Smith Memory Chapel — Consumer Profile
Winder, GA
Smith Memory Chapel is a long-standing Winder, Georgia funeral home now operating under corporate ownership through Service Corporation International (SCI) and its Dignity Memorial network, distinguished by an exceptionally high community rating and a broad range of personalization options.
The chapel holds a 4.9/5 rating on Google across 99 reviews — a notably strong score for a funeral home in a small-market setting. Pricing anchors on a required $3,495 basic services fee, placing it toward the higher end of what families in Barrow County are likely to encounter. The home offers both cremation and burial services, along with an extensive catalog of SCI-branded personalization and memorialization add-ons.
Locations
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 755 Atlanta Hwy SE, Winder, GA 30680 |
| Phone | (770) 867-4553 |
| Type | Full-service funeral home |
| Google Rating | 4.9/5 (99 reviews) |
Smith Memory Chapel operates from a single location on Atlanta Highway in Winder. No additional branch locations are listed in available data. Facility features mentioned in reviews include a reception room, visitation space, and the ability to reserve the entire facility for private services. No on-site crematory or owned cemetery is confirmed in the available data; a separate crematory transfer fee of $225 is listed on the GPL, suggesting cremation is performed off-site.
Services
Smith Memory Chapel offers the following through the Dignity Memorial platform:
- Burial services — full traditional funeral with visitation, graveside service, and transportation
- Cremation services — direct cremation and cremation with memorial service options
- Memorial services — services with or without remains present; off-site venue coordination
- Pre-planning — available via contact form; prepaid funeral plans offered with up to 10% discount through Dignity Memorial's pre-planning program
- Veterans services — flag cases listed on GPL; Dignity Memorial's national network includes veteran burial coordination (specific veteran service detail not confirmed in local data)
- Celebration of Life — personalized events, décor, and themed services (noted in reviews)
- Specialty memorialization — includes spaceflight memorials (Earth Rise, Earth Orbit, Luna, Voyager), scattering at sea, memory glass, cremation jewelry, and digital/internet memorials through the Everlasting Memorial® program
No on-site crematory is confirmed. Cremation appears to involve transfer to a separate facility, reflected in the $225 crematory transfer fee on the GPL.
Pricing
GPL effective date: January 18, 2024. All prices below are from the funeral home's General Price List as filed. Prices do not include caskets, outer burial containers, cemetery fees, or death certificates unless noted.
Core Professional & Facility Fees
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Basic Services of Funeral Director and Staff (required) | $3,495 |
| Embalming | $1,070 |
| Dressing and Casketing | $400 |
| Bathing and Handling of Unembalmed Deceased | $300 |
| Refrigeration | $245 |
| Special Care for Autopsied Cases | $200 |
| Restoration (per hour) | $75 |
Facilities & Staff
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Visitation (up to 4 hours) | $695 |
| Funeral/Memorial Service — Standard (Medium) | $745 |
| Graveside Service (equipment & staff) | $745 |
| Off-Site Funeral Service | $845 |
| Memorial Service Without Remains (in facility) | $1,495 |
| Exclusive Use of Entire Facility | $3,995 |
| Private Family Moment (minimal preparation) | $300 |
| Reception Room | $295 |
| Holiday Surcharge | $595 |
Transportation
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Transfer of Remains from Place of Death to Funeral Home | $495 |
| Funeral Vehicle (Hearse) | $395 |
| Limousine | $200 |
| Transfer to/from Airport | $225 |
| Transfer to/from Crematory | $225 |
| Flower Vehicle | $100 |
Cremation-Related Fees
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Crematory Fee | $385 |
| Forwarding of Remains (includes basic professional service) | $3,170 |
| Temporary Urn Container | $35 |
| Urns | $35–$1,295 |
| Mailing of Cremated Remains (excluding container) | $125–$150 |
Caskets & Outer Burial Containers
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Outer Burial Containers | $1,295–$6,195 |
| Rental Casket | $1,000 |
Notable Add-Ons & Specialty Items
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Dignity Memorial Packages | $295–$395 |
| Celebrate Life Bundle | $295 |
| Cremation Jewelry Bundle | $295 |
| Memory Glass | $295 |
| Memory Portrait | $295 |
| Everlasting Memorial® (online archive) | $395 |
| Estate Fraud Protection | $295 |
| Family Estate Manager | $295 |
| Earth Rise Spaceflight | $2,495 |
| Earth Orbit Spaceflight | $4,995 |
| Luna / Voyager Spaceflight | $12,500 each |
| Scattering at Sea with Cenotaph | $3,495 |
| Catered Receptions | $495 |
Cost Context
A direct cremation at minimum would include the required basic services fee ($3,495), first call transportation ($495), crematory fee ($385), and a temporary urn ($35), totaling approximately $4,410 before any urn upgrade — this is notably higher than the national average for direct cremation, which typically ranges from $700–$2,500 at independent providers.
