We are pleased to share that the newly established Martinez West Funeral Home in Odessa, Texas, recently celebrated its Grand Opening with a community-wide event on January 22, welcoming more than 300 guests. Led by Managing Funeral Director, Tristan Herrera, alongside Area Manager, Billy Vallie Jr., the Grand Opening celebration brought together families, friends, and community members for an afternoon of connection and hospitality. Guests enjoyed catering by the local Chuck Wagon Gang and live music by Mariachi band Son de Chihuahua, creating a warm and festive atmosphere throughout the event. Martinez West Funeral Home and Crematory is located in west Odessa. Together with Martinez Funeral Home and Crematory on South Dixie Boulevard and Sunset Memorial Gardens off I-20, we are positioned to support every family across Odessa, offering thoughtful services and options to meet a full range of needs and budgets. The strong turnout and positive community response reflect the important role Martinez West Funeral Home plays in serving families with compassion, professionalism, and care. We’re proud to welcome this location as it continues to build meaningful relationships within the community. Please join us in congratulating the Martinez West Funeral Home team on a successful Grand Opening and this exciting milestone

We’re excited to announce that Memorial Oaks Chapel has officially opened a new location in Carmine, Texas. Located at 107 Augsburg Avenue in Carmine, the new location will serve the communities of Round Top, Carmine, La Grange, Giddings, Burton, Windale, Warrenton, and the surrounding communities. This expansion reflects our continued commitment to providing compassionate, professional service close to home.  An Open House Grand Opening celebration was held on December 3, 2025, welcoming approximately 185 community members. Guests enjoyed catering from JW’s Steakhouse, and live music from the Black Cat Choir Trio, helping make the event both welcoming and memorable. We’re happy to share that the Carmine location is now open and available for services. Thank you to everyone who helped make this Grand Opening and event a success. Please join us in congratulating the Memorial Oaks Chapel team on this exciting milestone.

The 2025 Christmas season was filled with celebration and community spirit in Ozark, Alabama, as the Kiwanis Club of Ozark hosted its annual Christmas Parade. Among the many festive entries, Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home proudly participated with a beautifully designed float that captured the heart of the community - earning an impressive 2nd place award. The float was brought to life through the dedication and collaboration of several team members and friends. Special recognition goes to Lauren Chancey, Elizabeth Gericke, Justin English, and Jason and Megan DiFilippo. Lauren Chancey and Megan DiFilippo crafted many of the float’s decorations by hand, investing significant time and creativity into making the display truly stand out. Jason and Megan DiFilippo generously contributed their time and talent, helping transform the vision into a festive reality. Their combined efforts resulted in a float that reflected not only the joy of the season, but also the strong relationships and community ties that define Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home. Events like the Ozark Christmas Parade highlight the power of community connection. From planning and decorating to celebrating alongside neighbors and friends, the experience was a meaningful reminder of the funeral home’s commitment to being actively involved in the lives of the families they serve. "We truly enjoy being one with our community, and we’re already looking forward to creating even more memories together." -John Cawley, Managing Funeral Director

This holiday season, funeral homes across the Legacy Funeral Group family came together with a shared purpose: to honor and support the hospice organizations that walk alongside families during life’s most tender moments. ​ In each community, our locations proudly presented donations to hospice partners who provide compassionate, end-of-life care rooted in comfort, dignity, and peace. These organizations serve patients in their homes, assisted living communities, hospitals, and inpatient centers-ensuring that families receive physical, emotional, and spiritual support when they need it most. ​ At Legacy, our mission of serving families extends beyond the services we provide each day. Hospice teams offer care that emphasizes quality of life, holistic support, and individualized attention. Their nurses, caregivers, social workers, and volunteers make an extraordinary difference in the lives of patients and loved ones navigating serious illness and loss. ​ Throughout December, our funeral homes proudly presented donations to local hospice partners who bring comfort, dignity, and peace to families navigating life’s most tender moments. ​ Each partnership reflects a deep, shared commitment to serving families with compassion and integrity. In many of our communities, funeral directors and hospice teams work closely together to ensure continuity of care, supporting families not only in moments of loss but throughout the entire end-of-life journey. ​ We are profoundly grateful for the meaningful relationships we have built with these organizations. Their dedication to comfort, dignity, and hope aligns closely with the values we hold at Legacy Funeral Group. ​ As we reflect on this season of giving, we are proud to stand alongside our hospice partners and contribute to the vital work they do every day in communities across the country.

