"Where Services are Measured

not in Gold but by the Golden Rule”

Simmons Funeral Home

Special Limousine

Transport Services

Funeral Program

Shipping

Pre-Need Arrangements

Caskets, Vaults & Urns

Limousine Service

Obituary Support

Funeral Services

Notary Public

Cremations

Aftercare

WE CAN HELP

This form allows one to record all necessary information including death certificate information, funeral wishes, and obituary information. Please complete the form and feel free to give us a call, or we will contact you.

WHY SHOULD I PLAN A FUNERAL FOR MY LOVED ONE?

A funeral or memorial is a customary way to recognize death and its finality. Funerals are held for the living to show respect for the dead and to help survivors begin the grief process. They also give mourners a chance to share stories, create memories, fulfill religious beliefs & customs, participate in a support system, and gather at a peaceful place during a time of confusion and uncertainty.

WHAT TASKS ARE INVOLVED IN ARRANGING A FUNERAL?

There can be as many as 200 tasks when planning a funeral. Many of them are listed below. Our Funeral Director will coordinate most of these for you, after meeting with you at a private consultation. 

• Obtain the signature of the attending physician, coroner or medical examiner on the required certificate; file the certificate with the registrar of vital statistics where the death occurred

• Ensure compliance with government regulators

• Transfer the deceased from the place of death to the funeral home (local or out of town)

• Obtain family history

• Make decisions regarding the remains of the deceased

• Determine the budget (if funeral has not been pre-arranged)

• Determine the funeral or memorial service location(s), such as church, chapel, or graveside

• Plan for a viewing/visitation and determine open or closed casket

• Choose the final resting place (cemetery, mausoleum, private land, etc.)

• Make necessary arrangements with clergy, church and cemetery officials

• Obtain certified copies of the death certificate, as necessary

• Procure the burial permit and file with the cemetery

• Select and purchase the casket, outer burial container or urn

• Select a monument/marker

• Order and schedule the delivery of all products/merchandise

• Compose and submit newspaper and other media notices

• Choose clothing & jewelry

• Select poems, scripture, readings

• Select music: taped, live musicians, etc.

• Choose pallbearers

• Arrange for transportation of the deceased

• Secure flower/equipment trucks, as necessary

• Purchase acknowledgement cards, register books, memorial folders, etc.

• Purchase a door wreath & flowers

• Arrange for family transportation

• Complete social security papers and secure social security benefits

• Secure Veterans benefits (if applicable)

• Secure life insurance benefits (if applicable)

• Contact insurance agents

• Complete accounting, clerical and filing work

• Answer telephone calls

• Notify other organizations that your loved one participated in

 WHAT DO FUNERAL DIRECTORS DO?

Funeral directors are caregivers, advisors, and administrators. They make the arrangements for the transportation of the deceased, complete all necessary paperwork, and carry out the wishes of the family regarding the funeral and final disposition of the deceased. They have experience assisting the bereaved in coping with death, are trained to answer questions about grief, and can recommend sources of professional help.

SOME PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD BASIC FUNERAL SERVICES.WHAT OTHER FINANCIAL RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE?

Other than the family, there are veteran, union, and other organizational benefits to pay for funerals, including, in certain instances, a lump sum death payment from Social Security. In most states, some form of public aid allowances are available from either the state, county, city, or a combination. Most funeral directors are aware of the various benefits and know how to obtain them.

Holding a funeral or memorial service for your loved one is a positive first step in the grieving process. Family members and friends get a chance to say their goodbyes, and at the same time, they get to share strong feelings with one another.

In the days, weeks and months following the service, people continue to need others to lean on for understanding, encouragement and guidance. For that reason, many local and national support groups have formed. These groups provide a common place and a comforting environment for expressing emotions through each phase of the grieving process. To learn more, click on the links below, or discuss grief counseling and support options with your funeral director.

GENERAL GRIEF RESOURCES

• AARP Grief & Loss: a collection of resources and an on-line support community.

• National Funeral Directors Association: Frequently Asked Questions about grief.

• American Cancer Society – Support to cancer patients, family and friends.

• Growth House – Discusses hospice care, dying with dignity, terminal illness, grief and bereavement.

• GROWW.org – message boards, resource listings and secure chat rooms for the grieving.

• Hope For Widows Foundation – a national support system for, and developed by, widowed women.

GRIEF RESOURCES FOR PARENTS

• National SIDS and Infant Death Program Support Center – provides research, education, and support for families dealing with SIDS.

• Bereaved Parents USA – a nationwide organization designed to aid and support bereaved parents and their families.

• The Compassionate Friends – supports families who have experienced the death of a child.

GRIEF RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN

• Fernside Online – an online resource for grieving children.

• The Dougy Center – the first center in the United States to provide peer support groups for grieving children. They provide support and training locally, nationally and internationally to individuals and organizations seeking to assist children in grief.

NATIONAL FUNERAL DIRECTORS & MORTICIANS ASSOCIATION, INC.

South Carolina Morticians Association

CITY OF Orangeburg, SOUTH CAROLINA

TOWN OF SANTEE, SOUTH CAROLINA

VETERAN AFFAIRS