Hightower Family Funeral Homes

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Hightower Family Funeral Homes

Our funeral homes are all owned and operated by the same local family—the Hightowers. We have 4 generations of funeral planning history.

Our top priority is to provide the best, most dignified, and quality service to our friends and families. Hightower Family Funeral Homes, located in West Georgia, have been serving Carroll, Haralson, Douglas, and surrounding areas, since 1928 from 3 locations. The Hightower's represent the traditions and values learned from their father/grandfather, the late H.B. Hightower, and their friend, the l

ate Stewart Martin, by treating each family with respect, dignity, and professionalism, as well as honoring the customs and traditions of the communities in which they live and serve. We know that our success is directly related to how we treat each and every family we serve. We answer to our own communities—our friends, neighbors, you.

04/26/2026

Happy Birthday, Jacob. We appreciate the dedication you bring to your role. Wishing you a strong and successful year ahead.

04/25/2026

Happy Birthday, Jon. Thank you for being someone others can count on. May this next year bring you new opportunities and steady blessings.

04/24/2026

Diane Stapler Warren’s life was a quiet, steady testament to love rooted first in her faith, then in her family, and carried into the community she cherished. On April 23, 2026, at the age of 78, she was welcomed into the presence of her Lord and Savior, leaving behind a legacy that will be felt for...

04/24/2026

The most meaningful memorials begin with the details.

Tell us about their stories, their passions, their quirks, the things that made them who they were.

We’ll help you create a service that truly reflects their life and leaves a lasting impression on everyone who gathers to remember them.

Message us to learn more!

04/24/2026

Mary Tate Hartfield, 63, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, passed away on Thursday, April 23, 2026. She was born on June 20, 1962 in Grand Rapids, Michigan to the late Tenny Wilson Tate and Antoinette Alcorn Tate. Mary was a devout virtual member of Pinnacle Crest Ministries and a member of Chapelhill Chur...

04/23/2026

Many of you know and love our sweet therapy dog, Ruby, who faithfully serves alongside us bringing comfort to the families we care for.

We wanted to share that Ruby has torn her CCL and is currently at Mississippi State University for a consultation today. If all goes as planned, she will undergo surgery tomorrow to repair the injury.

While we are hopeful for a smooth procedure and recovery, this does mean Ruby will be out of the office for the next several weeks as she heals. She will certainly be missed by our staff and the many families she brings comfort to each day.

We know she has a large community who loves her. Your thoughts and prayers for a successful surgery and an easy recovery would mean so much.

We look forward to welcoming Ruby back when she is fully healed and ready to return to doing what she does best. 💛🐾

Hey friends… it’s me, Ruby 🐶💛

I wanted to let y’all know I’ve had a little setback. My doctor says I’ve torn my CCL (that’s kind of like a knee ligament for us pups), so today I’m at Mississippi State University for a consultation. If everything goes as planned, I’ll have surgery tomorrow to get it fixed up good as new.

I’m told I’ll need to take a break from my important work for a few weeks while I heal… which means I won’t be at the funeral home offering hugs, sitting with families, or making my usual rounds for a little while—and that’s the hardest part for me.

But don’t worry! I’ve got a great care team, lots of love, and I plan to be back to work (and back to loving on all of you) as soon as I can. 🐾

If you think about it, say a little prayer for me tomorrow. I’ll be resting up and dreaming about belly rubs and seeing all my friends again soon.

Love,
Ruby 💛

04/22/2026

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Dr. Stephen J. Hansard, age 72, who departed this life on April 18, 2026. Born on May 18, 1953, in Buford, Georgia, Stephen grew up in Cu***ng and graduated from Forsyth County High School in 1971. He went on to pursue an impressive academic ca...

04/22/2026

Join us in showing appreciation for the admin professionals in your life. Drop a thank you in the comments!

Today, we celebrate the backbone of our team! Huge shoutout to our amazing administrative team; your hard work keeps everything running smoothly. Thank you!

04/21/2026

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Donna Marie Brand, who entered this world on May 22, 1975, in East Point, Georgia, the daughter of David Wayne McKee and the late Helen Marie Stephens McKee. Donna passed away on April 18, 2026, at her home in Bremen, Georgia, at the age of 50....

04/21/2026

Shirley Williams Bickford, age 91, of Carrollton, Georgia, passed away on April 19, 2026, at a local healthcare facility.

Mrs. Shirley was born on May 27, 1934, in Washington, D.C., the proud daughter of Willie Theodore Williams and Iris Raiford Williams. She dedicated 29 years of her life t...

