F. Joe Griffith, left, funeral director at Twiford Funeral Homes, is shown with Bryant Hightower Jr., president of the NFDA.

Twiford Funeral Home has been honored by The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) with the 2021 Pursuit of Excellence Award. Only 542 funeral home locations around the globe – 100 funeral business and 432 funeral home branch locations – were honored with a 2021 Pursuit of Excellence Award, placing Twiford Funeral Home among an elite group of funeral service providers. Pursuit of Excellence Award recipients raise the bar on funeral service excellence by adhering to the highest ethical and professional standards and providing unsurpassed service to families and communities. The award is presented by NFDA annually to firms that have demonstrated a commitment to raising the bar on funeral service excellence by adhering to strict ethical and professional standards and providing outstanding service to families and communities.

As the pandemic continues to impact our country, funeral homes are finding extraordinary ways to meet the moment and provide meaningful support to grieving families and communities. The Pursuit of Excellence Task Force was very impressed with Twiford Funeral Home and commends the staff for their hard work and dedication during these challenging times.

David H. Twiford, Sr. commented that “this year’s award is our thirty-third consecutive win, and we are one of five funeral homes worldwide who have won the award for over thirty years. We are honored to be recognized by winning this award.”

The Outer Banks Family YMCA and the Albemarle Family YMCA are so thankful for David Twiford, Jr., J.J. Twiford, and Twiford Funeral Homes for kicking off our #GivingTuesday with a $500 donation for Camp Grom. Camp Grom is the YMCA camp for wounded warriors, Gold Star families and adults and children with differing abilities. Twiford Funeral Homes is the exclusive provider of Veterans Funeral Care for all of Northeast NC, whose mission is to support our veterans and their families in any way possible to help repay them for their service. The YMCA’s Camp Grom is unique in its service to our veterans and their families.
Quoted from the Facebook pages of the Albemarle Family YMCA and the Outer Banks Family YMCA. 

Day, Chris. “Twiford honored with Long Leaf Pine.” The Daily Advance, 16 September 2019, A1+

Last week’s second annual Patriot Day Celebration at Twiford Funeral Home in Elizabeth City paid tribute to the nearly 3,000 people who died in the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

Many of the lives lost that day were police, firefighters and other first responders, plus members of the military.

So it was only fitting that Wednesday’s event include a surprise for the man who has dedicated a considerable part of his life to remembering veterans and fallen first responders.

David Twiford, owner of Twiford Funeral Home, was presented the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by state Sen. Bob Steinburg, R-Chowan. The award, which is the state’s highest honor presented to a civilian for service to their community, was a surprise kept well hidden from Twiford.

“It was a total surprise. I had no idea,” he said of the award. “It’s an honor. I’m very humbled to receive it.”

At the end of Wednesday’s hour-long service in Sam A. Twiford Veterans Park, Steinburg stepped to the podium and asked Twiford if he liked surprises. Steinburg then called on Elizabeth City resident Holly Audette, who had been seated in the audience and safekeeping the award until the announcement.

Joining Steinburg in the presentation was retired Marine Corps Sgt. Major Harold G. Overstreet, who’s also a longtime friend of Twiford’s. Overstreet had earlier given the event’s keynote speech.

With Twiford standing beside him, Steinburg read aloud the award citation, which was signed by Gov. Roy Cooper. The award was presented for the many years Twiford has worked to provide funeral care for veterans, as well as his local work to honor veterans and first responders.

In October 2011, Twiford dedicated Sam A. Twiford Veterans Park in honor of his father, who was a veteran of World War II. The park is located behind the funeral home at 405 E. Church St. in Elizabeth City.

Last year, Twiford Funeral Home hosted its inaugural Patriot Day Celebration, and Wednesday’s event, held on the 18th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, attracted more than 200 residents. The celebration also featured the posting of a national flag that once flew over the World Trade Center rubble at ground zero in New York City.

“I thought it was awesome,” Twiford said of the event, adding the turnout was larger than last year’s.

