OUR VIEW: New business owners take a chance in a bad economy

Culpeper already had three well-established funeral homes, but Johnny L. Johnson thought there might be room for one more. 

Johnson, in the mortuary business for nearly 40 years, recently opened Horizon Funeral Home in a refurbished, 7,500-square-foot building on Old Brandy Road. Apart from contributing to the local economy during a prolonged recession, Johnson deserves praise for his lengthy service with the U.S. military, identifying soldiers’ remains from World War II and Vietnam.

In that role, he had the chilling task of being the man who would knock on families’ doors, explaining that their husband, son, brother or father had finally been found and identified. From there, he would handle the burial arrangements in Arlington National Cemetery or hometown plots across the country.

With such a distinguished background, Johnson is confident he can parlay his unique experience into a successful enterprise in Culpeper. We wish him the best.

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Jeff Brown was in the pit of despair. Within the course of four months, he had lost his job and his father. But that didn’t keep Brown, formerly a manager at Ruby Tuesday’s, from pursuing his dream.

A few months ago, Brown, 30, opened Pop’s Pizza in the Westside Village Center on Sperryville Pike. Running a pizza shop had always been something his father wanted to do. Now, Brown has honored his Pop’s memory, all the while forging his own employment destiny.

Will Culpeper be able to support another pizza joint in this rough economy? Will Pop’s be able to attract a loyal following and thrive? Nobody knows. But we give Brown major props for venturing out on his own and rolling the dice.

Stories like Brown’s are what makes America great.