Shelia Champion believes phobias bring us to fascination. Champion developed a phobia of death from attending her grandfather’s funeral when she was 11. Then, when her mother died in 2001, she knew she had to face her fears. Champion attended her mother’s funeral and had a breakdown. Then she said, “It was like God just poured a bucket of peace on me,” and her fear went away.

Champion has opened Alabama’s first green burial ground in Hazel Green; a green burial ground is cemetery but there’s no embalming, there are no vaults, the caskets have to be plain with minimal metal, among other things. The Good Earth incorporated in 2015 and the cemetery opened in March 2016. Champion started her business on three tenants: more family involvement, to save money, and the environment.

In this video, Champion talks about green burials and what it’s like owning and operating a green burial ground.