Hargett and Bryant Funeral Home

Hargett and Bryant Funeral Home, at 519 Apple St., Burlington, and Hargett Mutual Burial Association � and bookkeeping by Dennis Maynard, the association�s secretary-treasurer and funeral home�s corporation president � were investigated by the N.C. Board of Funeral Service in 2011 and 2012.As a result of the investigation, the funeral home and burial association entered into a consent agreement with the state Feb. 13, placing them on probation in a stay of their license revocations. Maynard was also removed as the secretary-treasurer of Hargett Mutual Burial Association.The state released notice of the consent order and disciplinary action March 6.A representative of Hargett and Bryant Funeral Home was unable to be reached for comment Tuesday.The investigation showed that Maynard had withdrawn more than 30 percent of the burial association�s annual operating revenues in 2011, the consent order said. Hargett and Bryant owed the burial association $28,625.94 in 2011, and Maynard failed to report the debt on the burial association�s 2008, 2009 and 2010 annual reports.Further, the burial association �failed to properly set up its deposit accounts� and Maynard failed to disclose a $5,500 withdrawal on June 1, 2010.Hargett and Bryant was ordered to pay $47,298.94 in restitution to the burial association. The state board froze the burial association�s accounts indefinitely. Peter Burke, N.C. Board of Funeral Service executive director, said those accounts would remain frozen at least until the $47,000 debt is repaid. Members are still expected to pay their dues to the association but withdrawals, in the case of a death, can�t be made without the state board�s approval.Once the restitution is paid, the burial association must be dissolved within 90 days in accordance with state laws, the consent order says.The burial association was also found to have fewer than... (Burlington Times News)