There’s a place where legacy and excellence in funeral service meet - McAlister-Smith Funeral Home, serving greater Charleston, South Carolina. Since 1886, the funeral home has provided their community with caring, personalized services for each family. More than 130 years later, McAlister-Smith still holds their families’ needs at the forefront of all they do.
Director of Partnerships, Rose Jarboe, says the family-owned business is solely focused on serving their community as trusted funeral professionals.
“We have longevity in the industry, going back multiple generations. While the original location was located downtown on the peninsula, the Smith family recognized that it would be beneficial to the families in this region if we met them where they lived. Locations are now in 6 specific areas to accommodate.” McAlister-Smith has always been a family-owned business and we continue with the same community-focused goals from when the funeral home started. “ In 1886, the founding family delt with the Great Earthquake of 1886 here in Charleston. Now, we find ourselves navigating the global pandemic.”
Today, McAlister-Smith continues this excellence with a staff of dedicated funeral professionals who see the profession as a calling rather than just a job. “Especially during the difficult times COVID brought, our staff truly demonstrated they believe in their purpose – serving families as being something greater than themselves,” Jarboe said.
Along with dedication to serving their community and bringing their services into the digital age. Jarboe said in the last few years, they’ve revved up technological efforts, to provide services to families, like online planning and text-based aftercare.
“I joined the team several years ago as the Director of Partnerships with a goal of strengthening and increasing a variety of relationships. Outreach and community involvement with other professionals across many service lines as well as technological advances were my focus. While McAlister-Smith has always welcomed technology, we centered on streamlining systems and enhancing ways to meet our consumers where they are comfortable in this unusual time. The family member who lives across country, the homebound individual who cannot leave a domicile, the person who prefers to research online, a loved one who would prefer to stay near the bedside with someone who is approaching their last moments, the consumer who does not desire to meet in person during these unique times…. we are committed to serving them. Our intention is to continue using technological advancement so that 24/7/365, we truly are available, and the process is more convenient.” Jarboe said.
Even with its technology-forward approach, McAlister-Smith still prides itself on its personalized care for each family. For generations, their funeral home family has listened to their families and planned services that fit each loved one’s legacy.
Jarboe summarized McAlister-Smith's family-oriented approach: “Ultimately, we’re family taking care of family, and are committed to serving in a time of need with an open-door policy.
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