September 18, 2017, Brian A. Allen a long life resident of Oconee County and a funeral attendant since the age of twelve was honored to be able to carry out the Sandifer Legacy that the family has set forth.“ It’s hard to fill big shoe’s but it’s easy to build off of solid ground that Cecil Sandifer has spent almost a century building. I thank God for the opportunity and the success he has bestowed on my family!”, quoted by Brian Allen
I started the funeral business at an earlier age of twelve shortly after the death of my mother due to cancer. At that age I had no vision of being a funeral director or even a funeral home owner. I was just focused on helping my family out during a time of need. The gift of hard work and the dedication it takes to be a funeral director, I credit to my father. I worked all my summers, week-ends, and after school at a local funeral home all the way through my high school and college years, still not realizing my calling to the funeral service. I become a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer at the earliest age of 21.
It wasn’t until I was guided by a local friend of the business to explore my vision of funeral service when I felt my true calling to the industry. So to make a long story short, I met Cecil Sandifer, Sr, Jr. “Sandy”, and Peggy Sandifer for the second time since they conducted my mother’s funeral service. Not knowing they had been watching me mature as a funeral director I was offered a job in June of 2001. As promised they gave me my first interested in the business in 2003. I thank Cecil greatly for that day because that’s when I saw my true vision of not only becoming a business partner, but saw myself being part of what I call the, “ Sandifer Legacy”.
From my early childhood experiences in the funeral service to current years of services is what I think will carry the Legacy forward in the years to come. I and my staff take great pride in our slogan “For over half a century, Friends caring for Friends”. As times change so do traditions, that’s why we take pride in customizing the memory of your love one’s life from a traditional church funeral to a celebration of life service. We will be introducing the Martin House that is adjacent to the Funeral Home, in the very near future. The Home will be a non-traditional setting where we can host receptions and other venues in a home like setting.