CityView Magazine

the company that apparel became the product that M.J. Soffe was best known for. Although a great loss was felt upon the sudden death of Milton James Soffe, Jim Soffe and the company employees created a new product line and manufactured gym shorts as well as other forms of sportswear. “Anything can be fixed if you work hard enough at it,” Soffe said. “It’s frustrating when you look at the front end of it, but when you look at the back end, it’s pretty rewarding.” Now publicly owned by Delta Apparel and with Ken Spires named as the new company president, Jim Soffe has transitioned into the role as chairman emeritus. The company is no longer known as M.J. Soffe – instead it is now called, simply, Soffe. “We are one big family that still runs our business,” Soffe said. “Once I finish my three years, I’m hoping they’ll let me stay on another year. I love working with the people here and helping with things that I still know about – being a part of the team.” CV Still going strong Businesses that are over 50 years old are a unique find, and there many: Hinkamp Jewelers, Holmes Electric, Cavin’s Business Solutions and others. But individuals who have been employed at a company for that extended amount of time are exceptional. As the owner of Jernigan- Warren Funeral Home, Charles Warren is one of those employees and at 92, has rarely missed a day of work. Warren is in good company, too. Grace Yeager has run Carson’s Beauty Shop downtown for more than 50 years. Rachel Faircloth at Fayetteville Floral Company is another. “I enjoy being with my employees and meeting families,” Warren said, “and being sure that their needs are being taken care of. This business kind of gets under your skin. It just becomes a part of (you).” Like so many others searching for jobs in the midst of the Great Depression, Warren began working for his uncle, Joe Jernigan, at Jernigan’s Funeral Home in 1936. Enjoying his apprenticeship, he pursued the new line of work by attending an embalming school in Tennessee and later became a full-time employee at the funeral home. “It’s very rewarding helping families in times of need,” Warren said. “You certainly learn all about people because really, we deal with people on all walks of life. No group is exempt of death.” Many changes have occurred since Warren began working at Jernigan’s Funeral Home 73 years ago. After the death of his uncle in 1950, Warren became the owner and made the conscious decision not to sell to a larger corporation because he wanted to maintain what began as a family business. He guided the funeral home’s expansion and adapted to the community’s various opinions and beliefs about death and funeral services. “I’ve gained a lot of experience that has helped me to know the needs of families,” Warren said. “With a cosmopolitan area like we have here, we have many different customs, and we have to be familiar with the customs of each nationality.” Warren has turned much of the day-to-day business over to two other funeral directors, but he continues to drive himself to work every day, despite the lingering effects of a stroke he suffered nine years ago. His colleagues and customers know that his compassion and experience are irreplaceable. -Stephanie Brigman CityViewNC.com | 41

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