I am giving this review for Richard Earle. He is no longer with Pine Forest Memorial Gardens…read more Last November our beloved father, Joseph Mitchell, passed away. We were heartbroken. Thank heavens we met Richard. He spent a lot of time with me not only discussing the many options at Pine Forest but sharing my grief. His kindness and empathy are exceptional. He really helped me and our family navigate this difficult time with patience and understanding. He was available for my numerous questions and answered them promptly, We set up arrangements for my Dad, Mom and us. We also recommended him to our recently widowed neighbor. We did have a snafu with recent management wanting to charge us $2000 dollars for a weekend cremation service which is free during the week. But Richard handled everything well, Richard designed an amazing marker for my parents. We all loved it. But sadly we couldn't tell him in person. We wish him well with his future endeavors.

They should be ashamed of themselves. Pine Forest Memorial Gardens has become a place of…read moreheartbreak, neglect, and disrespect under its new management. Families were given no notice before employees came through and stripped graves of personal belongings--flowers, toys from children's graves, tokens of love, even temporary markers--and tossed them aside like garbage. Some were literally thrown in the trash, others dumped in the woods. These were not "decorations." They were sacred symbols of love, remembrance, and grief. For parents mourning babies, for spouses grieving partners, for families holding on to memories, these items carried immense emotional weight. To have them ripped away without warning is devastating and cruel. The irony is painful: families tried to bring dignity and beauty to their loved ones' resting places because the cemetery itself has failed to maintain the grounds. My grandparents have been buried here for over a year, and their resting place is still nothing but a mud pit. Surrounding graves are caked in dirt so thick you cannot even read the names. Despite repeated complaints, nothing has been done. Families have poured their own time, effort, and money into making these sites look presentable--a place they could actually visit and find peace--only to have management come in and rip it all away under the guise of "making the area look nicer." When confronted, management's excuse has been to point at the fine print in the contract, saying no additional items are allowed at graves. Let's be clear: when families are grieving and making arrangements for a burial, they are not dissecting legal clauses. They are burying their loved ones. And for years, families have seen tokens, flowers, and mementos left at surrounding graves without issue, which created a clear expectation that such things were permitted. To suddenly, and without warning, strip everything away and discard it in the most callous way possible is not "policy enforcement"--it is negligence, disrespect, and a total lack of compassion. Policies do not excuse the absence of humanity. A caring management team could have: * Notified families ahead of time. * Offered a grace period for loved ones to retrieve their belongings. * Worked with the community to create a respectful solution. Instead, Pine Forest Memorial Gardens blindsided grieving people at their most vulnerable moment, and then hid behind "contract language" to justify it. We demand accountability. At the very least, Pine Forest Memorial Gardens should: 1. Issue a public, formal apology to the families they have hurt. 2. Establish a clear, compassionate policy that includes proper notification before removing any items from graves. 3. Commit to regular, thorough maintenance of the grounds and markers so families do not have to do it themselves. A cemetery should be a place of reverence, peace, and dignity. Right now, Pine Forest Memorial Gardens is a place of pain, neglect, and betrayal. What has happened here is shameful, and families deserve better.

Following the lead of my parents many years ago, I chose to do the pre-need funeral planning,…read more At my first consultation, we discuss the process and how to start things. I made basic decisions on my funeral preferences as well as made payment for part of the process. On my return visit, I selected the style casket and vault, made the payment, and discussed other things I need to handle to make things as easy as possible for the family once my time has come. The representative was professional, and knowledgeable, and allowed me to make my decisions without sales pressure.

I had to attend a class that was hosted by Mrs. Poole at the funeral home. It was an all day class…read morethat included several breaks and a catered lunch. It appears that everything at this funeral home is done first class. The building is nicely decorate and immaculately clean. It is visually stimulating with artwork, curio display cases of collectibles, and even two glass cages of small birds. The outside has a unique area for children that has colorfully painted concrete animals that they can play on. It has a wooden swing and a large concrete horse. The chapel is beautiful. There is a open-air patio with outside furniture for visitors to go to. The employees are friendly and knowledgeable. Everything about this funeral home is nice.

Dr. Lori Washington, and her staff were able to turn one of the most difficult days in my life into…read moresomething easier for me to deal with. The professionalism, compassion, and empathy were unmatched. The passing of a loved one is always difficult, when it is your spouse the pain can be indescribable. Dr. Lori, and her staff made it bearable, and for that, I can't think them enough. I highly recommend their services. The cremation, and all related services were handled professionally and expediently, a great value. Thank you.

After the recent passing of my father, I was tasked with taking care of the final arrangements for…read morehis remains. During a very difficult time, Lori guided me through the process with professionalism and compassion. After making sure I filled out all of the necessary documents required by the state, her staff quickly took care of transportation from the morgue, storage, cremation, and getting all of the certified death certificates needed. She even took special requests for locks of hair, separate urns, etc. I would not have been able to navigate all of this without Lori's capable hands guiding me through the process. She made a very difficult time so much easier. Thank you.

I cannot express how grateful I am for City of Oaks Cremation during the most devastating time of…read moremy life. My 31-year-old son unexpectedly passed away, and from the very first phone call with Olivia, I felt a sense of comfort and care that I truly needed. Her gentle voice, compassion, and patience meant more to me than words can describe. She took the time to explain everything clearly and never made me feel rushed or overwhelmed. From beginning to end, she handled every detail with such kindness and professionalism, making an unbearable situation just a little bit easier to get through. The team did an absolutely beautiful job preparing my son for the family viewing--he looked peaceful, and that is something I will carry with me forever. I also had the honor of meeting the owner, Edward, who was incredibly kind and comforting. You can truly feel that this is not just a business, but people who genuinely care. I will never forget the compassion they showed my family. I highly recommend City of Oaks Cremation to anyone in need of their services.

Excellent And curious Service. Thank you for all you do. Staff are very helpful. you are needed and…read morewelcomed in our community.

I think lately the place got a bad rap. Mr peterkin was very nice and the cost is very reasonable…read moreprobably a third of what somebody around Boston my charge. And it's not like you have a lot of money saved up for unexpected tragedy. You are just getting over a truly life-changing loss and then suddenly you have to come up with like $10,000 with some other funeral homes. I'm in Boston and my girl was in North Carolina. However Mr Peterkin handled everything well and it was very reasonable. It's like you are Shell Shocked from the loss of your loved one and you just want everything taken care of for you. And that's what Mr Peterkin was able to provide me. Nobody's perfect but he was always in touch and it made a big difference to me during a very tough time and sadly, it doesn't get easier. But Mr Peterkin really did a great service for me handling everything and did a great job in a very reasonable price and he was completely understanding and nice.

From the owner: , Funeral Services, Insurance and Cremation Services, Flowersread more