Day, Chris. “Twiford honored with Long Leaf Pine.” The Daily Advance, 16 September 2019, A1+

F. Joe Griffith, left, funeral director at Twiford Funeral Homes, is shown with Bryant Hightower Jr., president of the NFDA.

Twiford Funeral Home has been honored by The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) with the 2021 Pursuit of Excellence Award. Only 542 funeral home locations around the globe – 100 funeral business and 432 funeral home branch locations – were honored with a 2021 Pursuit of Excellence Award, placing Twiford Funeral Home among an elite group of funeral service providers. Pursuit of Excellence Award recipients raise the bar on funeral service excellence by adhering to the highest ethical and professional standards and providing unsurpassed service to families and communities. The award is presented by NFDA annually to firms that have demonstrated a commitment to raising the bar on funeral service excellence by adhering to strict ethical and professional standards and providing outstanding service to families and communities.

As the pandemic continues to impact our country, funeral homes are finding extraordinary ways to meet the moment and provide meaningful support to grieving families and communities. The Pursuit of Excellence Task Force was very impressed with Twiford Funeral Home and commends the staff for their hard work and dedication during these challenging times.

David H. Twiford, Sr. commented that “this year’s award is our thirty-third consecutive win, and we are one of five funeral homes worldwide who have won the award for over thirty years. We are honored to be recognized by winning this award.”

The Outer Banks Family YMCA and the Albemarle Family YMCA are so thankful for David Twiford, Jr., J.J. Twiford, and Twiford Funeral Homes for kicking off our #GivingTuesday with a $500 donation for Camp Grom. Camp Grom is the YMCA camp for wounded warriors, Gold Star families and adults and children with differing abilities. Twiford Funeral Homes is the exclusive provider of Veterans Funeral Care for all of Northeast NC, whose mission is to support our veterans and their families in any way possible to help repay them for their service. The YMCA’s Camp Grom is unique in its service to our veterans and their families.
Quoted from the Facebook pages of the Albemarle Family YMCA and the Outer Banks Family YMCA. 

Day, Chris. “Twiford honored with Long Leaf Pine.” The Daily Advance, 16 September 2019, A1+

Last week’s second annual Patriot Day Celebration at Twiford Funeral Home in Elizabeth City paid tribute to the nearly 3,000 people who died in the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

Many of the lives lost that day were police, firefighters and other first responders, plus members of the military.

So it was only fitting that Wednesday’s event include a surprise for the man who has dedicated a considerable part of his life to remembering veterans and fallen first responders.

David Twiford, owner of Twiford Funeral Home, was presented the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by state Sen. Bob Steinburg, R-Chowan. The award, which is the state’s highest honor presented to a civilian for service to their community, was a surprise kept well hidden from Twiford.

“It was a total surprise. I had no idea,” he said of the award. “It’s an honor. I’m very humbled to receive it.”

At the end of Wednesday’s hour-long service in Sam A. Twiford Veterans Park, Steinburg stepped to the podium and asked Twiford if he liked surprises. Steinburg then called on Elizabeth City resident Holly Audette, who had been seated in the audience and safekeeping the award until the announcement.

Joining Steinburg in the presentation was retired Marine Corps Sgt. Major Harold G. Overstreet, who’s also a longtime friend of Twiford’s. Overstreet had earlier given the event’s keynote speech.

With Twiford standing beside him, Steinburg read aloud the award citation, which was signed by Gov. Roy Cooper. The award was presented for the many years Twiford has worked to provide funeral care for veterans, as well as his local work to honor veterans and first responders.

In October 2011, Twiford dedicated Sam A. Twiford Veterans Park in honor of his father, who was a veteran of World War II. The park is located behind the funeral home at 405 E. Church St. in Elizabeth City.

Last year, Twiford Funeral Home hosted its inaugural Patriot Day Celebration, and Wednesday’s event, held on the 18th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, attracted more than 200 residents. The celebration also featured the posting of a national flag that once flew over the World Trade Center rubble at ground zero in New York City.

“I thought it was awesome,” Twiford said of the event, adding the turnout was larger than last year’s.

Day, Chris. “Twiford honored with Long Leaf Pine.” The Daily Advance, 16 September 2019, A1+