As a Southern Baptist minister for the past 16 years, Curt Franklin has watched countless times as families struggled to cope with the grief of the death of a loved one, offered what comfort he could, and often wondered if there was something more he could do.

Now, he believes he has found the answer to that question.

Franklin is general manager of Selma Funeral Home. The funeral home, located at 5171 Alabama Highway 22, next to Pineview Cemetery, opened its doors on July 15.

Franklin and his wife, Sherry, moved to Selma from the Gatlinburg, Tenn., area to oversee construction of the facility. The Franklins moved to the Deep Woods Community and are members of Central Baptist Church.

Franklin has been a senior pastor for the past 16 years in Southern Baptist churches and said he wants to be a source of support, encouragement, grief counseling and various ministries to the citizens of the community.

When asked about his goals, Franklin said, “Selma Funeral Home will be a different style of a funeral home by design.” There have been 20 original art works commissioned specifically for the funeral home by a Knoxville artist, who came to Selma just for the local images.

The Chapel seats approximately 300 people. The funeral home has 10-foot ceilings throughout with cathedral ceilings in the chapel. Franklin also noted, “The funeral home has 8,000 square feet of spacious design.”

Franklin has teamed with

Jeff Ford, a native of Demopolis with 18 years in the funeral service profession. Ford received his mortuary science degree form Jefferson State Community College. Ford has licenses in both funeral direction and embalming. He has also served as a coroner.

“We have a man with the knowledge behind the scenes who will take no shortcuts to make the funeral happen,” said Franklin when asked about Ford.

Franklin’s philosophy about the funeral business is to give the highest level of compassion and understanding when dealing with death.

“Death is a moment in time when reality and hearts are broken and everyone needs a listening ear and an understanding heart to get them through these tough times,” said Franklin. “My main thing is to care for the living.”

He said Selma Funeral Home has adopted a ministry calling within the funeral service profession. There will be after-care programs free of charge to all who desire it, including those that Selma Funeral Home does not serve. The funeral home will also be hosting monthly discussions over coffee and tea, monthly grief newsletters, Christmas memorial services, grief conferences and other programs that will be a help to those in need throughout Dallas and the surrounding counties.

“Our motto is two fold,” said Franklin. “Selma Funeral Home will serve you with the highest quality of compassion, professionalism and respect. Selma Funeral Home is a new funeral home with old fashioned values.”

The funeral home will hold an open house on Saturday, July 27th, from 5pm to 8pm.

There will be bluegrass music as well as sandwiches and refreshments. “I hope everyone will come out and see our state of the art new facility and meet us,” said Franklin.