Fire Destroys Funeral Home in Glenwood

Glenwood’s only funeral home was destroyed in an early morning fire last week that investigators said was probably caused by faulty wiring. Wheeler County EMA Chief Steve Adams said flames were already shooting through the roof of the structure when volunteer firefighters arrived on the scene around 3 a.m., Wednesday, September 22. The funeral chapel that was previously owned by Ronnie Stewart was purchased about a year ago by Brandon Roberts, who also operates the Roberts-Stewart Funeral Home in Vidalia. Adams said crews from Glenwood, Spring Hill, Alamo, and Crossroads volunteer fire departments and the Department of Corrections firefighting crew from Montgomery County responded to the call but were hampered by live electrical wires that prevented them from encroaching on the fire.

“We fought the fire as best we could,” Adams said, noting the live electrical lines posed an imminent danger for fire crews.

He said the State Fire Marshal’s Office was called in to investigate the scene and concurred that the fire was accidental and evidence pointed to the fire being electrical in nature.

“The building had been expanded over the years and had a mixture of old and new wiring,” Roberts said.

Roberts said Friday morning that he was heartbroken by the loss but would probably rebuild the chapel that has served the community for decades. He said the chapel was unoccupied at the time of the fire and the last funeral had been held there about two weeks ago.

“It’s devastating, another business is gone,” said Glenwood Mayor G.M. Joiner.