Faith, family and cultural tradition

Afro-Caribbean Funerals

A personal funeral shaped around your family, your faith and the traditions that matter to you. We listen carefully, plan every detail and work alongside your church, minister and wider family.

Burial or cremation Church and venue liaison American-style caskets available
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Here Day and Night

Immediate guidance whenever someone dies, with telephone support available 24 hours a day.

Family-Led Arrangements

We begin by listening and never assume that one family's traditions will be the same as another's.

Faith and Church Liaison

We work closely with your chosen church, minister, choir and service venue.

Private Viewing

Peaceful Chapels of Rest for family visits, reflection and final farewells by appointment.

Floral tribute arranged for a personal funeral service

A farewell that feels true to your family

From a quiet and intimate service to a large church funeral with music, tributes and a full cortege, each arrangement is built around your wishes.

Listening comes first

No Two Families or Traditions Are the Same

Afro-Caribbean families represent many islands, countries, churches, beliefs and family traditions. We will never offer a standard formula or make assumptions about how the funeral should take place.

Your Personal Funeral Advisor will take time to understand what is important to your family, including the church service, viewing arrangements, clothing, music, casket or coffin, funeral vehicles, burial customs and the involvement of relatives and friends.

Time to involve the wider family
Clear written funeral estimate
Flexible viewing arrangements
Support across the West Midlands
A funeral shaped around your wishes

How We Can Support Your Family

The following are available where they reflect your family's wishes. We will explain the practical arrangements, likely costs and any requirements set by the church, cemetery or crematorium.

Church and Extended Services

We can liaise with your chosen church and minister, allow for a longer service where the venue permits, and coordinate hymns, prayers, readings, choirs, gospel singers and family tributes.

Viewing and Final Farewells

Private visits can be arranged in our Chapels of Rest. Where requested and permitted, we can also discuss viewing immediately before or during the funeral service.

Coffins and American Caskets

Choose from traditional coffins, contemporary designs and American-style caskets, with advice on finishes, interiors, handles, personalised details and floral presentation.

Music, Hymns and Celebration

Music can play a central part in the farewell. We can help coordinate live musicians, recorded music, choirs, favourite hymns and audio or visual tributes.

Funeral Cortege and Vehicles

Our Jaguar hearses and limousines are available, together with horse-drawn and other specialist options. We can also plan a meaningful cortege route and pauses at important places.

Burial and Graveside Traditions

For burial funerals, we coordinate with the cemetery and explain what is permitted at the graveside, including family participation once the coffin or casket has been lowered.

Personal choices

Presentation, Tributes and Lasting Details

The visual and personal details of the funeral can say a great deal about the person being remembered and the family and community surrounding them.

White floral coffin spray prepared by Flowers by Jennifer Ashe

Flowers and Service Stationery

Our in-house florist can create coffin sprays, wreaths, lettering and bespoke tributes. We can also arrange Orders of Service, photographs, memorial cards and other printed keepsakes.

Horse-drawn funeral cortege available for a traditional farewell

A Cortege with Presence

From our Jaguar fleet to a traditional horse-drawn hearse, the cortege can be arranged to reflect the character, standing and wishes of the person who has died.

Clear guidance from the beginning

How the Arrangements Work

You do not need to have every decision ready before contacting us. We will guide the family through the arrangements in a calm and organised way.

01

Call Our Team

We explain the immediate next steps and arrange for your loved one to be brought into our care when appropriate.

02

Family Meeting

We listen to the family, identify important customs and create a clear plan for the service, viewing and committal.

03

Church and Suppliers

We coordinate with the minister, church, cemetery, florist, printers, vehicle providers and other chosen services.

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The Funeral Day

Our Funeral Director and team manage the timings, cortege, service and committal with dignity and close attention.

Bringing family together

Support When Relatives Are Travelling from Overseas

Some families need additional time to bring relatives together from the Caribbean, Africa, North America or elsewhere. Tell us this at the beginning and we will help plan the funeral timetable around the practical requirements wherever possible.

We can also discuss options for relatives who cannot attend in person, including venue webcasting or a privately arranged live stream, subject to availability and the chosen venue.

01 Coordinating dates with church, cemetery and family
02 Allowing time for travel and wider family consultation
03 Online funeral notices, donations and service information

Nine Night, Wake and Family Gatherings

Where these are part of your family's customs, we will make sure the funeral arrangements work alongside the wider period of remembrance. We can coordinate the funeral timetable and provide the information needed by your chosen church, community venue or family organisers.

View Funeral Notices
Family feedback

Trusted When It Matters Most

Comments from families who have entrusted Jennifer Ashe & Son with funeral arrangements.

★★★★★
“Everything was handled with such calmness, professionalism and grace during a very difficult time. Nothing was too much trouble.”
Mandy Hunt
Google review
★★★★★
“They listened to us every step of our journey, ensuring Mom had the best send-off possible. Their kindness made a heartbreaking time easier.”
Sarah Evans
Google review
★★★★★
“An absolute pleasure to deal with, supportive and caring throughout the whole process. By the end they felt like part of the family.”
Robyn Acton
Google review
★★★★★
“A first-class service from the initial phone call to our meeting after the funeral. Warm, understanding, caring and highly recommended.”
Lynn Georgiou
Google review
★★★★★
“They dealt with everything from start to finish and were very understanding. We are so glad we chose Jennifer Ashe.”
Kevin Lee
Google review
★★★★★
“The care, dignity and help we received was truly amazing. For anyone in a similar position, please look no further.”
Mark Bayliss
Google review
Common questions

Afro-Caribbean Funeral Arrangements

Every funeral is discussed individually, but these answers may help before speaking with our team.

Can the funeral include an open casket or viewing at church?
We can arrange private viewing in our Chapels of Rest and discuss an open-casket viewing at the church or service venue. This will depend on the family's wishes, the venue's agreement and the practical circumstances.
Can you arrange an American-style casket?
Yes. We can discuss American-style caskets as well as traditional and personalised coffins. Availability, size, finish and delivery times will be confirmed before an order is placed.
Can the church service be longer than a standard crematorium service?
Yes. A church or community venue can provide more time for hymns, music, prayers, tributes and family participation. We will coordinate the service timing with the minister and the burial or cremation appointment that follows.
Can family members participate at the graveside?
Often, yes. We will check the cemetery's rules and explain what family members may do after the coffin or casket has been lowered, including any participation in covering the grave where permitted.
Can you help when relatives need to travel from overseas?
We will take travel plans into account when discussing possible funeral dates. The final date will also depend on medical paperwork, registration, church availability and cemetery or crematorium appointments.
Do we have to select one of your packages?
Our attended packages provide a clear starting point, but the funeral can be adapted with caskets, additional vehicles, flowers, stationery, music and other personal choices. You will receive a written estimate before arrangements are confirmed.
Here whenever you need us

Speak to Our Team

Tell us about your family, faith and the traditions you would like respected. We will listen carefully, explain the available choices and create a clear written arrangement without pressure.

Call Our 24-Hour Team