Lankford Funeral Home & Crematory

01/01/2025

Welcome 2025 with Hope and Heart

As the New Year dawns, we look ahead with hope while carrying the cherished memories of the year behind us. For many, this time of reflection reminds us of life’s fragility and the importance of embracing each moment with gratitude and love.

At Lankford Funeral Home, we are honored to stand beside you during life’s most significant moments—offering care, compassion, and a listening heart. As we move into 2025, we encourage you to:

✨ Celebrate the connections that bring meaning to your life.
✨ Honor the legacies of those who have gone before us.
✨ Cherish the time you have with loved ones today.

May this New Year bring peace to your heart, comfort to your soul, and joy in the days ahead. Together, let us make 2025 a year of purpose, kindness, and love.

Happy New Year from all of us at Lankford Funeral Home.

Lankford Funeral Home is open 24/7, and our caring team is here to help. Call (386) 734-2244 to discuss how we can help you.

12/31/2024

Reflecting on the Year Behind and the Year Ahead - The Last Sunrise for 2024.

As we approach the close of 2024, we pause to reflect on the journey we’ve traveled—its joys, its challenges, and the moments that have shaped us. For many, this year brought milestones, changes, and the tender ache of loss.

At Lankford Funeral Home, we are reminded daily of life’s fragility and its profound beauty. Each farewell teaches us to treasure the time we have, to cherish our loved ones, and to honor the legacy of those who have gone before us.

As we welcome 2025, may we carry forward the lessons of love and resilience. Let this be a year of connection, gratitude, and living with intention. May we find peace in the memories of those we’ve lost and joy in the moments we share with those still with us.

We are deeply grateful for the trust you place in us during life’s most tender times. It is our honor to serve this community with compassion and care.

Wishing you and your family a prosperous, peaceful, and hopeful New Year.

With heartfelt gratitude,
The Lankford Funeral Home Family

Lankford Funeral Home is open 24/7, and our caring team is here to help. Call (386) 734-2244 to discuss how we can help you.

12/30/2024

Get to know Funeral Director, Cheryl Lankford of Lankford Funeral Home in DeLand, Florida.

"Cheryl Lankford, owner and director of the Lankford Funeral Home in DeLand, eloquently describes her life growing up in the city she loves, the experiences she has had, and her insight into the changes that have occurred in West Volusia. In this oral history interview Cheryl describes herself as a “Cracker” – born in DeLand at Fish Memorial Hospital and a life-long Florida resident. Cheryl’s dad, Clyde Lankford, opened the Lankford Funeral Home in 1950 on E. New York Avenue, and it remains a mainstay business in the heart of DeLand. Cheryl became a member of the staff at a young age but laughs about being “fired” by her dad one time. Though surprised, she moved to another town, worked in a corporate funeral business and developed, she states, into a more compassionate person. Eventually she returned to Lankford’s, and after her father passed away in 2000, Cheryl bought out her brother’s interest and became the sole owner. Cheryl’s interview closes with her reflection on the importance of giving back to your community and her advice to today’s youth is to stay the course you feel is best and strive to become the person you want to be."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UkOG9-nQE4
Lankford Funeral Home is open 24/7, and our caring team is here to help. Call (386) 734-2244 to discuss how we can help you.

Cheryl Lankford, owner and director of the Lankford Funeral Home in DeLand, eloquently describes her life growing up in the city she loves, the experiences s...

12/29/2024

A Light Within

When shadows fall and skies turn gray,
And dreams seem lost, swept far away,
Remember this: the darkest night
Will always yield to morning’s light.

Though paths may twist, and storms may roar,
New strength will rise, unseen before.
Each tear that falls, each weary sigh,
Is met with hope that will not die.

For in your heart, a flame does glow,
A quiet strength, a seed to sow.
Through every trial, every test,
Hope whispers softly: “Do your best.”

So hold on tight, let courage bloom,
Through barren fields or crowded room.
A brighter day is yet to be,
Just past the clouds, beyond the sea.

And when the light shines bold and true,
You'll find the power lies in you.
For hope’s not fleeting, nor in vain—
It grows through love and heals through pain.

Lankford Funeral Home is open 24/7, and our caring team is here to help. Call (386) 734-2244 to discuss how we can help you.

12/28/2024

IT ALL BEGAN WITH A VERY BELOVED PUG
In 2001, when my 15-year-old Chinese pug became ill, my vet suggested euthanasia for her. It would be the most difficult decision I ever had to make; the life of another was in my hands.

Though euthanasia was the kindest thing I could do for her, it didn’t make my decision any easier.

My pug was my child. She cared for me when I was sick, and even in her failing stature comforted me when my father died.

It was during this time I realized what a special service I could provide to pet owners who feel the same about their beloved pets.

As a licensed funeral director, it seemed only fitting that I offer the same caring service for pets as I do for their loved ones.

–– Cheryl Lankford, Founder, Lasting Memories 4 Pets

https://www.lastingmemories4pets.com/

Lankford Funeral Home is open 24/7, and our caring team is here to help. Call (386) 734-2244 to discuss how we can help you.

12/27/2024

The Funeral and Memorial Information Council (FAMIC) created Have the Talk of a Lifetime to help families have important conversations about the things that matter most to them and how a person’s life story can be remembered and honored in a meaningful way.

