For nearly 125 years, the name A.S. Turner & Sons has been woven into the heart of Decatur. Families return to the funeral home not only for its services, but for its place in their lives: a space where snapshots of love, grief and remembrance are etched into the soul of the building.
“People will walk in and tell me, ‘My daddy was here, my grandmother was here, I remember the fish tank as a kid,’” says owner and funeral director Cy Hume. “They don’t just need the services we provide—they need this building and what it represents.”
The funeral home’s history stretches back to 1903, when it was founded with the simple promise of compassionate service. That commitment still defines the business today. While large corporations have acquired many family-run firms across the country, A.S. Turner & Sons remains an independent and community-centered organization. “I don’t answer to anyone in Houston or Toronto,” Hume explains. “The buck stops here—and that means families know we’ll take care of them directly.”
Hume’s own journey into funeral service was unexpected. As a teenager, he planned to enlist in the Marine Corps, but a medical disqualification rerouted his path. A friend persuaded him to try a job at a funeral home, and at 19, he began a career he has never left. Decades later, he still describes his work with a sense of calling: “I’ve always loved helping people, and that’s what drives me to do what I do.”
At A.S. Turner, that philosophy is lived out daily. It’s not unusual for the building to hold several services at once, each one reflecting the unique traditions, values, and stories of the families who gather there. “We serve everybody,” Hume says. “That diversity is what makes this place special. We don’t turn anyone away.”
The way funerals are held has shifted dramatically in recent years. Where burials once dominated, cremation now makes up more than 70 percent of services. But personalization has only grown in importance. Hume and his team take time to learn what mattered most to the person being honored. For one family, it meant walking out of the chapel to the University of Georgia fight song. For another, it meant filling a room with golf clubs and photos of a beloved East Lake coach. “Funerals are about the deceased, yes,” Hume says, “but they’re also about the living. The stories, the songs, the laughter—they help people heal.”
Beyond families, Hume feels responsible for his staff of 25, whom he views as an extension of his own family. “I want them to succeed in life,” he says. “Whether they stay in this field or follow another path, I care that they do well.”
Asked what lessons this work has taught him, Hume doesn’t hesitate. “You’re not promised tomorrow—not even after lunch,” he says. “Take the trip. Mend the relationship. Do the things that make you happy.”
As A.S. Turner & Sons approaches its 125th anniversary in a few short years, its legacy of compassion, independence, and trust continues to guide it forward—one family at a time.
“Funerals are about the deceased, yes, but they’re also about the living—the stories, songs, and laughter help people heal.”
“You’re not promised tomorrow—not even after lunch. Take the trip. Mend the relationship. Do the things that make you happy.”