“The privilege of serving families during a difficult time in their lives is our reward
and our life’s dedication.”
Walk into the beautiful foyer of any of the Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home locations, and you are warmly greeted by compassionate staff who care and are here to serve you during your time of loss and grief. As Reagan Cooksey, Pastor of Northside Baptist Church in Huntsville, expressed in a recent video, “You can trust them and place a lot of confidence in them. That’s just how they are.”
Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home (SHMFH), a full-service funeral home, began in 2002. Owner Greg Smith opened the doors to the Huntsville location in September 2003 and Greg serves as both owner and director. As Greg states, “We are family-owned and not associated with a big corporation. We take pride in having a great reputation and are here to serve friends and families in our communities.” Greg’s son Will is also a part of the family business as both a director and an embalmer. The majority of the staff have been with the funeral home since its inception, are knowledgeable in dealing with the many needs that accompany the loss of a loved one, and provide these services with patience and understanding. Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home has three locations, Huntsville, as well as Willis and Montgomery. The Willis location has an 18-acre perpetual care cemetery, Smith Memorial Park, that adjoins the funeral home.
Families are served in one of two ways: either through pre-need planning, or at-need, meaning at the time a loved one has passed. Greg recommends pre-need planning so decisions can be made prior to a loss. Pre-need planning allows families to have more time and presence of mind to carefully think through their options, rather than having to make crucial decisions in the immediacy of the moment. A pre-need plan can be paid for at the time of planning, purchased along with life insurance to help with the cost, or paid at the time services are rendered. “They will work with you in any way to make it affordable, to make it what you want, and something that you are proud of. You can trust them and know that you have done your very best for your family member,” says Walker County Judge and client Danny Pierce. Pre-planning also allows a family to more effectively customize the funeral to the person’s wants and desires in a less stressful way.
Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home excels in customizing your loved one’s service and offers several choices regarding the type of funeral service desired, the style of casket, the method of transport to the grave site, and other details. A full funeral service is available, presided over by either the family’s minister or a pastor provided by SHMFH. The chapels are equipped with sophisticated sound systems with an array of available musical selections. A family can also opt for live music using the digital organ/piano or other instrumentation. Some families choose instead to have a full cremation service. This service is exactly like a funeral service with the addition of cremation afterwards. For military veterans, the formalities of a service can include an honor guard provided by the American Legion or the casualty assistance office for the particular branch of the military, a 21-gun salute, and an American flag provided by the U.S. government. In honor of the veteran’s service, SHMFH offers discounts to these families. A planning session allows a staff member to inform the family of all options available so a suitable choice of service style and accompanying details can be made.
Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home offers a full selection of casket styles on site as well as additional choices available online from their Houston warehouse, with delivery within 24 hours. A casket can be personalized with hand-carved details, branding, or other unique features. Another aspect of the funeral that can be customized is the transportation of the casket to the grave site. As Greg states, “There is no limit to what we can do. We have transported the casket to the grave site by horse-drawn carriage or wagon or by motorcycle hearse. We will do our absolute best to fulfill your most cherished wishes.” Asked what cemeteries they use, Greg responded, “Any cemetery. We have performed funerals at the National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., and have shipped overseas. Whatever location is selected, we will accommodate that request.”
If the family wishes, SHMFH can also produce a professional quality video which will serve as a lasting tribute to their loved one. When shown during visitation, it enhances the quality of the time by helping family and friends to recall happy and meaningful memories and celebrate a life well-lived. Professional software is used to compile and arrange either printed or digital photos around a chosen theme and music to produce a beautiful statement of the loved one’s life. This video will be provided to the family to enjoy for years to come.
When you meet Greg Smith, you understand why Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home has the well-earned reputation of caring and compassion for which it is known. He was recently presented the 2021 Ed Sandhop Award by the Huntsville-Walker County Chamber of Commerce, an award that celebrates the character of one who is kind, compassionate, and professional. In 2008, he received the Sam Houston State University Service Award, the highest award the Alumni Association gives to a non-graduate of SHSU. He has served as a past president of the Conroe Noon Lions Club, been a Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber Executive Board member, a member of the Conroe YMCA board, and earned the lifetime achievement award through Lions Club International. A member of First Baptist Church of Conroe, Greg has also been active in the Huntsville Lions Club and Huntsville Rotary Club. Son Will, a graduate of Willis High School, is carrying on the family example of service and is also involved in the Conroe Noon Lions Club. These accolades Greg has received speak to the care and commitment Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home has to the communities they serve, the same commitment that has been exemplified since he first opened the doors. A client testimonial shares, “I’m from a big family, and I’ve been in funeral homes all over the state, and this one stands out. Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home sits at the top.”
SAM HOUSTON MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME
For questions or more information including days and hours of business: www.shmfh.com
Postcards Magazine
936-293-1188
PO Box 690
Huntsville, TX 77342
