Cardwell Baggett & Summers Funeral Home

Cardwell, Baggett & Summers Funeral Home stands as a pillar of compassionate care and dignified service in the South Daytona and Daytona Beach communities of Florida. With a history tracing back to 1917, this funeral home represents the merger of two storied institutions: Baggett & Summers Funeral Home and Cardwell Funeral Home. The legacy began when prominent pioneer resident Billie B. Baggett, who later served as Daytona Beach's third mayor, founded Baggett-Wetherby Funeral Home alongside Jerome Wetherby. By 1935, the firm was known as Baggett, Wetherby & McIntosh Company, and it handled one of the most notable funerals in American history—that of industrialist and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, who passed away at his Ormond Beach home in 1937. Billie sold the business to his son, Wilmans Byington Baggett, and Charles S. McIntosh in 1946. The funeral home operated as Baggett-McIntosh until 1973, when it was renamed Baggett & Summers Funeral Home to reflect the co-ownership of Lawrence J. "Larry" Summers. Meanwhile, in 1960, Baggett-McIntosh converted an old restaurant at 543 Halifax Drive to establish Port Orange's first funeral home. Glenn Cardwell and his wife, Thelma, managed that location for six years before purchasing it and renaming it Cardwell Funeral Home. Glenn, a licensed funeral director and embalmer who began his career in 1949, later served as president of Cardwell-Lewis Crematory. The Cardwells embraced a neighborly approach, earning a reputation for fairness and integrity. They moved their funeral home to its current South Ridgewood location in 1973 and retired in 1980. Their daughter, Christine Cardwell Doughty, continues the family tradition, ensuring every family receives the signature Cardwell warmth and professionalism. On October 11, 2016, Christine and the staff moved into a beautifully renovated new facility at 301 Big Tree Road in South Daytona, about two miles north of the previous location. Today, Cardwell, Baggett & Summers offers a comprehensive range of services, including traditional funerals, burial services, cremation, memorial services, specialized veterans' services, pre-arrangements, and grief support. They also provide caskets, vaults, urns, and other products. The funeral home is wheelchair accessible with on-site parking, and it holds a 4.4-star rating from community members. Their philosophy centers on providing professional guidance and personal attention so that cost is never a burden during a time of loss. With over a century of service, Cardwell, Baggett & Summers Funeral Home remains dedicated to honoring lives with care, respect, and affordability.