When Gene Hefelfinger graduated from high school, he went to work for L.L. Sams and Sons Church Furniture, one of the nation’s largest and most popular furniture suppliers in the 20th century. Hefelfinger began his career in the finishing room and learned everything he could about the furniture business. As the industry grew, so did the needs of its customers, but L.L. Sams only built furniture, it didn’t refurbish anything; that’s where Hefelfinger got the idea to start his own business.

Hefelfinger opened Southern Furniture Company in Waco, in 1969, and has become one of the most sought-after refinishers of church pews and related pieces in the United States. His recent projects include the restoration of the pews in St. Mary’s Church in Praha, Texas, the Perkins Chapel at Southern Methodist University and the Cathedral of San Fernando in San Antonio. Currently, he and a team of six are refurbishing the pews and chancel pieces for TCU’s Robert Carr Chapel.

The refurbishing process is laborious. Each piece of furniture is taken apart, repaired, stripped, sanded and prepped for fresh paint and stain. All of the work is completed by hand, and Hefelfinger estimates it will take approximately four months to complete this project.

When finished, the pews will be adorned with gray cushions to complement the new hardwood flooring and refinished pulpit, lectern, communion table, kneeling rail and organ console.