Lions’ Den employee drives hearse with pride

On the surface, Jennifer Smith, a cashier in the Lion's Den for SODEXO, is not that different from everybody else.

She does a regular routine every morning just like anyone. She gets up and goes to one of her two jobs, driving her converted 1986 Cadillac Fleetwood hearse.

"My brother actually won that car in a Halloween costume contest and didn't have time for it, so I ended up with it," Smith said. "Within three days of having it here in Joplin, 10 people knocked on my door and informed me that there is actually a whole club of hearse members in town."

Smith said she was surprised that there would be such a club here in Joplin, but she was curious and joined the Chariots of the Dead Hearse Club. Smith has discovered that the club is more than just about hearses.

"We're all about most service vehicles," Smith said. "That includes fire trucks, ambulances, and things of that nature. They've done good for the community and after they are retired, they usually get sent out and left to rust. We feel that they should be remembered and honored in the community.

"Instead of leaving them in a pasture to rot, I believe that all service vehicles should be remembered because they have given so much to their communities and there's no sense in forgetting about them,"

The hearse club strives to have a positive association with the community by hosting fundraisers and a yearly show, but despite the efforts of the group, Smith said people still attach a negative stigma to her vehicle.

"That's my every day driver and that's something I'm very proud of because it's something my brother worked very hard with his artistic ability to win," Smith said. "It has a lot of sentimental value. I have found a lot of people make assumptions. They just assume some really strange, morbid person would have that, but sometimes you should stop and ask a few questions before you make assumptions, because I'm a very nice person."

Chariots of the Dead is hosting the eighth annual Hearse Show at noon on Saturday, at 2707 E. 32 next to Max's gas station. There will be booths, door prizes and a raffle for a casket. Admittance is free and all ages are welcome to attend. Information about the hearse club can be found at chariotsofthedead.com.