Our History
In January of 1991, a large tract of land overlooking Highway 58 in Castlewood was purchased from Mr. Trinkle Phillips, a local businessman, and an 8400 square foot building was designed. C&R builders of Castlewood served as the contractor for the building, and construction began in the spring of 1991.
On October 1, 1991, Castlewood Funeral Home opened, and the firm received its first call on that day. The original associates of the firm were Jess Johnson, Eddie Gullett, Bert McCoy, C.B. Parrott, and Twilia Gullett. In early 1994, because of the increasing number of families served by Castlewood Funeral Home, Randy Bryant joined the staff.
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Eddie E. Gullett Location Manager and Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer
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Robert L. Linkous Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer
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Dan Counts Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer
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Amanda Salyer Harris Office Administrator
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Elizabeth Powers Administrative Assistant
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Edward Kiser Funeral Assistant
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Jess Johnson Founder
Our Castlewood Funeral Home family, and our Castlewood community, experienced a great loss when Jess passed away unexpectedly, Thursday, October 8, 2020, at his home.
Jess began working part-time at Huff-Cook Funeral Home in St. Paul, Virginia in May of 1964. On June 1, 1965, he began working full-time at Huff-Cook, where he remained until the end of 1990. On October 1, 1991, Castlewood Funeral Home opened, and the firm received its first call on that day. Throughout the years, Jess served the Castlewood Community faithfully with professionalism and care. He faithfully would answer calls at all hours of the day and night, and always sought to comfort those grieving.
He is survived by his wife, Rita Slemp Mullins Johnson, the light of Poppa’s life, Aaron Burton; one son, Jessie “Jay” Johnson, III and wife, Penny of Castlewood, Virginia; one daughter, Rebecca Woodruff and husband, Timothy of St. Paul, Virginia; four grandchildren, Jessie Johnson IV and wife, Jannike of Castlewood, Virginia, Nathan Johnson and wife, Megan of Castlewood, Virginia, Josh Castle and wife, Rebecca of Castlewood, Virginia, and Olivia Castle; six great-grandchildren, Cayden and Conner Castle, Nolan Johnson, Henry Johnson, Kaitlyn Castle, and Aliaynna Woodruff; and several nieces and nephews.
Jess’ example and passion to serve and care for families will always inspire us at Castlewood Funeral Home. He honored the lives of everyone that came into his care, and leaves a great legacy for us to follow. The Castlewood Funeral Home family and our whole Castlewood community will greatly miss this humble servant…
