Four Generations of Family Service
Our History
A Tradition of Care. A Legacy of Service.
For nearly a century, the history of Hightower Family Funeral Homes has been woven into the lives of families throughout West Georgia. What began with two families dedicated to serving their neighbors has grown into a tradition of care carried forward through four generations.
Although our funeral homes have changed and grown over the years, the values upon which they were established remain the same: compassion, integrity, personal relationships, and a sincere commitment to the families and communities we serve.
The Early Years: The Martin and Hightower Families
Our story in Carrollton began in 1928, when Martin Funeral Home was established by J.C. "Cliff" Martin and his associates. Opening its doors on July 15 of that year, Martin Funeral Home became an important part of the Carrollton community, providing families with a place to turn during some of life's most difficult moments.
The Martin family continued serving Carrollton for decades, establishing a tradition of professional and compassionate funeral service that would become an important part of our family's history.
The Hightower family's journey in funeral service began with Herschel Bryant "H.B." Hightower and his wife, Ruby
Thompson Hightower.
In 1945, H.B. and Ruby purchased Hoyt Kenny Funeral Home in Bremen, Georgia, establishing Hightower Funeral Home. Together, they devoted themselves to serving the families of Bremen and the surrounding communities, building relationships and a reputation for dependable, personal care.
For H.B. and Ruby, funeral service was not simply a business. It was a responsibility to their neighbors and a commitment to being there when families needed them most.
Bringing Two Traditions Together
In 1955, H.B. and Ruby expanded their service to Carrollton with the purchase of Martin Funeral Home, establishing Martin & Hightower Funeral Home.
The joining of these two funeral home traditions brought together decades of experience and a shared dedication to the people of West Georgia.
As the communities grew, so did the funeral homes. In 1960, Hightower Funeral Home moved into its facility on Gordon Street in Bremen, continuing to provide families with a welcoming place to gather, remember, and honor those they loved.
The foundation established by H.B. and Ruby would soon be carried forward by their son, Richard Bryant Hightower, Sr.
Richard Bryant Hightower, Sr.: A Lifetime of Service
Born on May 6, 1937, Richard Bryant Hightower, Sr., grew up in Bremen surrounded by the work of the family funeral home.
By the age of sixteen, he was already helping his parents wherever he was needed, washing cars, driving ambulances, and learning firsthand the responsibility that came with caring for grieving families.
Richard graduated from Bremen High School in 1955 and earned an associate's degree from West Georgia College before attending John A. Gupton College of Mortuary Science in Nashville, Tennessee.
In 1958, he graduated as a licensed funeral director and embalmer and returned home to work alongside his parents, beginning the second generation of the Hightower family's service to West Georgia.
In 1972, Richard purchased Hightower Funeral Home in Bremen and Martin & Hightower Funeral Home in Carrollton from his parents, assuming leadership of the family business.
Under his direction, the funeral homes continued to grow while remaining firmly rooted in the values established by H.B. and Ruby.
In 1973, Richard purchased Haralson Memory Gardens, later renamed Forest Lawn Memorial Park. In 1978, the family's funeral home and cemetery operations were consolidated under Martin & Hightower Funeral Home, Inc.
Over the following decades, Richard continued expanding the family's ability to serve the surrounding communities. The Martin & Hightower Heritage Chapel was constructed in Carrollton in 1985, Hillcrest Chapel in Newnan was acquired in 1992, and Hightower's Memorial Chapel was established in Douglasville in 1999.
That same year, Richard and his son, Bryant, began developing West Georgia Memorial Park in Carrollton.
Richard's commitment to funeral service extended well beyond the communities his funeral homes served. Throughout his career, he held numerous professional leadership positions, including serving as president of the Academy of Graduate Embalmers of Georgia and as a member of the Georgia State Board of Funeral Service from 1990 to 1998.
He also served for more than 38 years on the Board of Trustees of John A. Gupton College of Mortuary Science, helping guide and support future generations of funeral service professionals.
But those who knew Richard understood that his greatest commitment was always to the families he served.
He possessed an extraordinary memory for the people who came through the doors of the funeral homes, often recalling their relatives, family connections, and details of services conducted decades earlier.
To Richard, those families were never simply names in a record book. They were people whose stories mattered.
Richard passed away on September 27, 2026, at the age of 89, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of service to his profession, his community, and his family.
His influence remains a part of our funeral homes today, not only in the businesses he helped build but in the values he passed down to the generations who follow him.
Four Generations. One Family Commitment.
As the years passed, Richard took great pride in seeing his sons, Bryant and Bill Hightower, follow him into funeral service.
Today, Bryant and Bill continue the family's tradition of leadership, working alongside the fourth generation of the Hightower family, including Cason Hightower, Jacquelyn Hightower McKinzie, and MacKenzie Hightower Daniel.
Together with Cathy Hightower and a dedicated staff of funeral service professionals, they carry forward the values established by those who came before them.
From Bremen to Carrollton and Douglasville, our family remains personally involved in the daily work of caring for families throughout West Georgia.
While funeral service has evolved over the years, we believe the most important parts of what we do have never changed.
We still believe in taking the time to listen. In knowing the families we serve. In treating people with kindness and respect. And in understanding that being entrusted with someone's final arrangements is both a privilege and a responsibility.
As we look toward the future, we remain grateful for the generations of families who have placed their trust in us.
Our history is one of family, community, and service. Our commitment is to honor that history by continuing to care for your family as we would our own.
