Funeral Services
At Southern Cremations & Funerals, we provide experiences that celebrate life. We know that togetherness and having a shared, uplifting service experience with family, friends, and neighbors help healing begin. Here are some ideas to keep in mind while planning your loved one’s service.
We Celebrate Life
Southern Cremations & Funerals excels at helping families create unique experiences for memorializing a loved one. Whether in addition to a traditional service or as a standalone service, we can create something that distinctly celebrates the life and interests of a person.
A unique life celebration can involve video tribute options, luncheon options, live streaming options, photo boards, secular music, live performances, poetry readings, homemade food, or anything else you can imagine.
The presence of a loved one’s interests and even personal items can make these services extremely powerful and uplifting, It can be as simple as having items from a hobby or interest present, or can involve an activity like sharing recipes or writing and collecting memories to share with everyone.
Overview of Funeral Services
While many families still choose more traditional funeral services, others prefer to create new and unique experiences. Regardless of your needs, we promise to help arrange a truly meaningful celebration of your loved one’s life.
We know how important pets are to many families, and we welcome them to be present for a private viewing at our funeral home.
Gathering, Visitation and Viewing
A gathering of family and friends is often referred to as a viewing or visitation. Traditionally the casket is present, either open or closed. These gatherings can be held at the funeral home, church or place of worship, or other acceptable venues allowing friends and family to come together and pay their final respects to the person who has died. It is also a time for closure, when those left behind can say goodbye.
Explore your Options
Here are some common examples of funeral services chosen most often by the family’s we serve. These services can be held over multiple days or can be accomplished on the same day if desired. We can tailor any of these options to meet your individual needs.
- Viewing or visitation hours, followed by the funeral service in the funeral home chapel
- Viewing or visitation hours, followed by the graveside service
- Closed Casket with visitation, funeral service and/or graveside services
- Viewing or visitation followed by cremation
Service Venues
You can have funeral services at a variety of venues; most popular being at your church or place of worship, in one of our chapels or at the graveside (or mausoleum). Reception services are also becoming a popular choice for families.
Church Ceremony
The church has meant so much to your family and your community. Perhaps you were dedicated there as an infant, baptized there as a child or celebrated your marriage there surrounded by family and friends. It only makes sense to involve your church family in your final life event of a funeral.
We believe in supporting the church as much as you do. That’s why; we specialize in hosting your funeral at your local church where you’ll be surrounded by the ones you love in a place familiar and dear to your heart.
Church funerals are typically scheduled in the morning, and are followed by the graveside committal service.
Chapel Service
Chapel Services are popular with families whose loved one was not affiliated with a church at the time of their passing, families who are located outside of our area or those who may not be able to attend a lengthy church service.
When you choose to hold a service in our chapel, it eliminates the need to convert a visitation room for a funeral (like many of the other funeral homes in our area). This dedicated room features seating for over 100 guests, the latest in audio and video equipment and a welcoming décor.
Our beautiful, inviting chapel provides the perfect setting for services of any type.
Graveside Ceremony
A Graveside Service can be anything from a small, casual gathering of family and close friends, to a larger grouping with a formal schedule of events. Many times, the graveside ceremony will follow a time of visitation at the funeral home, a funeral service in church or place of worship, or one of our chapels. Some families choose to have a graveside service, followed by a memorial service in the future. You may also choose to only have a service at the graveside. Family and friends would simply gather at the cemetery for the committal service of the casket. Clergy, friends or loved ones may take an active part in the graveside ceremony. Service, poems may be read or a special song can be sung.
Personalizing your Experience
Memorial Services and Life Celebrations
Many families are forgoing traditional services for more contemporary ones. A memorial service or life celebration service may be the perfect option to share memories of that special loved one. Typically, the casket is not present for these services and the service is held before or after the deceased is buried or entombed.
These services can be performed at a local restaurant, reception center, country club, hotel banquet facility, a family member’s home or even in a park. The possibilities are endless.
On and off-site reception services are becoming increasingly popular with the families we serve.
Picture Tribute Videos
Service Livestreaming and Recording
There is no better way to remember your loved one than with a special personalized DVD tribute. Our Life Tribute video program incorporates your family’s pictures with music into a presentation that can be played at the visitation, during the service, or at the conclusion of the service. You can also post the video online for family and friends around the world to view and purchase additional copies to share with generations to come.
In addition, all three of our locations are equipped with professional livestreaming systems for those who are unable to attend the ceremony in person at our chapel. Our system features multiple cameras, allowing viewers to select their preferred viewing angle and remain connected to the service from anywhere.
Personalized Music
You are not limited to traditional funeral music during your loved one’s service. Customize the visitation or service with your loved one’s favorite tunes. We are happy to help your family compile special music selections to play during the services from a CD or iPod. We also have an organ available in our chapel for traditional music.
Certified Celebrant
A Celebrant is a professional who is trained and certified to meet the needs of families during their time of loss. This expert can help your family create a personalized tribute service to celebrate your loved one’s unique life. You may choose to use a Celebrant alone or in conjunction with clergy. If you want an uplifting service that pays tribute to your loved one’s life or if you are not affiliated with a church, a Celebrant service may be the perfect option.
Bagpiper
The bagpipe provides a solemn, powerful song, making it the ideal instrument for funerals and memorials. For hundreds of years, people far and wide have bid farewell to their dearly departed with the music of the pipes. We can help you commemorate a loved one with this noble music tribute.
Pallbearers
Friends, relatives, church members or business associates may serve as pallbearers. If the family would prefer, we can provide some or all pallbearers for your loved one’s service.
Military Honors
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Receptions
Our Onsite Cemetery
Each of our three locatiuons in Marietta, McDonough, and Fairburn offer the convenience of having a beautiful cemetery right onsite so that there is no need for long processions to other locations. This creates a better experience by keeping your gathering together in one place for the most time possible.
- We offer many options and settings
- You have choices for above ground entombment with our beautiful mausoleums
- Perpetual care means the cemetery is funded for maintenance now and forever
- Interactive events for property owners include our annual Luminary Event