ATLANTA, Sept. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Atlanta-based Hunsaker Partners LLC today announced it has reached an agreement to acquire a funeral home/cemetery combo and two cemeteries in the Atlanta area, including Southern Cremations and Funerals at Cheatham Hill in Marietta, Holly Hill Memorial Park in Fairburn and Eastlawn Memorial Park in McDonough, Georgia. Details of the purchase, which has received approval from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), were undisclosed per FTC request.

Hunsaker Partners President and CEO, Christine Hunsaker is an Atlanta resident and well respected figure in the funeral and cremation industry and one of the nation’s leading cremationists. Hunsaker has more than 25 years of experience in the cremation, funeral, and cemetery business and has been a corporate officer for two of the largest publically traded funeral companies in the United States. She is currently a member of Cremation Association of North America (CANA); International Cemetery and Cremation Funeral Association (ICCFA); and the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA).

“We are excited about the opportunity to add each of these beautiful and unique locations to Hunsaker Partners LLC,” said Hunsaker. “Each location has been a mainstay in their respective communities, and we plan to keep the localized personal service, while improving each location both structurally and functionally.” As part of its initial phase of ownership, Hunsaker plans to focus on providing excellent customer service and offering families competitively priced products and services.

With a growing national trend toward cremation, the Atlanta market is ahead of the curve with an approximate 46 percent cremation rate, based on 2013 CDC death rates. The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) has projected the cremation rate to continue to increase 2015-2025, which based on current confirmed figures of 2007 (34.78 percent) and preliminary 2008 figures (36.02 percent), stand at 46.04 percent for 2010 and 58.85 percent for 2025, which equates to 1,909,802 United States Cremations in 2025.

Hunsaker emphasizes that all locations will be locally owned and operated and managed under the Hunsaker Partners organization and are fully licensed and operational. “We plan to draw on our experience in the funeral, cremation and cemetery business to help elevate the experience at each location,” added Hunsaker. “We are extremely excited to announce the completion of our new funeral home in Marietta that offers unmatched crematory operations on site, ensuring your loved one never leaves our care. We also offer a one-of-a-kind cremation garden with tranquil water features and a peaceful setting to reflect a life well lived, unlike anything offered in the Atlanta area. Together with the local staff of each location, we plan to ensure that all elements of our guests’ experience meet the very highest standards.”

New locations include:

NEW Funeral Home & On-site Crematory: Southern Cremations & Funerals at Cheatham Hill
Funeral Home and Cemetery with Cascading Waters Cremation Garden
www.southerncremations.com
Located on the beautiful historic grounds of Cheatham Hill Memorial Park, the new funeral home Southern Cremations and Funerals at Cheatham Hill boasts one of the most beautiful settings in North Georgia, complete with a new outdoor mausoleum and historical chapel mausoleum. Offering more than 300 years of combined experience in the cremation, cemetery and funeral business, Cheatham Hill provides a beautiful, historical setting to provide comfort and security as families celebrate the lives of loved ones. This facility includes a newly renovated funeral home with state-of-the-art preparation facilities and new world-class crematory operations, family meeting rooms, hospitality suite and quaint chapel. The facility offers a variety of services ranging from traditional funeral services, an intimate chapel, grave site services, and celebrations of life, as well as cremation. The Cheatham location also includes the Cascading Waters Cremation Garden boasting beautiful fountains, a family committal shelter and over 4,000 cremation memorial options. It is a one-of-a-kind tranquil cremation setting and was built specifically for cremation families.

Holly Hill Memorial Park
www.hollyhillmemorialpark.com
Located in historic Fairburn, Georgia, Holly Hill Memorial Park encompasses a striking setting, complete with a mausoleum, lawn crypts and two picturesque ponds. The park expands over 40 acres with 19 acres of open space, featuring beautiful monuments and sculptures. The dedicated staff brings more than 75 years of combined professional experience, and has been serving the community for the past 35 years.

Eastlawn Memorial Park
www.eastlawnmemorialpark.com
Cemetery with Cascading Waters Cremation Garden
Located in McDonough, Georgia, Eastlawn Memorial Park includes a beautiful cemetery setting, complete with a mausoleum and new cremation garden. Originally opened in 1958, the property expands over 35 acres. The dedicated staff brings more than 75 years of combined professional experience, and has been dedicated to serving the community for the past 35 years. Just a few years ago, Cascading Waters Cremation Garden was added including a multi-tier water fountain and over 400 cremation memorial options. The tranquil garden focuses on the needs and desires of the cremation family.

About Hunsaker Partners, LLC
Formed in 2014, Hunsaker Partners LLC owns and operates a new funeral home Southern Cremations and Funerals at Cheatham Hill, Holly Hill Memorial Park and Eastlawn Memorial Park, all located in the Atlanta metro area. President and CEO Christine Hunsaker is one of the nation’s leading cremationists and a well respected figure in the funeral and cremation industry. Hunsaker has over 25 years of experience in the cremation, funeral, and cemetery business and has been a corporate officer for two of the largest publically traded funeral companies in the United States. Hunsaker has extensive experience in acquiring and operating funeral homes and cemeteries. For more information, please visit www.southerncremations.com, www.eastlawnmemorialpark.com and www.hollyhillmemorialpark.com.

SOURCE Hunsaker Partners LLC