Our Family Helping Yours
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to be the funeral home and crematory that families in Central Virginia choose most. We provide affordable options for funerals, cremations, preplanning, burial services, and pet loss care. As a family-owned and operated business with locations in Lynchburg, Bedford, Smith Mountain Lake, Madison Heights, and Roanoke, we’ve been dedicated to serving the Central Virginia community for nearly 100 years.
Chris Tharp, Co-Owner
Chris Tharp, Co-Owner and his sons Teddy (left) and John (right)
Skip is proud to have passed the day to day leadership of the company on to his son, Chris Tharp, the 3rd generation of Tharp’s local family ownership!
Chris Tharp is a native of Bedford where he graduated from Liberty High School. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Richmond and graduate degrees from Brown University and the
University of Virginia. Chris is the 3rd generation of the Tharp family to enter funeral service following both his father and grandfather into the profession. Chris and his wife, Sarah, an elementary school teacher, enjoy spending time with their sons, John and Ted, and working outside in their garden.
Chris is also an avid cyclist who enjoys riding with friends along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Murrell W. Thornhill, IV Co-Owner
Co-owner of Tharp Funeral Home, Murrell Thornhill, and his family
Murrell W. Thornhill IV, is a co-owner of Tharp Funeral Home. He is a native of Lynchburg, where he graduated from Heritage High School. He has undergraduate degrees from John Tyler Community college, Norfolk State University, and a Graduate degree from Longwood University.
After his service in the United States Army, stationed at Ft Bragg, NC, Murrell attended John Tyler Community College and became a licensed funeral director in 2003.
He is married to Adrian Barbour Thornhill, and he has three children: Imoni, Tyler, and Alexis Thornhill. Murrell is very active in the community and is a member of various organizations. In his spare time he enjoys volunteering to help others spending time with his family, and exercising.
