Coleman Funeral Home has officially opened its new facility that was built around a focused effort on hospitality, presentation, service and value.

In November, the business began holding visitations and memorial services in the new location at 601 Commerce Parkway, visible from Highway 7 just south of Oxford.

The 5,000-square-foot facility includes a large chapel space that can be converted into a banquet hall for catered meals and receptions. Likewise, the Yamaha baby grand piano situated in the main hall can be used both for services and during receptions if a family desires. A catering kitchen is located nearby.

Viewing and receiving rooms for visitations are adjacent to the main hall. Guests enter through a light-filled, vaulted entrance hall that extends into a hospitality area, with a coffee bar, complimentary refreshments and comfortable seating. There is also a small prayer chapel and outdoor patio area.

The space is designed to be comfortable and welcoming — not formal and stoic like funeral homes of the past. It features exposed beams and extensive stonework at the exterior entrance, in the main chapel and at a fireplace alcove in the entrance hall.

It’s common today for a funeral gathering to include meals served to out-of-town family members, and the new Coleman Funeral Home is designed to host such gatherings. Used as a reception hall, the main space can accommodate anything from a formal catered meal to a potluck spaghetti supper to a casual cookout.

“We understand that families care more about the quality of care we provide than they do about an extravagant facility,” said CFO and co-owner Tom Fowlkes.

“Our new location is very nice and accommodates larger services than our temporary location did. But our focus remains on taking excellent care of our families — and being able to offer them exceptional value in our pricing.”

Event Services Coordinator Jeremy Roberts was recently hired to work with the family and funeral director to tailor each memorial event to their budget and desires. Families have more opportunities than ever to design memorial events in a way that honors and celebrates the things their loved ones were passionate about.

“Displaying photos at a visitation is just the tip of the iceberg,” Roberts said. “We can serve their favorite foods, we can decorate with their favorite sports team’s colors — there’s no limit to the ways we can celebrate all the things that made their loved one special. I’m excited for the chance to help families imagine new ways to celebrate each life in a unique and meaningful way.”

Coleman Funeral Home was founded in Oxford in 2004. Its first home was an expansive 13,000-square-foot facility on Highway 7 North, which is now home to The Orchard church.