Memorialization is so much more than it used to be. Today it can reflect a person’s life story, values, interests and experiences. Meaningful memorialization can be transformative, healing and comforting. Have the Talk of a Lifetime offers families practical advice and tools to help them have conversations about the things that matter most and how they hope to be remembered when they die and for generations to come.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9_Ef7Cx-OE

Lankford Funeral Home is open 24/7, and our caring team is here to help. Call (386) 734-2244 to discuss how we can help you.

12/26/2024

Forever in My Heart

Though time has passed since you’ve been near,
Your voice still echoes, soft and clear.
Your laughter lingers in the air,
A melody beyond compare.

Each memory is a treasure kept,
A piece of you that time has left.
In dreams, I see your gentle face,
A love that nothing can erase.

I miss the warmth your presence gave,
The way your smile could light and save.
Yet in my heart, you’ll always stay,
A guiding star, my night, my day.

Though hands can’t touch and words can’t greet,
I feel your soul in every beat.
Through every tear, through every sigh,
Our love endures; it cannot die.

So until we meet where skies are blue,
Know every breath, I think of you.
For love like ours will never part—
You live forever in my heart.

Lankford Funeral Home is open 24/7, and our caring team is here to help. Call (386) 734-2244 to discuss how we can help you.

12/25/2024

From all of us at Lankford Funeral Home, we extend our heartfelt wishes for a Merry Christmas.
This time of year can be both joyful and challenging, as we celebrate the season while remembering loved ones who hold a special place in our hearts. May the warmth of cherished memories and the love of family and friends bring you peace and comfort during this holiday season.

We are honored to serve our community with compassion and care, and we remain here for you, not just today but always.

Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year,
The Lankford Funeral Home Family

Lankford Funeral Home is open 24/7, and our caring team is here to help. Call (386) 734-2244 to discuss how we can help you.

12/24/2024

Join Us at 5 p.m. TODAY for the 18th Annual Lighting of the Luminaries!

Be part of a beloved DeLand holiday tradition as we come together to honor the season with a breathtaking display of light.

📍 Where: Oakdale Cemetery, DeLand, Florida
📅 When: Tuesday, December 24th, 2024
🕖 Schedule:

5:00 PM: Gather at Oakdale Office
5:30 PM: Candle Lighting Starts

Food & Drinks will be provided

Bring your family and friends to experience this beautiful evening of community, remembrance, and holiday spirit. Let’s light up the night and make this year’s luminary lighting truly magical!

We look forward to seeing you there!

Lankford Funeral Home is open 24/7, and our caring team is here to help. Call (386) 734-2244 to discuss how we can help you.

12/24/2024

Finding Comfort and Spreading Love on Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve is a time of reflection, togetherness, and anticipation. Yet, for those who have lost someone dear, it can also bring a tender ache as the absence of loved ones feels especially profound.

As the world quiets in anticipation of Christmas Day, it’s okay to allow space for your grief. Honor your loved one by lighting a candle, saying a prayer, or sharing a story about them. These moments of remembrance can bring a sense of closeness, even when they’re no longer physically with us.

This evening, consider ways to lift others who may also be grieving or feeling alone:

🎄 Offer a Listening Ear: Sometimes, just being present for someone can make all the difference. Let them share their feelings or memories without judgment.

💌 Send a Thoughtful Message: A kind note or heartfelt text to someone can remind them that they’re not alone this Christmas.

✨ Perform a Small Act of Kindness: Deliver a warm meal, donate to a local charity, or give your time to a cause. These acts can bring light to those who need it most.

While Christmas Day may bring a mix of emotions, remember that love endures. It shines through the connections we nurture, the kindness we extend, and the memories we carry forward.

From all of us, we wish you peace, comfort, and the gentle joy that comes from the love shared, both past and present.

With heartfelt care,
The Lankford Funeral Home Family

Lankford Funeral Home is open 24/7, and our caring team is here to help. Call (386) 734-2244 to discuss how we can help you.

12/24/2024

Join Us TODAY for the 18th Annual Lighting of the Luminaries!

Be part of a beloved DeLand holiday tradition as we come together to honor the season with a breathtaking display of light.

📍 Where: Oakdale Cemetery, DeLand, Florida
📅 When: Tuesday, December 24th, 2024
🕖 Schedule:

7:00 AM: Candle Setup Begins
5:00 PM: Gather at Oakdale Office
5:30 PM: Candle Lighting Starts

Food & Drinks will be provided

Bring your family and friends to experience this beautiful evening of community, remembrance, and holiday spirit. Let’s light up the night and make this year’s luminary lighting truly magical!

We look forward to seeing you there!

Lankford Funeral Home is open 24/7, and our caring team is here to help. Call (386) 734-2244 to discuss how we can help you.

12/23/2024

Every person is unique in the way he or she handles the loss of a loved one. While the grieving process is different for each of us, we all experience some common feelings as we work toward healing from our loss.

Click the link below to read more: https://www.lankfordfuneralhome.com/grief-support/the-grieving-process

Lankford Funeral Home is open 24/7, and our caring team is here to help. Call (386) 734-2244 to discuss how we can help you.