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When Hunter Beattie put down a deposit on an aquamation machine in 2022, both he and his wife, Veronica, questioned his sanity.

The machine uses a process known as alkaline hydrolysis to dispose of much of what is left of a body after death. It’s basically cremation, but with water instead of fire—and with a much smaller environmental footprint.

Soon the Beatties bought a 3,000 square-foot former pediatric dentist’s office in Hillsborough, painting over the murals of Minions and Disney characters and instead making it a place grieving families might find some solace in a different style of funeral rite. 

Endswell was the third aquamation facility in North Carolina, which only legalized the practice in 2018. Janine Latus takes us inside not just the process, but what’s making it catch on as an end-of-life option.

Take Me To The Water

In the six years since it was legalized in North Carolina, aquamation—or disposing of bodies through alkaline hydrolysis—has become an increasingly popular funeral rite.

Have a news tip for our team? You can reach us at scoops@theassemblync.com.

Spotlight on Durham

Durham Mayor Leo Williams may have gotten bumped from Wednesday night’s Democratic National Convention lineup (as did James Taylor on the first night, apparently), but he ended up making an appearance last night.

Read the profile of Williams we ran earlier this week.

What We’re Reading

Smile: A new lawsuit filed this week challenges North Carolina’s ban on “ballot selfies” on First Amendment grounds, WRAL reports.

Dear John: Former N.C. Sen. John Edwards has been an unexpected sight at the DNC this week. The New York Times looks at his reemergence.

Ball of Wax: Raleigh’s Terpsichorean Club claims to organize the last statewide debutante ball in the country, a shadowy world that a former participant has chronicled in a new podcast. Read INDY Week‘s take on it or listen to the podcast.

Our Recent Stories

Former Politician Named CEO of Wilmington’s Most Powerful Nonprofit

Dan Winslow has been named the new CEO of the New Hanover Community Endowment. With no philanthropic track record, he must win over skeptics.

The Bull City’s Ringmaster

Halfway through his first year, Durham Mayor Leo Williams has an ambitious vision, a growing list of policy wins, and more than a few discontented constituents. How far can his approach take him?

Feeding An Army

Nearly one out of three Fort Liberty soldiers and their family members are food insecure. Can efforts to address it fill the gap?

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