Central Cremation Services — Consumer Profile

Central Cremation Services is an independently owned, family-operated on-site crematory in Pendergrass, GA, distinguished as the only standalone on-site crematory serving the North Georgia region. The business holds a 4.9/5 rating on Google across 36 reviews and advertises a direct cremation price of $1,095 with no mileage surcharges anywhere in North Georgia. The facility opened in September 2017 and is operated by a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer with over 22 years of experience in funeral service.

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Locations

Primary (and only) location:

Central Cremation Services 115 Enterprise Dr, Suite G Pendergrass, GA 30567 (Located one mile north of I-85 Exit 137, within Jefferson Business Park)

Phone: (706) 693-0823 (office) | (678) 215-7896 (cell) Hours: Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year

The facility website notes that the crematory is housed in a standalone building not affiliated with any full-service funeral home, and that the location is designed to be accessible to all surrounding areas of North Georgia, including Gainesville and Athens. Families are permitted a 30-minute viewing before the cremation takes place.

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Services

Central Cremation Services focuses primarily on cremation, with some burial-related arrangements also available. Key service details drawn from the provider's website include:

• Direct Cremation — The core offering, described as all-inclusive from the time of first call through return of cremated remains to the family. No additional mileage charges within North Georgia.
• Viewing Before Cremation — Families may arrange a 30-minute viewing prior to cremation at the facility.
• Shipping of Remains — Multiple reviews confirm the provider has coordinated international shipping of cremated remains (e.g., to the Netherlands and to out-of-state family members in Texas).
• Burial — Listed as an available service, though specific burial details are not elaborated on the homepage.
• Pre-Planning / Pre-Need — Online purchase of pre-need arrangements is available directly through the website.
• Veterans Resources — A dedicated resources section for veterans is listed in the site navigation.
• Spanish-Language Services — The site includes a dedicated Spanish-language page (Funeraria Español), indicating the provider serves Spanish-speaking families.
• Merchandise — The website notes hundreds of merchandise items are now available.
• Grief Resources — The site links to grief support resources and advance directive information for the Gainesville and Athens areas.
• Obituary Submission — Families can submit obituaries and photos directly through the website.

Notable capability: Central Cremation Services operates an on-site crematory, which means cremation is performed at the same facility rather than transported to a third-party crematory. This is presented as a distinguishing feature in the North Georgia market.

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Pricing

The following pricing information is drawn directly from the provider's website:

Service	Advertised Price	Notes
Direct Cremation	$1,095	All-inclusive; no mileage charges in North Georgia

The website states this price covers everything from first call through return of cremated remains to the family. No General Price List (GPL) with itemized pricing was available in the provided data for additional services such as burial, urns, or other merchandise. Families should request a full GPL directly from the provider, as funeral homes are required by the FTC Funeral Rule to provide one upon request.

No third-party pricing comparison data (e.g., from Ever Loved or Legacy.com) was available in sufficient detail to include.

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Reviews

Central Cremation Services holds a 4.9/5 rating on Google based on 36 reviews. The profile can also be found on Ever Loved and Legacy.com, though aggregate ratings from those platforms were not available in the provided data.

Positive Themes

1. Compassionate, family-like care during difficult moments Multiple reviewers describe the staff as making them feel personally supported rather than processed. Merle Boling wrote: "Frank and his staff are caring, understanding but very professional — they make you feel like family. In the darkest time of my life I could not have been with more caring people." Byron Bellard, who lost his younger brother unexpectedly, noted he was "completely at ease and comfortable with your wonderful guidance and concern."

2. Clear communication and process guidance Reviewers consistently highlight that staff explained the cremation process thoroughly and kept families informed. Amanda Peek, coordinating from the Netherlands, noted that CCS "explained the process, answered any questions we had" and "provided updates along the way." Austin Little noted that the first phone call from staff included both a notification and an offer of condolences.

3. Capability with long-distance and out-of-state coordination Several reviews specifically praise CCS's ability to work with families who are geographically distant. Amanda Peek had her mother's remains shipped internationally, and Peggy Puig coordinated her sister's cremation from Texas. Both credited staff member Tammy by name for her guidance and patience throughout the process.

Named staff receiving praise:

• Frank Smith (owner) — cited for personal warmth and professionalism
• Tammy — repeatedly named for her skill managing out-of-state and international coordination

Notable Negative Reviews or Complaints

A Yellow Pages listing for the Pendergrass area contains a reference to a no-star review mentioning a cremation service issue dated March 15, 2015 — prior to Central Cremation Services' September 2017 opening. It is unclear whether that review pertains to this provider or to a different business in the area. No complaints were identified in the Google review data provided, and the BBB profile did not surface any documented complaints in the data available.

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Ownership

Central Cremation Services is independently owned and operated by Frank and Deborah Smith, as described on the About Us page. The business is incorporated as Central Cremation of Georgia Inc., as noted in references on Legacy.com and the provider's own website footer.

Frank Smith attended Gupton-Jones Mortuary School, graduating in 2004, and has accumulated over 22 years of experience in funeral service. He holds licenses as a Funeral Director, Embalmer, and Certified Crematory Operator. The facility opened in September 2017. There is no indication of any corporate parent or chain affiliation.

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Accreditations

• BBB: Central Cremation Services is listed with the Better Business Bureau but is not BBB accredited. The BBB has assigned an A+ rating, and no complaints are surfaced in the available data. Not pursuing BBB accreditation is common among small independent businesses and is not itself a red flag.
• Licensing: Frank Smith is identified as a licensed Funeral Director, Embalmer, and Certified Crematory Operator in Georgia.
• No additional professional memberships, awards, or state-level association memberships were identified in the available data.

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Conclusion

Central Cremation Services is a budget-to-mid-range cremation specialist positioned as an accessible, affordable alternative to full-service funeral homes for North Georgia families who have chosen cremation. Its $1,095 direct cremation price, on-site crematory, and 24/7 availability are meaningful practical advantages, and its near-perfect Google rating reflects consistent family satisfaction — particularly for out-of-state and long-distance coordination. Families considering this provider should be aware that it is a cremation-focused operation rather than a full-service funeral home, so those needing traditional burial services with visitation, chapel use, or extensive ceremony planning may need to supplement or look elsewhere. No significant complaint patterns were identified in the available data.