HOUSTON, July 12, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Carriage Services, Inc. (NYSE:CSV) announced today that it has completed an acquisition with Covenant Funeral Homes in Fredericksburg and Stafford Virginia. Covenant Funeral Homes serve over 1,000 families annually in these two highly attractive strategic growth markets southwest of Washington, D.C. along the I-95 corridor. The Mullins Family, a highly regarded funeral service family in Northern Virginia for over sixty years, constructed a “best in class” Covenant Funeral Home facility in Fredericksburg in 2001 and expanded their vision of Being The Best with a second Covenant facility in Stafford in 2008.

Mel Payne, Chairman and CEO of Carriage Services, stated, “Partnering with the Mullins Family with the addition of Covenant Funeral Homes to our portfolio in the strategic Northern Virginia area is in complete alignment with our Ten Year Vision of Being The Best by affiliating with the best remaining family owned funeral homes and cemeteries in the best strategic markets. The two Covenant Funeral Homes are known in Northern Virginia as elite businesses that have top-quality reputations, which is the hallmark of the Mullins Family. Speaking for the entire Carriage Family of elite businesses as well as the senior leadership of our company, we are indeed honored to have been selected by the Mullins Family as the new home for Covenant Funeral Homes. Moreover, we are committed to the idea and vision that 'The best is yet to come.'”

On behalf of the Mullins Family, David Mullins said, “Through the years, our family has been honored to serve many families during their loss of a loved one. At Covenant we honor that trust with personal service, modern spacious facilities, and an affordable fee structure. Our standards of service and expectations of our team members have led us to become one of the area’s most trusted providers. In partnering with the Carriage Services Family, our daily Mission To Be The Best will continue.”

About Carriage Services

Carriage Services is a leading provider of deathcare services and merchandise in the United States. Carriage operates 180 funeral homes in 29 states and 32 cemeteries in 11 states.