Our Founder, Julius P.L. Fielding, began his business training with his father who ran a horse drawn livery business from the back yard of their home on Tradd street in downtown Charleston. When his father died and his mother later remarried, Julius continued training in his step-father's barber shop at the comer of Broad and Church streets in Charleston. With the help and encouragement of his mother and step-father, he attended Agricultural and Normal Institute in Orangeburg (now S.C. State University), and then to Renouard Embalming School in New York. Upon returning home in 1912, he opened the funeral home at the corner of King and Queen streets. In 1916, he married Sadie E. Gaillard Fielding, and together they moved the business to 61 Logan Street at the corner of Short Street. A large sign was placed on the corner that simply read "Julius P.L.Fielding, Undertaker and Embalmer".

His mother, Mrs. Felicia Fielding Goodwin was a founder of the Coming Street Y.W.C.A. and a strong community worker. She collected clothing and food from wealthy families, and distributed them to the needy. The business grew as they continued the community outreach, and in 1928 they moved two blocks up to 122 Logan Street, our present downtown chapel. The depression came, and so did hard times. Julius overcame the obstacles by developing a barter system for the business. He simply furnished complete funeral services in return for a promise by the family (mostly rural) to pay in installments of farm products - - such as eggs, chicken, pork, beef; and vegetables. The business prospered, and Julius was able to employ additional embalmers and a well rounded staff. Together, they developed a reputation of "service above self', and "regardless of social or financial circumstances, every family will be served". It was their dedication to that kind of outstanding, fair, honest, ethical and compassionate service that has built this business into an institution trusted for reliability, professionalism and very high ethical standards. For ninety four years, this has been our heritage, and we now sincerely pledge to continue it for at least ninety four more.

Generation Two

Julius P.L.Fielding and Sadie E. Gaillard Fielding died in 1938, and it soon became feasible in January of 1939 to convert the business into a corporation known as "Fielding Home For Funerals". Emily F. Fielding became President of the new firm as well as guardian of her three younger brothers, Herbert, Timothy and Bernard. Frederick C. Brown, a licensed embalmer, and Charles C. Mason, a funeral director, joined Emily F. Fielding to become the leadership of the second team. Frederick Brown had been with the firm for nine years prior to the death of Mr. Fielding, and Charles Mason had been with the firm over two years prior. When funeral director's licenses were first required in S. C., Fred Brown and Charles Mason were in the first twenty to be licensed. Herbert U. G. Fielding and Timothy W. Fielding came of age and served in various capacities during this period. Bernard R. Fielding and Julius P. L. Fielding, II Working together with the younger Fieldings, the three of the second phase managed to expand the business (during more than one year of their administration, the annual volume exceeded 500). In our fiftieth year, the second phase secured the property and built a new modem facility in Charleston Heights, and started negotiations for a new chapel in the Yonges Island area. They more than tripled the parking and working space downtown, modernized and upgraded the buildings, while maintaining up to date top of the line high quality hearses and limousines. They were able to advance the business by sticking to the principles and method of operations started by Julius P.L.Fielding, and they proudly passed on the mantle of reliability, trustworthiness, compassion and service above self.

Generation Three

Emily F. Fielding died in 1975, and Timothy W. Fielding became President and remained until his death in 1982. Frederick C. Brown and Charles C. Mason retired, and left Herbert U. Fielding, Bernard R Fielding, Julius P.L.Fielding, II, Mark J. Fielding and David M. Fielding to carry on the mantle. Also contributing heavily during this period was our foster brother, Oscar Rutledge, who served faithfully and effectively until his death in. We remain in phase three today, and we work daily to continue the high quality service that has earned us the trusted name as the institution for fair, honest professional and compassionate service

Please click on our Staff page to meet our present employees.