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A2 September 2, 2021 The Chronicle Shell follows dream of becoming funeral director, looks to pay it forward BY TEVIN STINSON THE CHRONICLE Anyone who has found their passion more than likely can tell you the ex act moment they realized they had found something they love to do. For Win ston-Salem native Damien Shell, that moment came when he was only nine years old, about a month after attending his grand father’s funeral. “When they told me my grandfa ther had died, I didn’t real ly understand at first,” said Shell when discussing the passing of his grandfather. “Until we got to the visitation at the funeral home and I just started asking a lot of questions ... ‘What is granddaddy doing up there laying in a box? Why does he have on makeup?’ I asked a whole bunch of questions and a month after that I told my grandmother that’s what I wanted to be ... at the time she told me it was called an undertaker and I didn’t budge since I was nine, I knew that was what I wanted to do.” Today, Shell is the di rector of Damien C. Shell Funeral Service Practitio ner, Shell said after he told his grandmother, he start ed to do more research and his passion and willing Submitted photo Damien Shell ness to learn more about the profession continued to grow. “As I got older I real ized I have a knack for caring for people and showing people I care and that’s something you have to have in funeral service,” he continued. “You have to have a caring heart because if you’re not a people per son or you don’t have that in you, then it’s hard to re ally do what you’re called to do.” Shell’s dream started becoming more of a reality when he was 16 years old and was presented with an opportunity to join the staff at Russell’s Funeral Home. He said his grandmother, who was good friends with Charlene Russell Brown and Cedric Russell, put in a good word for him. “She called and asked if they needed help and Ce dric said yes and the rest is history. And I’m not lying, I’m there and to this day I haven’t went anywhere,” Shell laughed. “That’s how I got on there and I’ve been there ever since. They’re the reason I am who I am to day ... they gave me the foundation and taught me how to be a dedicated ser vant to the people.” Shell continued to work at Russell’s through out high school and dur ing undergrad at Winston- Salem State University, where he majored in busi ness management. After graduating in 2013, he continued to work at Rus sell Funeral Home and be gan working with Perry J. Brown Funeral Home un der the direction of Charles E. Coote, Jr. in Greens boro. In 2018 he finished his studies to become a licensed funeral director. That same year Shell also earned his masters in adult education from N.C. A&T State University. Damian C. Shell Fu neral Practitioner held its first service last Septem ber. In addition to offer ing all the services offered by funeral homes, Shell Funeral Practitioners also offers tribute videos, on- line memorials, and grief support at a reasonable cost. Shell said although he offers all the services of a normal funeral home, he doesn’t own the physical building or facility, in es sence keeping costs down. “We can do everything that a funeral home does except it’s all contracted, so my overhead is very low, meaning families that don’t have $10,000 to $20,000 sitting on the side, I can help them and that’s the key, being able to help,” Shell said. “The business is Set to where I’m considered an unaffili- ated funeral service prac titioner - meaning I have the business license to be able to conduct funerals, memorial services, and do everything a normal funer al home would, but 1 don’t own the building and all that stuff,” Shell said. Rounding out Shell’s team is Lisette Choate, fu neral service professional and Spanish translator, and Rochelle Joyner, funeral care professional. Cho ate said she was excited to join the team after sit ting down with Shell a few months ago. “My husband and I came and met with Damien and after he gave us the synopsis of what he was trying to do, we be lieved it was a good match and I was excited to join the team,” Choate said family meals ready when you are AM 1 Visit foodlion.com/catering or stop by the deli at your local store. Pick up your order from the deli at a time that works for you. Place your order by filling out the order form online or in-store. Joyner, who is the co- owner of Joyner Removal Service, has known Shell for more than 20 years. She said it has been an honor to be able to witness Shell’s journey and to be able to work with him. “It’s an honor to be able to work with him in this capacity,” Joyner con tinued. “It’s just a blessing to see how he has grown FOOD^LION CATERING as a young man in this pro fession.” Shell said ultimately his goal is to turn the busi ness over to his team and start a facility for training up-and-coming funeral di rectors. “My goal is to start doing more education and possibly create an acad emy for educating young up-and-coming funeral directors,” Shell said. “So that way they can learn just like I did and I’m giv ing back just like it was given to me.” For more information about Damien C. Shell Fu neral Service Practitioner, visit https://www.damien- shellfsp.com or call 336- 331-9024. CONTACTING THE CHRONICLE www.wschronicle.com 1300 E. Fifth St., Winston Salem, N.C. 27101 Main Phone Number: 336-722-8624 Advertising: Ext. 113 Circulation/Subscriptions: Ext. 100 To send news items: email news@wschronicle.com To send a Letter to the Editor (350 words or less) or column (550 words or less): email letters@wschronicle.com For advertising: email adv@wschronicle.com For subscriptions: email plewis@wschronicle.com Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/WSChron- icle Follow us on Twitter: WS Chronicle The Chronicle (USPS 067-910) was established by Ernest H. Pitt and Ndubisi Egemonye in 1974 and is published every Thursday by Chronicle Media Group, LLC, 1300 E. Fifth St., Winston Salem, N.C. 27101. Periodicals postage paid at Winston-Salem, N.C. An nual subscription price is $30.72. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Chronicle, P.O. Box 1636 Winston-Salem, NC 27102-1636 Editor: Ext. 108
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