With the recession drying up businesses everywhere, Gregory B. Levett, Sr. decided it was a good time for him to expand his businessóand take advantage of President Obamaís stimulus package.

Levett, who has two funeral homes in DeKalb County and one in Gwinnett County, has added a fourth location to his portfolio. His latest venture in north Gwinnett, he says, is a move that allows him to serve communities north of I-85 including Buford, Norcross, Duluth, Flowery Branch, Alpharetta, Cummings, Bradenton and Gainesville. The acquisition is also one that sets him aside from the pack: The Gregory B. Levett & Sons Funeral Home & Crematory in Buford is the only African-American-owned funeral home located north of I-85.

"There wasnít a funeral home of our ethnic background north of 85 all the way to Gainesville," said Levett, adding that a black-owned funeral home that had been in the area closed. "We saw the potential for more growth, so we went for it."

Levett said he took advantaged of stimulus funds that President Obama made available recently though the U.S. Small Business Administration. He declined to reveal the price tag for the expansion, but said that he worked with Fidelity National Bank to finance the 16,000-square-foot property, formerly known as the Tapp Tim Stewart Funeral Home & Crematory. Levett closed on the deal on April 30.

The historic site, he said, first opened as the Tapp Funeral Home in 1903 before becoming Tapp Tim Stewart Funeral Home and Crematory five years ago. "They wanted to sell and expand somewhere else. I wanted to buy and expand in Gwinnett," said Levett, who performed 899 funerals last year and has conducted 470 funerals so far this year.

Levettís recent expansion follows the construction of the $2.1 million Gwinnett Chapel that Levett built at 914 Scenic Highway, Lawrenceville. Sparks Grizzard Construction completed the project in 2004.

With his latest acquisition, Levett was able to bring crematory services in house, which he had previously contracted out. He also now has more than 70 employees, significantly more than his humble start in 1980 with only a three-member staff. One of his staff additions is daughter, Deana, a rising junior at Clark Atlanta University, who is majoring in mass communications and psychology.

"She has the personality and the patience, and she loves working with people." Levett said of his daughter.

Deana joins her brothers, Gregory, Jr., Lanier and their mother, Betty, who are all active in the operation of the business.

Levett said with the expansion, he also decided to step up his efforts to promote the special services his funeral homes offer such as dove releases, harpists and horse and carriage services.

"We've always made those services available. But weíre just promoting it more now because we are getting a lot of requests –especially from people who are from New Orleans\ who want a horse and carriage service, " said Levett.

Levett said with the expansion, he will continue to do what he always has done: provide exemplary service.

"We don't take anything for granted. My philosophy is if you take care of Godís people, He will take care of you. This is not just a business for me; itís a ministry from my family and me," Levett said. "We give the same level of service no matter where people come from, whether they are the haves or the have nots. "