Fry & Prickett Funeral Home

Fry & Prickett Funeral Home, located at 402 Saunders Street in Carthage, North Carolina, stands as a pillar of compassionate care and community service in Moore County. Since its founding in the late 19th century, the funeral home has evolved through several ownerships and name changes, yet has consistently maintained a commitment to honoring families with dignity. Today, as part of PinesFunerals—a faith-based, family-owned network of funeral homes—Fry & Prickett is under the dedicated leadership of owners Robert and Kerry Nunnaley. The funeral home is deeply rooted in the community, serving generations with empathy, professionalism, and a tradition of excellence that spans well over a century.

The history of Fry & Prickett is rich with local heritage. James Vann Larkin, one of the first graduates of the Brown School of Embalming in Raleigh, arrived in Carthage around 1884–1886. He built a two-story wooden building that housed a drug store and harness shop on the first floor and an embalming room with casket storage on the second. In approximately 1919, R. G. Fry, Sr., who was later elected Sheriff of Moore County, purchased the business. Funeral services became a sideline as Fry conducted burials while serving as sheriff. Over the following decades, the funeral home saw various partnerships, including with A. T. Smith and later L. T. Clark, leading to name changes such as Smith and Fry Funeral Home and Clark and Fry Funeral Home. After a devastating fire in 1941 destroyed the building, the Fry family bought out their partner and erected a new facility on McNeill Street, naming it R. G. Fry and Son Funeral Home. In 1957, the business was sold to T. T. “Tommy” Prickett, a licensed funeral director, and the name was changed to Fry and Prickett Funeral Home. Recognizing the need for larger, more modern accommodations, the funeral home purchased and renovated an old Victorian-era home on the corner of Rockingham and Saunders Streets in 1970. The move to the current location in April 1971 provided four times the space of the previous building and allowed the funeral home to better serve the community.

Fry & Prickett offers a comprehensive range of services, including traditional burials, cremations, memorial services, and pre-planning options. The facility features an onsite chapel, wheelchair accessibility, and ample parking, ensuring comfort for all families. The funeral home also provides casket and monument services, and it accepts prepayment plans to ease future arrangements. With a perfect 5-star rating from 59 reviews, families consistently praise the staff for their genuine care, professionalism, and the comforting atmosphere of the Victorian-era home. One family remarked that Robert stands out as “the most caring and loving funeral director you will ever find,” highlighting the staff’s ability to make a difficult time more bearable. Through its long history and unwavering dedication, Fry & Prickett Funeral Home continues to be a trusted and cherished resource for Carthage and the surrounding communities.