A Conway Native Offers Affordable Services to the Community
by Melissa LaScaleia
Lewis Crematory and Funeral Services is a full-service crematory and funeral service provider located on Highway Bypass 17 South, just north of the hospital, in Myrtle Beach. Kelvin Ford Lewis opened the business in July 2018.
“I’ve been in the funeral business for more than twenty years,” Kelvin says. “I previously owned a crematory in North Carolina that I sold. I’m licensed in SC and NC and a native of Conway.”
Kelvin wanted to provide a low-cost service and facility for Horry and Georgetown County, and felt that Myrtle Beach would be a good location for his business.
Kelvin got started in the industry as a boy helping to tend the local cemetery, Westside Memorial Gardens in Conway, as well as the funeral home whenever they needed assistance.
“It was owned by Billy Jordan,” Kelvin says. “He also owned Palmetto Funeral Home in Conway. Over the years, my involvement progressed, and I adopted the profession. What I like most about this business is to be able to serve families during their time of need.”
Bill J. Gray is the manager of Lewis Crematory and Funeral Services, and has been licensed since 1975.
“I’m licensed in Virginia, Ohio, and South Carolina and also Board Certified by the National Board of Funeral Service,” he says. “As a young boy, I had good friends in this industry and did some labor work around the funeral home. And that progressed, as it does for many of us in this industry, to going to college and getting licensed. You’re sort of born into the niche of the funeral service.”
“There is an influx of people retiring and moving here from other states,” he adds. “And there aren’t enough affordable funeral homes to support the population needs for this service. So we’re evolving as more people move down here.
“We are a full service crematory and funeral service provider at the most reasonable price in the state.”
Lewis Crematory also offers memorial, chapel and ship out services— in which the body is embalmed here and shipped to the location family members designate.
“By law, all funeral homes have to follow the same guidelines, protocols, rules, and regulations as to performing a service,” Bill says. “We charge a fraction of what the competition does, but adhere to the same standards and protocols as designated by the state. We have an onsite crematory so that your loved one never leaves our care.”
Lewis Crematory and Funeral Services
Open 24 hours for calls and service.
