The Roanoke Times | File 2003

Carlin Maberry died June 21 from a heart attack. He was 78.

As manager of Maberry Funeral Home and a longtime member of the Floyd County Volunteer Fire Department, Carlin Maberry was the person Floyd residents called in times of trouble.

According to family and friends, he was the kind of person you would hope to encounter in those situations.

His quiet, caring manner was a comfort to grieving families, said the Rev. Richard Thomas, a longtime friend.

Carlin died June 21 from a heart attack. He was 78.

His daughter Mitzi Roberson will continue to operate Maberry Funeral Home, assisted by his wife, Jo Ann Maberry, their other daughter, Ann Phillips, and a few other staff members.

Maberry "really cared about the community and the people he served," his wife said. "We hope to continue the business. It won't be as well as he did it, but we're trying."

Jo Ann and Carlin Maberry both grew up in Floyd County and met as teenagers at an indoor skating rink.

A friend introduced them -- at the request of Jo Ann, who pointed out his picture in a high school yearbook. They were married in 1953.

The funeral home was started in 1927 and was passed down through the Maberry family. Carlin Maberry took over as manager in 1960 after earning a degree from Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science in 1951.

"That funeral home has a tradition of providing the very best of service in a quiet sort of way," Thomas said. "Everybody knew what to do, so it went off in the most professional way."

For a time, Thomas worked part time for Maberry. After quitting the job, he would stop by three or four times a week just to talk.

"He was my best friend, besides my wife," Thomas said.

Thomas' brother, Rodney Thomas, worked full time at the funeral home for 43 years.

"He was a good person to work for, easy to get along with," Rodney Thomas said.

Maberry didn't have much time outside of work and volunteering. Some days started at 7:30 a.m. and didn't end until 10 p.m., his wife said. But when he did have time, he enjoyed keeping up with the Atlanta Braves.

He served as chairman of the Floyd County Bloodmobile for 11 years and was the chairman of the board of trustees of Floyd United Methodist Church.

His funeral last week was officiated by Floyd United Methodist Church pastor Richard Gregory and Thomas.

"As I shared in the message, his legacy in the funeral business will be carried on by his daughters," Thomas said. "He will be missed by the people in the county."