A traditional burial — including basic services, embalming, dressing, visitation, funeral service, hearse, and a mid-range casket — would conservatively total $8,000–$12,000+ before cemetery and monument costs, reflecting the premium pricing tier associated with SCI-operated locations.
No third-party pricing comparison data (e.g., Parting.com, Funeralocity) was available in the source data for direct market comparison.
Reviews
Smith Memory Chapel holds a 4.9/5 rating on Google from 99 reviews, which is among the higher scores seen at corporate-affiliated funeral homes. Review volume is modest but consistent in tone.
Dominant Positive Themes
1. Staff attentiveness and compassion Multiple reviewers describe staff going beyond standard service. Erin Clark wrote that Hunter Maddox "really exceeded all of my expectations. He was so creative with the decorations and photos," and that staff stayed late after a visitation so her family could have more time. Anita Nix highlighted "Savannah" as "caring and compassionate during the entire process" and "David" as "amazing, caring and professional."
2. Feeling heard and respected Michelle Lewis noted: "I truly felt like I was heard when I expressed how I wanted things handled... Regina took the time to make sure everything was the way I wanted it." This theme of individualized attention appears across multiple reviews.
3. Community trust and continuity John Borg referenced a longstanding relationship with the Smith family name: "Smith Memory Chapel has always been a place everyone knew they could trust because the Smith Family treats everyone like they are family." This suggests the home retains meaningful local identity despite corporate affiliation. Jimmy Wisehart echoed this, noting the chapel's care was on "an unexpected and very comforting level."
Staff named in reviews: David, Savannah, Regina, Hunter Maddox, Colleen Jenkins, Sam.
Notable Negative Reviews or Complaints
No negative reviews or complaint patterns appear in the available review data. The BBB source URLs provided do not return a specific profile for Smith Memory Chapel, so BBB complaint history is not available for this location. Families are encouraged to check the BBB directory directly for any filed complaints against this location or its SCI parent entity.
Ownership
Smith Memory Chapel is owned by Service Corporation International (SCI), the largest funeral home and cemetery operator in North America, traded publicly on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker SCI. The location operates under SCI's Dignity Memorial consumer brand.
Review language and the John Borg review suggest the home was originally founded by and associated with a local "Smith family," and that the Smith family name and some staff continuity appear to have been retained following acquisition — a common SCI practice. The founding date and precise acquisition timeline are not confirmed in available data.
Families should be aware that under SCI ownership, pricing structures, packages, and add-on products are largely standardized across the Dignity Memorial network, and that pre-need contracts may be administered by SCI's national pre-need trust infrastructure rather than local accounts.
Accreditations
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| BBB Rating | Not confirmed for this specific location in available data |
| Dignity Memorial Network | ✓ Member (SCI brand affiliation) |
| State Licensing (Georgia) | Not independently confirmed in available data; Georgia requires funeral home licensure through the State Board of Funeral Service |
Families wishing to verify the home's Georgia funeral establishment license can contact the Georgia State Board of Funeral Service.
Conclusion
Smith Memory Chapel offers a consistently well-reviewed, full-service experience in Winder with staff who appear genuinely attentive — a meaningful quality during bereavement. However, families should be prepared for pricing that sits at the higher end of the regional market: the mandatory $3,495 basic services fee alone exceeds what many independent Georgia funeral homes charge for a complete direct cremation. As a Dignity Memorial / SCI location, the home also carries the standard considerations of corporate ownership — standardized pricing, national pre-need contracts, and an extensive upsell catalog — alongside the benefits of network-wide service guarantees and continuity. Budget-conscious families or those considering direct cremation may wish to compare pricing at independent providers in the Barrow County area before committing.
This report was generated using publicly available information including licensing records, pricing data, and consumer reviews. It is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation.
← Back to Funeral Home (location 149)