As Ricky Shivers welcomes a new year, he also embarks upon a new chapter in his life by joining his son on an exciting business journey.
For over three decades, Shivers was proud to be a part of the Stricklin King Funeral Home family. Since 1988, he worked in a variety of roles within the local family business. But it was being with his own family that attracted him to try something different in his career.
Shivers joined his son, Joe Shivers, to serve as the transportation coordinator with Shivers Buildings in Yazoo City. And although he is excited to work alongside his son, Shivers said he will miss the connections he made with families during his time at the local funeral home. After the loss of his wife Betty last October, it was a change he said he needed to make moving forward.
“I am still dealing with the loss of Betty, but this is a big change that I can look forward to,” Shivers said. “I get to work with my son and daughter-in-law, and many of the people at Shivers Buildings, I have known for years. But I am going to miss working with families and emotionally helping them get through their time of loss.”
Shivers joined Stricklin King Funeral Home in 1988. His first day with the local funeral home was on April 1, following the birth of his son just a week prior.
“At the time, my family was young and just getting started,” he said. “The week I decided to go work for the funeral home, Betty and I were at Woman’s Hospital, and we had just had our first son. She and I made the decision to change careers right there in the hospital.”
Shivers was serving as a medic when the funeral home offered him a job. He was also operating a specialty advertising business, which he continues to run to this day.
“I was interested in getting off of shift work and wanted to be home every night,” Shivers said. “I had my own business and have for over 40 years, and the funeral home was one of my customers. They purchased calendars from me. They came to me, offering me a job, telling me that if I could sell them calendars, I could sell insurance for them.”
Shivers joined the funeral home as an insurance salesman. But he also was able to utilize his experience as a medic with the business.
It was a transition that Shivers felt he could adjust to quickly. And, along with his role as Yazoo County coroner, it was a perfect fit.
The funeral home business can be a challenging line of work. But Shivers said working with families during their time of need was the most fulfilling aspect of his role.
“I enjoyed working with families at that time in their lives,” he said. “It is the worst time of their lives, but I was able to do what I could to comfort them and guide them through the funeral process and bring comfort, grace and a love for God.”
“But there were certainly challenges and difficult moments,” he added. “It was hard when you had to handle the passing of people who were your age, especially children and even dealing with your own family.”
Shivers decided to try a different path, ending his career at the local funeral home on Thanksgiving Day. Before the passing of his wife, his son Joe approached him about joining his growing business. It was an offer that Shivers considered to be closer to his own family.
“It wasn’t a decision made through grief,” Shivers said. “The biggest reason I decided to make a change was that after being in the funeral home business for 34 years and working weekends, holidays and being on call all the time, I wanted to be able to spend more time with my family. I have grandchildren, not only here, but in Idaho. Now I can have some time off and spend time with them.”
It has also been exciting for Shivers to watch his own son grow his own business.
“My first week here, I had a desk right beside him,” Shivers said. “It is exciting to watch his enthusiasm and the entrepreneurship he has in building in his business.”
With two sons and six grandchildren, Shivers is excited to make new memories with his family as he embarks in the next chapter of his own life. But he also has other obligations that he will continue to serve within the community. He is a member of the District 3, Eden and Holly Bluff volunteer fire departments. And he is an active member of Calvary Baptist Church.
And Shivers will continue to serve as the county coroner, a role he has held since 1991.
“Much like at the funeral home, I will continue to work with families as the coroner,” Shivers said. “And although it won’t be a long-term basis, I can still be with them during this time in their lives.”
