A British expat who left his £30,000-a-year communications job in London now runs a multi-million-dollar cemetery business in the deep south of the United States.
Tim Amoui, 35, from Bolton, England, transformed his life when he took over Lincoln Memorial Group in Atlanta, Georgia—a cemetery business turning over $6 million (roughly £4,594,000) annually.
Amoui, along with his American fiancée Shayda Frost, 36, inherited the business after the passing of Shayda’s father. Now responsible for six cemeteries spanning 250 acres, Amoui said the drastic change in career has been nothing short of life-altering.
"When I tell people back home that I run cemeteries in Atlanta, they don't believe me, they think I'm joking,” said Tim.
“To think I used to be riding the tube to work every morning and now I'm in Atlanta running cemeteries seems insane, but I guess you never know what life has planned for you.”
Tim, who now calls himself a “cemeterian,” had previously worked at the PR firm Third City in London before moving to the US six years ago.
He met Shayda, who was studying at London’s MetFilm School, through mutual friends. After several years of a long-distance relationship, Tim left his London job in 2018 and moved to Los Angeles, where Shayda was pursuing a career in Hollywood.
Shortly after, the couple’s plans took a dramatic turn. Shayda’s father, Jack, passed away from cancer, leaving them in charge of six cemeteries, including Lincoln Memorial—one of the most historically significant cemeteries in America. The cemetery is known for being the final resting place of civil rights icons such as Ralph Abernathy and Hosea Williams.
Tim and Shayda, who plan to marry this October, found themselves managing a business that conducts over 1,000 burials each year.
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Reflecting on the unexpected nature of their situation, Tim admitted: "Never in a million years did I think I would be in the deep south selling cemetery spaces."
Despite their lack of experience in the industry, the couple has taken on the challenge of maintaining and growing the business. In addition to traditional burials, they are now exploring the addition of cremation services and other offerings.
“The community aspect is the best part of the job,” said Tim. “We have a duty to serve the community of Atlanta. Over 100,000 people have been buried at Lincoln, and their loved ones come here to honor them. It’s a unique responsibility because unlike other businesses, we have to be here forever.
“I always wanted to run my own business, but this was never the plan,” he said. "Still, you never know where life will take you."
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