On Wednesday, December 17th, members of the Legacy family gathered at the home office for the annual Cajun Christmas Luncheon, a tradition that celebrates the holiday season and the year’s accomplishments. Guests enjoyed authentic chicken and sausage gumbo, followed by a dessert potluck featuring a variety of holiday favorites. The afternoon also included an Ugly Sweater Contest, where participants showcased their most creative and spirited seasonal attire. Additionally, each year Legacy invites every funeral home to participate in the annual Ornament Contest, encouraging locations to submit thoughtful and creative ornaments that reflect their communities and unique identities. View this year's winners below:

On Saturday, November 8, 2025, Highland Funeral Home & Memory Gardens welcomed families, friends, and community members for a special 75th Anniversary Celebration. The family-friendly event brought the community together for a day of connection and appreciation. Attendees enjoyed inspiring guest speakers, a variety of delicious food trucks, and live football streaming on big-screen TVs - creating a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere for all ages. The team at Highland expressed heartfelt gratitude to everyone who attended and to the many families they have had the honor of serving over the past 75 years. A special thank you was also extended to The 2650 Foundation for joining the celebration and for being a valued community partner. For three-quarters of a century, Highland Funeral Home & Memory Gardens has remained committed to serving families with compassion and care. This milestone anniversary was not only a celebration of the past, but also a reflection of the lasting relationships and trust built within the community.

At Legacy Funeral Group, building strong connections across our team remains at the heart of everything we do. Our Annual Halloween Party once again brought employees together for an evening of creativity, laughter, and connection beyond the everyday work environment. The celebration offered a chance to unwind, showcase festive spirit, and strengthen the relationships that make our workplace so supportive and collaborative. Events like this reflect our ongoing commitment to creating a culture where every team member feels appreciated, included, and proud to be part of the Legacy family. Thank you to everyone who helped make this celebration another meaningful moment for our Legacy family.

We recently celebrated the 10th Annual Crawfish Boil at the Legacy Home Office. What began ten years ago with just one pot, a few pounds of crawfish, and a lot of heart from Bill Wimberly, Steve Boudreaux, and our South Louisiana team has grown into one of our favorite Legacy traditions. Since our last Crawfish Boil, our Legacy family has experienced tremendous growth, earned well-deserved recognition for outstanding service, and seized opportunities to lead within the funeral profession. Five members of the Legacy family were named employees of the year – proof that our team lives out our commitment to “serving one family at a time” with exceptional care and compassion. 2025 EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR AWARDS: Bill Wimberly - President's Award Senior VP & COO | Houston, TX Sean Winn - Funeral Professional of the Year Las Vegas Cremations | Las Vegas, NV Ingrid Castillo - Sales Professional of the Year Combest Family Funeral Homes | Lubbock, TX David Baeza Davis - Support Professional of the Year Davis Funeral Home | Las Vegas, NV Mary Alice Rodriguez - Administrator of the Year Darling Mouser Funeral Home | Brownsville, TX Bill Wimberly was surprised by winning the coveted President’s Award, which has only been won once before by Corinn Russo. Many others have stepped forward as respected leaders within the industry, continuing to elevate our profession with wisdom, empathy, and dedication. Legacy Funeral Group is truly blessed to have so many exceptional individuals in our family.

Happy Halloween!

Congratulations, Michael!

Each year, Legacy Funeral Group hosts its annual crawfish boil for local employees, vendors and professional colleagues who come together to enjoy some good Cajun cooking. This year's event was particularly noteworthy as several Legacy funeral homes and individual employees were presented with annual performance awards. Strickland Funeral Home, Darling-Mouser Funeral Home, Goetz Funeral Home, Pellerin Funeral Home and Baker Funeral Home were each recognized with Excellence in Customer Service Awards from 2023. Additionally, several 2023 Employee of the Year awards were recognized: Tiffany Simmons of Resthaven Gardens of Memory and Funeral Home, Manager of the Year; Steven Bailey of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home, Funeral Professional of the Year; Steven Richard of South-Central Louisiana, Sales Professional of the Year; Miguel Rodriguez of Trevino Funeral Home, Support Professional of the Year; and Tollie Haymaker of Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel, Administrator of the Year. We were very lucky to have many of our award winners present - some even traveled from other states! Also spotlighted during the event was the announcement of the Valuable Alumni Award that was being presented later that day to Michael L. Soper, President and CEO of Legacy Funeral Group, by Texas Christian University. Legacy Funeral Group congratulates all award winners on their hard work and achievements. A special thank you to everyone who contributed to the preparation and cooking for this year’s crawfish boil. We could not have asked for better weather or fellowship.