McAllister Smith tells Charleston commission preplanning reduces family burden, outlines veteran benefits

Representatives from McAllister Smith told the Charleston City Commission on Women that funeral preplanning can reduce logistical and financial burdens on families and highlighted veteran-specific benefits available at national and state veterans cemeteries.

"There are about 75 to 125 things that need to take place within a very short time, within like a 36 hour window or 3 days," said Katina, a licensed funeral director with McAllister Smith, describing why she encourages advance planning. She asked community members to record vital statistics and service preferences to simplify arrangements for survivors.

Katina said McAllister Smith operates six local locations — James Island, West Ashley, Mount Pleasant, Goose Creek, Holly Hill and Columbia — and offers prepayment and preplanning options that can lock in prices. She said funeral homes in South Carolina must use a third-party provider to hold prepayment funds and identified the firm McAllister Smith uses as Funeral Directors Life Insurance Company of Abilene, Texas.

On veterans benefits, Katina and Sean Riley, a funeral director and veteran with McAllister Smith, urged veterans to keep a copy of their DD Form 214. "We need a copy of that discharge form," Katina said, for eligibility checks, burial flag requests and to request military honors. She listed national cemeteries in Beaufort, Florence and Columbia (Fort Jackson) and a state veterans cemetery in Anderson as burial options and said families sometimes save "about $15,000–$17,000 or more" by using national cemeteries instead of private/public cemetery plots, an estimate she attributed to differences in cemetery costs.

Riley described an "out-of-area protection" product the funeral home offers: a one-time lifetime membership that covers transportation and logistics if a person dies more than the typical pickup radius from home. "We've experienced this a couple of times in my own family," Riley said, describing cases in which the product brought decedents home from other states.

The presenters clarified several technical and legal points during questions from commissioners. On cremation and scattering ashes, Katina referenced the federal Clean Water Act and said scattering at sea is permissible more than three miles offshore; she said scattering on public beaches would require private property permission. On cremation specifically, Katina said funeral homes require a signed cremation authorization and that preplanning can keep that authorization on file to avoid disputes among next of kin.

She confirmed funeral homes must accept reasonable third‑party caskets supplied by families and that preplanning and annuity options are available, including multiyear payment plans and an annuity product used for people under hospice care. Katina said preplanning consultations and many informational services are offered at no charge.

The presenters also addressed indigent or unclaimed decedents, saying cases are handled "case by case" and often involve coordination with the county coroner to ensure dignified final dispositions.

After the presentation, commission members and staff outlined follow-up items: the commission chair will share materials with the mayor's office and the city clerk for posting, and staff will prepare a proposal for further outreach and collaboration. The commission moved to adjourn; the chair set the next meeting for April 28 at 4 p.m.

The presentation generated questions about college-campus outreach, coordination with local veterans services and assistance for families needing international repatriation of remains; presenters said they are willing to meet with campus and community groups and to assist agencies and families with documentation and logistics.