BY AMANDA VANDERBROEK / ROANOKE-CHOWAN NEWS-HERALD
amanda.vanderbroek@roanokechowannewsherald.com

MURFREESBORO, N.C.— Town officials and friends gathered Dec. 17 to welcome First Choice Funeral Home and Cremation Service.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony officially welcomed the business to the Murfreesboro Chamber of Commerce and to the community.

First Choice is owned by David and Gilda Robertson, while Mercedes Fornay serves as the licensed funeral director.

The funeral home at 857 W. Main St. offers pre-need funeral arrangements, monuments, nationwide shipping and after-care counseling. First Choice, which opened Dec. 9, also has a chapel.

The Robertsons are natives of the Roanoke-Chowan area; David is originally from Ahoskie and Gilda from Murfreesboro.

“I enjoy seeing new business come to town, especially a reputable service that assists those in a time that can be considered their darkest hour,” said Murfreesboro Mayor John Hinton.

Murfreesboro Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Judy Hachey also offered words of good fortune for the business.

“Welcome to the Murfreesboro Chamber of Commerce, and we’re very much looking forward to the growth of your business,” she said.

The Robertsons expressed their delight with joining the business community.

“We feel entrepreneurship is very important, and we hope to serve as examples for families and the community,” said David Robertson.

Twenty-four-hour service is available. Business office hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and closed on Sundays.

For more information about First Choice Funeral Home and Cremation contact (252) 396-0041 or visit www.fcfuneralhome.com.