James Aubry Dyal, known as "Jimmy,"
knew that he wanted to be a funeral
director at age 14. With that goal in
mind, he plotted a course that has led
him to realize his ambition. After
graduation from St. Paul's High School
in Hollywood, S.C., he served for two
years in the U.S. Army, then attended
Kentucky School of Embalming
in 1958. Upon graduation, he and his
wife, Mary Alice, returned to
Charleston, where he worked for a
funeral home for four years.

In 1963 they purchased an old
Summerville home, known as The
Cauthen Home, which had been the home of a mayor of the town for many years, located at 123 East Luke Avenue. It was renovated making the funeral home on the first floor and the Dyal residence on the second floor. They remained in that facility until a new modern facility was built in 1976, located at 303 South Main Street, across from Summerville Town Hall in the heart of town.

                                                                              The present facility
                                                                               features a large foyer, four
                                                                               offices, three reposing
                                                                               rooms, a casket and
                                                                               cremation showroom,
                                                                               preparation room, story
                                                                               room, and a chapel that
                                                                               seats 250 people. The
                                                                               facility also contains an
                                                                               apartment, where the
                                                                               Dyal family lived for
                                                                               several years.

               In 1978 the Dyal family established Dorchester
                                 Memory Gardens located at 11000
                                 Dorchester Road, and in 1992 Tri-County
                                 Cremation Center was established and is
                                 located in the office building at
                                     Dorchester Memory Gardens. There is a
                                          chapel there that seats 120 people.

                                          Dyal Funeral Home has 16
                                           employees, five are licensed
                                            funeral directors and embalmers,
                                            and three licensed funeral directors.
                                            Other staff members serve as
                                            greeters during visitations and in
                                            various capacities.

All members of the James A. Dyal family are active in the business: Jimmy, Mary Alice, James, and Elizabeth play a part in the daily operation of the business. Jimmy is quick to give his dedicated, talented, and loyal staff and associates credit for the successes of his business.

What started as
a dream has
become a life-
time commitment
by the Dyal
family in serving
Summerville and
the Tri-County
area.