For NC Funeral Homes
Preneed expertise built from nearly 50 years inside an independent funeral home.
Barbara Poole co-founded and operated an independent NC funeral home beginning in 1978. She knows preneed from the owner's side of the desk — what works, what fails, and what a funeral home actually needs to build a program worth passing on.
Does Any of This Sound Familiar?
Most funeral homes Barbara works with are in one of four situations.
We want a preneed program, but we don't know where to start.
You know preneed matters. You know it's being left on the table. But building a real program — with the right structure, staff, and habits — is a different problem than just signing with a carrier.
Our program exists but it's not producing what it should.
The contracts are there. The carriers are signed. But results are inconsistent, follow-through is weak, and nobody's quite sure what's wrong. An outside assessment changes that conversation.
We hired a preneed counselor but they need real training.
Carrier product training is not counselor development. There's a difference between someone who knows the product and someone who can earn a family's trust and guide them through a preneed arrangement.
We're not confident our program meets NC requirements.
The NC Board of Funeral Service has specific expectations for preneed operations. Most gaps aren't intentional — they're the result of programs that grew without a compliance framework built in from the start.
How It Works
A practical, no-pressure process.
Every engagement starts with an honest conversation about where your program stands. From there, Barbara designs an approach that fits your funeral home — not a generic consulting template.
01
We talk about your situation.
A confidential conversation — no pitch, no sales process. Barbara listens, asks the right questions, and gives you a direct assessment of what she sees.
02
Barbara designs the engagement.
Whether you need a full program build, a targeted assessment, counselor training, or an ongoing advisory relationship — the scope is built around your actual needs.
03
Your program produces results.
Sustainable preneed results come from strong foundations: the right structure, trained people, and consistent habits. That's what Barbara builds.
About Barbara Poole
"If you are going to operate a business in this community, I believe you should be a part of it. There is no way you can buy what that offers."
Barbara Poole is a Licensed Funeral Director and Crematory Operator in North Carolina who co-founded an independent funeral home in Knightdale in 1978. She has spent nearly five decades building a business, serving families, leading the community, and serving as District 3 Director of the NC Funeral Directors Association. In 2017, the Knightdale Chamber of Commerce named her Citizen of the Year — recognizing a career built on stewardship, leadership, and service.
Read Barbara's full storyCredentials & Recognition
- Licensed NC Funeral Director
- Licensed NC Crematory Operator
- Licensed Cosmetologist
- District 3 Director — NC Funeral Directors Association
- Board of Directors — Knightdale Chamber of Commerce
- 2017 Citizen of the Year — Knightdale Chamber
- Co-founder, L. Harold Poole Endowed Scholarship, Fayetteville Technical Community College
- Nearly 50 years in independent funeral home operations
What Makes Barbara Different
Experience that comes from inside the business, not outside it.
Built It Herself
Barbara did not study funeral homes from the outside. She co-founded one in 1978 and ran it. She understands preneed from the perspective of the owner who made payroll, managed staff, and faced the same decisions you face.
Knows the Owner's Side of the Desk
Most preneed consultants come from the carrier or counselor side. Barbara comes from ownership. She knows what a program looks like when it helps the funeral home — and when it quietly works against it.
Deep NC Standing
District 3 Director, NC Funeral Directors Association. Nearly 40 years on the Knightdale Chamber of Commerce. 2017 Citizen of the Year. The relationships and reputation Barbara brings are built over decades, not a business card.
Stewardship Over Shortcuts
Barbara's approach has always been built on stewardship, leadership, and service. She will tell you what your program actually needs — not what's easiest to sell.
Let's talk about your preneed program.
A short, confidential conversation. No pitch. Just an honest look at where your program stands and whether Barbara can help.