Trust is not built quickly—especially in moments of loss. It is earned over time, through consistency, compassion, and a willingness to show up when people need it most. For more than fifty years, Carmichael Funeral Home has earned that trust from generations of families, becoming a steady presence during life’s most tender moments.
For decades, Carmichael Funeral Home has walked alongside Smyrna families through times they never planned for, but will never forget. Not with fanfare or spotlight, but with compassion, steadiness, and an unwavering sense of responsibility to the people it serves. It’s a legacy built on relationships, guided by humility, and rooted in the belief that loving a community means showing up—again and again.
That legacy began with Jim Carmichael’s father, J. Randy Carmichael, whose career in funeral service started when he was still a teenager in his hometown of Richland, Georgia. After serving in Vietnam, Randy and his wife moved to Smyrna, where he joined Sanders Funeral Home. In 1976, he purchased the business from Bill Sanders, laying the foundation for what would become Carmichael Funeral Home. The building many residents recognize today followed in 1980.
For Jim, this was never just a business—it was home. “I tell folks I started working here when I was old enough to push a lawnmower,” he says. From cutting grass and washing cars to helping wherever he was needed, Jim and his brother grew up learning the value of work, responsibility, and service. Their father’s tireless work ethic and deep dedication to families left a lasting impression. “He instilled that in us,” Jim says. “We’ve tried to emulate him in all that we do.”
At the heart of Carmichael Funeral Home is a deep respect for the community it serves. Jim speaks about that responsibility with humility. “I’m honored and humbled to serve families here,” he shares. “From folks we’ve known for many years to families we meet for the first time during one of the hardest moments of their lives.” That trust, he says, is sacred—and never taken lightly.
That sense of stewardship extends far beyond the funeral home. Carmichael Funeral Home has long believed in supporting the community quietly and consistently. It is one of the longest-tenured sponsors of Smyrna Little League—a commitment that feels deeply personal. Jim and his brother both grew up playing in the league, and he still remembers the pride of stepping onto the field wearing a Carmichael Funeral Home jersey.
For the Carmichael family, giving back has never been about visibility—it’s simply been part of being rooted in the community. Supporting youth sports, civic organizations, public safety, and local churches has always felt like a natural extension of the trust placed in them. “We’ve been supported by this community for generations,” Jim says. “Showing up is just part of who we are.”
Community involvement was also a cornerstone of Randy Carmichael’s life. A devoted Rotarian, he maintained perfect attendance for an extraordinary fifty years. That same spirit continues today through ongoing support of local churches, the Smyrna Public Safety Foundation, and organizations that strengthen the fabric of the city.
Yet it’s the multigenerational relationships that Jim describes as the most meaningful part of the work. Families who once relied on Sanders Funeral Home—and later Carmichael—continue to return decades later. In earlier years, the funeral home also operated an ambulance service, as was common at the time. Jim recalls a recent service where a gentleman shared a memory of Randy Carmichael and longtime team member Dickie Carter carrying his wife to the hospital more than fifty years ago.
“These relationships,” Jim says, “are quite possibly the most meaningful part of this business.”
One story, in particular, has stayed with him. Years ago, Carmichael Funeral Home helped a young mother who had lost her infant. Months later—just two days before Christmas—she returned with a card to thank the team again for helping her through the worst time in her life. That card now sits in a cabinet in the arrangement office, alongside other meaningful mementos collected over the years. “That was one of the best Christmas gifts I’ve ever received,” Jim says.
Inside Carmichael Funeral Home, the culture reflects that same sense of shared purpose. Jim describes it as family-like. His father often said people didn’t work for him—they worked with him. Everyone pitches in. No task is beneath anyone. Service comes first.
Jim himself still takes calls several nights a month, answering the phone when a family, hospital, or nurse reaches out—even in the middle of the night. “I take that very seriously,” he says.
Whether families walk through the doors in Smyrna or Marietta, the mission remains the same. Jim hopes families feel a sense of relief—comfort in knowing they are in good hands and supported not just in the moment, but in the years that follow.
Love local often shows up in quiet ways—in trust passed from one generation to the next, in familiar voices answering the phone when it matters most, and in businesses that see themselves not just as providers, but as neighbors. For more than half a century, Carmichael Funeral Home has embodied that spirit, standing beside families with care, compassion, and an enduring commitment to community.
Carmichael Funeral Homes
Serving Smyrna families with care, compassion, and trusted guidance for more than 50 years.
2950 King Street
Smyrna, GA 30080
770-435-4467
CarmichaelCares.com
Pull Quote 1: “The trust our community places in us is sacred, and we never take that responsibility lightly.”
Pull Quote 2: “We’ve been supported by this community for generations, and giving back—quietly and consistently—has always felt like part of who we are.”