by Brianna Smith-Herman —
Funeral homes are in abundance in Memphis. I’m sure it’s because we live in the Bible Belt. You can find a funeral home in every region of The Bluff City.
So, it came as no surprise when I first saw Netflix release the trailer for their new reality series, “Buried by the Bernards.”
In this quirky show, viewers are introduced to the Bernard family, who own and operate a Memphis funeral home with lots of family love, drama, emotions and sarcasm.
The series follows Ryan Bernard, owner of R. Bernard Funeral Services. He founded the business with the hope that he’ would be able to pass it down to his daughters, Deja Bernard, funeral director apprentice, and Reagan Bernard.
He’s also assisted by his mother, Debbie Bernard, and uncle, Kevin Miller.
Since 2017, they’ve been offering a $1,895 funeral package that features live streaming of funeral services, as well as drive-through viewings.
I know you’re probably wondering how this local family got the attention of Netflix.
Well, it all started when Debbie Bernard had an idea to create a commercial to advertise their low-priced, drive-thru viewing services. Unexpectedly, the commercial went viral and it was featured on Steve Harvey’s TV show, in The New York Post and in a feature on HBO.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvPaiTMTXmg
In the eight episodic dramedy series, the audience will enjoy the day-to-day operations that were filmed in the beginning of 2020, causing the business to grow during the pandemic.
Now, the family is going to premiere their own reality series on Netflix on Friday (Feb. 12).
“Buried by the Bernards” is a family dra-medy at the center, according to Netflix’s press release. The family-owned and operated business provides the community top-tier care, service and comfort, with a side of laughter in the toughest of times.
“In this line of work, the Bernards can’t neglect supporting each other and have their own special recipe for preserving their relationships – it’s one part understanding, a pinch of sarcasm, and a heaping spoonful of blatant honesty. In this reality series, the bickering but big-hearted Bernards manage their budget-friendly funeral home while helping grieving families say farewell.”
