03/30/2025
To our Laurel Oaks Funeral Home & Memorial Park community,
A video from a recent graveside service has been circulating online, and it has caused a lot of pain, confusion, and hurt - for the family involved, for those who saw it, and for our Laurel Oaks team. We want to share some context with care and compassion. The video that is being circulated does not show the events that occurred before and after the clip, nor does it provide sound for what was being said.
During the graveside service, loved ones of the deceased honored their traditions for someone they deeply cherished. Our team gave space and respect for that tribute to unfold.
After the graveside service, when heavy machinery was brought in to close the grave, several of our representatives asked those in attendance and standing nearby to step back from the open grave for their safety due to the use of the active machinery. Our contract requires that all attendees be at least 25 feet from the gravesite when the grave is being filled. While it is important to us to allow our families to grieve in ways that honor their own traditions, the safety of our families and staff and avoidance of any injuries or accidents is a top priority. When multiple requests by our staff for attendees to step back for their own safety were repeatedly disregarded, the situation regrettably escalated.
Our contract prohibits alcohol consumption during services and that contractual promise was also broken. Had attendees followed the contractual requirements of standing 25 feet back from the open grave when the equipment was in use and had no alcohol been involved, we think this regrettable incident would have been avoided.
We know how sacred and important graveside traditions are. We at Laurel Oaks deeply respect the many cultural customs that shape how people grieve and say goodbye, and we believe every family deserves to pay their tributes according to their traditions.
We are a small, culturally diverse, family-owned company. Our staff comes from a variety of cultures, ethnicities, and backgrounds. Our work is personal to us; we take it very seriously. At no time has Laurel Oaks or its staff acted in a discriminatory manner.
We are asking for grace, for understanding, and for a return to the compassion we all hope for in times of loss. We are also asking for an end to the threats of violence, injury, and death toward our Laurel Oaks family that have regrettably followed the service, and we want people to be aware of the full context surrounding the viral video.
Law enforcement is involved and is investigating the conduct and actions of attendees at the service.
Out of respect for law enforcement and the family, Laurel Oaks does not intend to further comment on this matter.
Thank you for your consideration and support of us as we continue our work to provide comfort to the broad community of Balch Springs.
Warmly, Laurel Oaks Funeral Home and Memorial Park
