Casket Co. set to close

By John Howell
Panola economic development officials are expected to begin an immediate search for an industry that will be interested in the Batesville Casket Company facility after it closes in March, 2017.
Batesville Casket Company corporate officials made the closing announcement to Panola plant employees on Thursday. The announcement effects over 200 people.
Employees were given severance information that included instructions on how to meet with plant human resources representatives to learn about status of benefits, outplacement services and how to apply for unemployment benefits.
Panola Industrial Development Authority President Gary Kornegay, who is also a member of the Panola Partnership Board of Directors, and Batesville Mayor Jerry Autrey both said that a corporate official had called to inform them Thursday about the plant’s closing.
“The facility will be for sale,” said Kornegay, who noted that furniture manufacturers who have moved operations offshore are beginning to return to facilities in the U. S.
“It’s an excellent facility for somebody in that type business,” Kornegay said.
“That’s a good building; it’s got a good clinic (wellness center) and good employees,” Autrey said.
A closing announcement has been anticipated ever since Batesville Casket Company opened a plant in Chihuahua, Mexico years ago to make wood caskets for the funeral industry similar to those produced in the Panola plant.
Kornegay and Autrey said that the Batesville Casket Company corporate official also cited the growing number of cremations that have reduced the demand for wood caskets.
The Panola plant closing catches the Panola Partnership at a time when it is without a executive director. Former CEO Sonny Simmons was terminated in September. The mayor said that a search committee is in the process of conducting interviews for a new Partnership CEO.