The family business was begun in the 1879s when great-grandfather John McAlister moved from his home in upstate South Carolina to Charleston, where he joined his brother, James, in business. James owned an established livery and boarding stables, and John was one of the first licensed embalmers in the state. In time, James decided to sell the business - then called McAlister Brothers - to John, who changed the name to John McAlister, Inc. Over the years, a family funeral business evolved, employing several generations of family members.

Eventually James, great grandson of the founding McAlister, found his way into the family business, too. "I had done several things since college, including running a restaurant," he says. "But I had grown up in the funeral home, and I finally decided I wanted to be a funeral director." James went to work for the business and attended classes at Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science, from which he received an Associate of Science degree in 1987.

In the following years, James found that his family's business, like many others, harbored fierce power struggles. Ultimately, one set of relatives gained control of the business and later several employees, including James, left the business.

Although he did not leave voluntarily, James saw this change as a great personal opportunity. "The circumstances allowed me to start a business and continue a great family tradition," he states. As it so happened, years before, James' grandfather had owned a parcel of land just outside of Charleston, and he wished to open another funeral home there. The family bypassed his dream and the funeral home was never built. James was able to purchase property adjacent to the land his grandfather had owned, and it was there that he built his own funeral home. "I feel that I have fulfilled my grandfather's dream," he says, with pride.

Business has been good for James A. McAlister, Inc. since it opened this past December. In fact, the firm received a call the very first day it ran an ad in the local paper, and has served 33 families in its first six months of operation. "A lot of people are calling on us because of our convenient location and because of established personal relationships," says James. "This community has been very good to my family and supported our business for more than 100 years. I'm very humbled by the response." In return, James says he makes sure the family tradition of personal service and attention to detail is always in practice.

When asked what advice he would give to others who might find themselves in the same position, James says firmly, "Don't hesitate. And don't look back."

Helen K. Kelley is a freelance writer in Atlanta, GA.
Feature article from Alliance Magazine, July 1998. Reprinted with permission.