04/21/2026

Grief can feel heavy... but you don't have to carry it alone.
You are always welcome to join us anytime. 🤍
Our new GriefShare sessions begin on April 22nd, and we would love to walk alongside you.
Choose the time that fits your day:
🌄 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM. Or
🌙 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
There is hope, healing, and community waiting for you.

04/20/2026

Cathy Elaine Harvey, a devoted mother, loving partner, and the heart of her family, passed away peacefully on April 19, 2026. She was born on December 30, 1956, in Heflin, Alabama, and lived a life defined by her deep love for those around her.

To know Cathy was to know what it meant to be t...

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Atlanta, GA

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+17708361466

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http://www.martin-hightower.com/

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Our Story

Mr. H.B. Hightower began his funeral service career in 1926 at a funeral home in Bradenton, FL. From 1931 - 1937 he worked as an ambulance driver for Grady Hospital. In 1945, Mr. H.B. purchased Hoyt Kinney Funeral Home, a six room house, in Bremen. In1953, the funeral home moved across the street to the old hospital building. In 1960, the funeral home relocated to the present building on Gordon Street. Mr. Hightower's wife, Ruby, served as Secretary-Treasurer from 1945 - December 1976.

In 1912, when J.C. "Mr. Cliff" Martin began his apprenticeship with J.N. Johnson in the funeral business, as most others in the U.S., operated from the back of a Carrollton general store. In 1923, he joined Kytle-Aycock who had a furniture store with funeral facilities in the back.

Martin opened his own funeral home on July 15, 1928, going into business with his brother-in-law, the late Henry M. Almon. Martin & Almon Funeral Home was the first in West Georgia to operate not as a sideline to furniture, hardware or other store.

After operating on the square for 13 years, Mr. Martin built the area's first structure designed exclusively as a funeral home on his wife, Eula Wiggins Martin's homeplace on West Center Street. He drew the building plans on a cardboard box and supervised the construction.

"Mr.Cliff" also embalmed regularly for firms that sold caskets in a 30 to 40 mile radius of Carrollton. A 1916 graduate of Chattanooga's Eckels College of Embalming, Martin held Georgia License #536 and Tennessee License #450, both issued in 1916.

His beloved wife, Eula, was one of Georgia's first lady attendants and performed all kinds of mortuary duties. One of those duties was to keep the pallbearers gloves freshly laundered.

In 1953 Mr. Hightower bought Martin Funeral Home from Stewart and Cliff Martin.

Both J.C. Martin and H.B. Hightower had sons who grew up in the funeral business and became the driving force for improvements as the business became more scientific and service oriented.

Richard Hightower graduated from Bremen High School in 1955, West Georgia College in 1957and John A. Gupton College of Mortuary Science in Nashville, TN, in1958. He returned to Bremen to assist his father in constructing the area's most modern funeral facility in 1960. In 1974, he master minded a major remodeling and chapel addition to Martin & Hightower West Center Street location in Carrollton. Richard was a state and national leader in the development of funeral service. He was selected to the Academy of Graduate Embalmers and served on its board for 12 years. He is a past president of the Academy. He served on the Georgia State Board of Funeral Service from 1990 to 1998, has served on the Board of Directors of Independent Funeral Directors, and is past president of Associated Funeral Directors Service.

"Mr. Cliff's" son, Stewart Martin, was a legend in his own time. After graduating from West Georgia College and Emory University with a degree in Biology, he attended Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science where he was a student instructor. He graduated in 1937 after having been an apprentice since childhood.

When Stewart Martin began his funeral career in Carrollton, he also began an enviable record in Community Service. When elected mayor of Carrollton at the age of 26, he became the youngest mayor in the United States.

In addition, he was secretary of the City-County Hospital Authority from its inception to 1973. He was past treasurer of the Carrollton Housing Authority; chairman of the Carroll Service Council; member of the Carroll County Board of Tax Assessors; deacon of Tabernacle Baptist Church, and taught a radio Sunday School Class for almost 40 years. Stewart spoke as a lay minister at thousands of the services he conducted.

As business increased and taxed the capacity of the West Center Street location, Richard built the Martin & Hightower Heritage Chapel on South Park Street in 1985. The West Center Street facility held its last services in 2005.

In 1999, the Hightower family moved into the Douglasville community with the addition of Hightower's Memorial Chapel on Highway 78 in the former location of J. Cowan Whitley / Whitley-Garner Funeral Home.

The Hightower family continues to maintain the level of professionalism, integrity, dignity and compassion that has been the hallmarks of Hightower Family Funeral Homes’ services throughout the past 8-plus decades. On any given day you will find the Hightower’s actively involved with the families and communities in the West Georgia area.

04/26/2026

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04/20/2026

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