Banister Funeral Home

Banister-Cooper Funeral Home, located at 678 North Main Street in Hiawassee, Georgia, has been a pillar of the Towns County community since its founding in 1934. Originally established as Abernathy Funeral Home by Frank Abernathy, the business became known as Banister Funeral Home in 1971 after being purchased by Bill and Myers Banister. The current owners, Marvin and Tamela Cooper, purchased the funeral home in 2020 and added their name to the legacy, creating Banister-Cooper Funeral Home. Throughout its history, the funeral home has remained locally owned and operated, deeply rooted in the community it serves.

As Towns County's only locally owned funeral home, Banister-Cooper is committed to providing compassionate, professional care to families during their most difficult times. The dedicated and caring staff is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, ready to assist with all aspects of funeral planning and bereavement support. The facility is conveniently located in downtown Hiawassee and offers wheelchair accessible entrances and parking lots for the comfort and convenience of all visitors.

Banister-Cooper Funeral Home offers a comprehensive range of services designed to honor the unique life and legacy of each individual. These include traditional funeral services, cremation services, veterans services, and pet funeral services. The staff works closely with families to create personalized tributes that reflect the beliefs, values, and wishes of their loved ones. Pre-planning services are available to help individuals ease the burden on their families by making arrangements in advance.

The funeral home features a chapel that hosts visitations, memorial services, and celebrations of life. Online obituaries and a memorial guestbook allow friends and family to offer condolences and share memories from anywhere in the world. Additionally, the funeral home offers grief support resources, including a year-long program of weekly messages designed to provide strength and comfort during the challenging first year after a loss.

Banister-Cooper Funeral Home maintains a strong reputation for excellence, reflected in its 4.6-star rating from 22 reviews on Google. Clients consistently praise the staff for their kindness, professionalism, and genuine compassion. Reviews highlight the team's willingness to work late hours, their respectful demeanor during times of grief, and their ability to make difficult processes easier. Families appreciate the personalized attention and the feeling of being treated like extended family.

In addition to its core services, Banister-Cooper Funeral Home provides a sympathy store for sending flowers and offers an email subscription service to notify community members when new obituaries are posted. The funeral home operates Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM and is closed on weekends, although staff remain available for emergencies at any time.

Whether assisting with traditional burials, cremations, or pre-planning, Banister-Cooper Funeral Home remains dedicated to its mission of providing loving support to Hiawassee, Young Harris, Towns County, and the surrounding areas during their time of grief. The combination of a rich local history, a family-owned atmosphere, and a highly professional staff makes Banister-Cooper a trusted choice for funeral and cremation services in north Georgia.