History

Name: W.E. Pegues Funeral Directors
Telephone: (662) 842-4872
Price range: $$$$

W. E. Pegues Funeral Directors is a full service funeral home and crematory serving the people of the Tupelo and Lee County area in North Mississippi since 1891.

An independent, locally owned funeral home, W. E. Pegues Funeral Directors has operated under the care and guidance of the Pegues family for five generations.

In March of 1891, Walter E. Pegues, after completing a two year term as Lee County's first Superintendent of Education, laid aside textbooks to help form a new Tupelo enterprise originally known as Baskin and Pegues Furniture and Undertaking Goods. His partner, Tupelo Mayor W. C. Baskin, was affiliated with the business only a short while.

The firm's first location was on Main Street between Spring Street and Front Street, a site later occupied by the Tupelo Theater. In 1900 the business relocated to 203 Main Street, where it continued operation for 52 years. In 1952, McClure Furniture Company in Tupelo purchased the furniture portion of the business and the funeral service was moved to the Pegues family home; its current Tupelo location at 535 Jefferson Street. A son of the founder was quoted in the Tupelo Journal saying " We want to concentrate our entire efforts on our funeral profession. We feel that we can better serve our friends by all of our personnel at our funeral home."

After the death of Walter Pegues in 1910, W. H. Berry took over the management of the firm under the supervision of Walter's Widow, Mary Reed Pegues. Walter's son, William E. Pegues, Sr. took over full management of the business in 1934 and along with his brother John Reed Pegues, continued until William died in 1949 and John Reed retired in 1956.

Shortly after Willie's death, the third generation of Pegues family funeral directors was brought into the firm. Upon completion of their funeral service education, brothers, William E. "Bill" Pegues and Leonard M. "Len" Pegues returned home to take care of the business.

During their leadership, the area's first funeral chapel was built and the entire facilities were renovated to meet the funeral service needs of the Tupelo area.

Into the twenty-first century, the Pegues family tradition of funeral service continued with the fourth generation of Pegues. Brothers Ed and Greg Pegues co-owned the century old business until Ed's retirement in 2010. In 2013, Greg's eldest daughter, Whitney Pegues-Beck, joined the team. Today, Whitney is the owning manager of the operation begun by her great-great grandfather.

Five generations and over a century of service later, W. E. Pegues Funeral Directors remain committed to providing the most caring and professional service. After all, we're

"People you can rely on... Today and Tomorrow"

Why Us?

In a nutshell? Experience, professionalism, compassion, and empathy.

We've learned a lot over many years. Like how to present options without overwhelming. And how to meet the needs of many caring parties. People come to us in difficult times, and we respond kindness, calmness and expertise. Our goal is to create a beautiful occasion and make you feel welcome, always. We spend our days planning with families. We stay up to date with industry developments. And we make hard times a little easier.