain View Church of God -
Sue Gray Clerk
Sue Gray is a 1964 graduate of Fort Payne High School. She was married to the late Billy Gray. She is the proud mom of Michael and Richard.
Sue resides in New Salem where she serves as pianist at New Salem Baptist Church. She is a Board Member for the Dade County Department of Family and Children Services and Alabama School of Gospel Music.
Her hobbies include Southern Gospel music and spending time with her grandchildren Bobby, Turner, Gunar, Ryne and Gage. -
Evan Stone Funeral Assistant
Evan Stone is a 1982 graduate of Northwest Georgia High School, a 1985 graduate of Walker Technical School and a 1992 graduate of Dalton State.
He resides in Trenton, Georgia where he owns and operates Dade County Broadcasting. He is the proud dad to Tabitha, Evan Jr.. He has four grandchildren Christian, Preston, Quinton and Waylon.
Evan is a the current chairman of the Dade County IDA and vice chairman of the Northwest Georgia Joint Development Authority. He's a former board member of the Hospital Authority of Dade, Walker and Catoosa County.
His hobbies include Atlanta Braves, Georgia Bulldogs, music, collecting old radios and radio history.
