A.S. Turner & Sons Funeral Home & Crematory Becomes the Southeast's First State-Licensed Organic Human Reduction Facility
- Featured
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
DECATUR, Ga. — A.S. Turner & Sons Funeral Home & Crematory, led by owner Cy Hume and general manager Tommy Wages announces that it has become the Southeast's first state-licensed Organic Human Reduction (also known as terramation) facility, marking a milestone for funeral service in Georgia and across the Southeast.
For more than 120 years, A.S. Turner & Sons has served families in Decatur and the greater Atlanta community with compassionate, innovative care. Adding Organic Human Reduction continues the funeral home's long tradition of innovation, a legacy recognized in an August 1959 article in The Southern Funeral Director. The article praised the funeral home's “numerous innovations” and described it as “one of the finest, most functional and most beautiful plans of its kind in the nation.” Under Hume and Wages, A.S. Turner & Sons continues that focus on innovation in death care. As Hume explains, “We best support our families and community by staying on the cutting edge of technology and innovation while honoring the values and wishes of those we serve.”
"Our families asked me for this," said Cy Hume. "For years, people sitting across from me during the hardest moments of their lives shared that they wanted an option that was gentler and more connected to the earth. I listened. Today, I'm proud to say we've answered."
The new facility features six state-of-the-art Chrysalis vessels and a rooftop solar array that will continue to expand to help power the Organic Human Reduction process, reinforcing the company's commitment to environmental stewardship. Families throughout Georgia and the Southeast now have local access to this environmentally conscious end-of-life option without the need to transport their loved ones across the country.
"This is about giving families more choices while continuing to provide the exceptional care they have trusted us to provide for generations," Hume added. "We are honored to be the first in our region to offer Organic Human Reduction locally and will continue to enhance the services we provide to the communities we serve."
Hume also expressed gratitude to the leaders and partners who helped make this milestone possible.
"I am grateful to Governor Brian Kemp, Senator Elena Parent, and Senator Rick Williams for their leadership in making Organic Human Reduction available in Georgia," said Hume. “Additionally, I want to thank the Georgia State Board of Funeral Service for taking their time to research all State of Georgia Rules and Regulations in putting guidelines in place to not only protect consumers, but also Funeral Professionals performing services. I also want to thank our partners at The Natural Funeral, Inc. for helping us build something truly extraordinary."
As interest in environmentally conscious funeral options continues to grow, A.S. Turner & Sons hopes to serve as a resource for other funeral professionals throughout the Southeast.
"If you're a funeral home, crematory, or cemetery operator interested in bringing Organic Human Reduction to your community, I'd welcome the opportunity to speak with you."
About A.S. Turner & Sons Funeral Home & Crematory
Founded more than 120 years ago, A.S. Turner & Sons Funeral Home & Crematory has proudly served families in Decatur, Atlanta, and the surrounding communities with compassionate, personalized funeral, green burial, cremation, and memorial services. The addition of our Terramation service will only add to existing service options to ensure A.S. Turner & Sons can meet the needs of all families in the future.
Terramation Facts Intro Video:
A.S. Turner & Sons Funeral Home & Crematory
2773 North Decatur Road
Decatur, GA 30033
Phone: (404) 292-1551
Website: https://www.asturner.com
