Serving Our Neighbors—and Making History Since 1927

The story of Kilpatrick Funeral Homes extends all the way back to 1927, to the warm, but modest, home of Edgar Noel (E.N.) and Effie Hicks Kilpatrick in Farmerville, Louisiana. “Mr. Kil,” as E.N. was lovingly called, helped his neighbors say goodbye to their loved ones from his home, taught school, and carried mail to make ends meet. Effie, also known as “Mama Kil,” was a florist, and often served grieving families while her husband was working during the day so they didn’t have to wait. Effie decided to expand her knowledge and ability to serve her community, and after three years of school and passing the state board exam, Effie Hicks Kilpatrick had the distinct honor of becoming one of the first licensed female embalmers and funeral directors in our state. E.N. and Effie had three children, Kenneth Dale (K.D.), Johnnie Rae (Sis), and Tex.

A Family Bands Together

In 1944, on Thanksgiving Day, tragedy struck the Kilpatrick family when E.N. suffered a stroke and became partially paralyzed. His two young sons, K.D. and Tex, were forced to grow up quickly, and they purchased their father’s funeral homes and ran them under his direction until his death in 1954.

Effie had the distinct joy of seeing her sons grow the family funeral homes, as they expanded with locations in Farmerville (1927), Bernice (1935), Ruston (1938), West Monroe (1952) and Monroe (1977). The brothers would also own and operate Central American Life Insurance Company (CALICO) in West Monroe.

A Legacy of Compassionate Family Ownership Continues Today

Effie died in 1993, and K.D. retired from the businesses in 2001 and passed away in March of 2010. In 2008, Kilpatrick Funeral Homes purchased Twin Cities Memorial Gardens Cemetery and transformed the 27-acre perpetual care cemetery into Kilpatrick’s Serenity Gardens Cemetery. Tex Kilpatrick passed away in October of 2018.

Three generations later, Kilpatrick Funeral Homes remains family owned and operated, with Laura Kilpatrick Marchelos serving as president. Tex’s daughter, Laura, and her husband, Zak, are both licensed funeral directors. Together, they continue the legacy of family-focused, compassionate service that “Kil” began nearly a century ago.

A Legacy of Compassionate Family Ownership Continues Today

Effie died in 1993, and K.D. retired from the businesses in 2001 and passed away in March of 2010. In 2008, Kilpatrick Funeral Homes purchased Twin Cities Memorial Gardens Cemetery and transformed the 27-acre perpetual care cemetery into Kilpatrick’s Serenity Gardens Cemetery. Tex Kilpatrick passed away in October of 2018.

Three generations later, Kilpatrick Funeral Homes remains family owned and operated, with Laura Kilpatrick Marchelos serving as president. Tex’s daughter, Laura, and her husband, Zak, are both licensed funeral directors. Together, they continue the legacy of family-focused, compassionate service that “Kil” began nearly a century ago.