Dillard Funeral Home in Pickens SC: What Most People Get Wrong

When you drive down Gentry Memorial Highway, you can't miss it. The sprawling, quiet grounds of Hillcrest Memorial Park and the white columns of the funeral home itself. For most folks in Pickens, Dillard Funeral Home is just "there"—a background fixture of life in the Upstate. But honestly, when the phone rings at 3:00 AM because a loved one has passed, that background fixture suddenly becomes the most important building in town.

There’s a weird misconception that these places are just corporate shells or, on the flip side, stuck in the 1950s. Neither is really true here. Dillard Funeral Home in Pickens SC has this strange, dual identity. It’s got the deep, local roots of the Dillard family that go back to 1933, but it’s also part of the massive Dignity Memorial network. It’s like a local diner that somehow has the logistics of a global supply chain. You get the "hey, I know your cousin" vibe, but with the resources to fly a body across the world if that’s what the situation calls for.

The 1933 Handshake: How It Actually Started

Back in 1933, F. Van Clayton and J. Austin Dillard opened what was then called Clayton-Dillard Funeral Home. Think about that for a second. That was the height of the Great Depression. People didn't have two pennies to rub together, yet these guys were trying to build a business around the one thing nobody can avoid.

By 1962, the Dillard family took full control. Austin’s son, Jim Dillard, stepped in. Then his daughter, Ginger Dillard Selby, joined in 1987. For decades, it was the definition of a family-run operation. They eventually moved from the old Pendleton Street spot to North Catherine, and finally out to the current Gentry Memorial Highway location. If you’ve lived in Pickens County long enough, you probably remember one of those older buildings. They weren't just businesses; they were community hubs.

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The Corporate Shift (And What It Means for You)

So, here is the thing people get prickly about. Dillard is now a "Dignity Memorial" provider. Some locals worry that means the "hometown feel" is gone. I get it. But looking at how they operate in 2026, the reality is a bit more nuanced.

Being part of a larger network basically gives them a massive "insurance policy" for your service. If you pre-plan a funeral at Dillard in Pickens but then move to Seattle or Orlando, that plan travels with you. That’s something a tiny, independent mom-and-pop shop just can’t offer. You're trading that total independence for a level of security that, frankly, matters when you’re talking about thousands of dollars in pre-paid expenses.

What Does a Service Actually Cost?

Let’s talk numbers. Nobody likes to, but you’re probably here because you need to know. Based on recent data, a "basic" service fee at Dillard—which covers the director’s time, overhead, and all that paperwork—starts around $3,800.

• Embalming: Usually runs just under $1,000.
• The Hearse: Expect to pay about $400 for that final ride.
• Cremation: If you’re skipping the traditional burial, direct cremation is roughly $2,900 to $3,000.

Now, those are "menu" prices. Once you add in a casket (which can be $1,500 or $15,000 depending on how much mahogany you want), a vault, and the cemetery plot at Hillcrest, you’re easily looking at a $10,000 to $12,000 event. It’s a lot. It’s basically the price of a decent used car. That’s why so many people in Pickens are moving toward cremation or very simple graveside services.

The Hillcrest Connection

You can’t talk about the funeral home without talking about Hillcrest Memorial Park. They are essentially tied at the hip. Having the cemetery and the funeral home on the same property is a logistical godsend. You aren't dealing with a 20-car procession through Pickens traffic—which, let’s be honest, is getting worse every year.

They’ve got everything from traditional ground burial to these fancy glass-front niches for cremated remains. The glass-front stuff is actually pretty cool; it’s like a little shadow box where you can put a photo, a favorite baseball cap, or even a piece of jewelry next to the urn. It makes the grieving process feel a bit more "human" and less like a cold stone wall.

Why People Actually Choose Dillard

If you look at the reviews from the last year or so, a few names keep popping up—people like Robert Pinkston Jr. and Jasmine Zorn Stargel. In this industry, the building is just a building. The "expert" part comes down to whether or not the person sitting across the desk from you actually cares that you’re heartbroken.

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Most people choose Dillard because of the "one-stop-shop" factor. You can pick the casket, the plot, the flowers, and the catering for the wake all in one afternoon. When you're in the "fog" of grief, making ten different phone calls feels like climbing Mount Everest. Here, you just make one.

Surprising Details You Might Not Know

One thing that catches people off guard is their use of technology. We aren't just talking about a slideshow on a TV. In 2026, "We Remember" memorial pages are huge. They’re basically digital scrapbooks that stay online forever. People can upload videos from their phones during the service, and it all gets archived.

Also, they are surprisingly flexible with "celebration of life" setups. Want a bluegrass band? They’ve done it. Want to have a car show in the parking lot because the deceased was a gearhead? They can usually make that happen. The old "black suits and hushed whispers" vibe is slowly being replaced by something that actually looks like the person who died.

Actionable Advice for Families in Pickens

If you're staring down the barrel of a funeral or just trying to be responsible for your kids, here’s how to handle it without losing your mind:

1. Don't buy the first casket you see. Seriously. Dillard has a wide range, but you are legally allowed to buy a casket elsewhere (even online) and they must accept it without a "handling fee."
2. Ask about the "General Price List" (GPL). They have to give it to you. It’s the law. Take it home, sit on your porch, and look at the numbers when a salesperson isn't standing over you.
3. Check for Veterans' Benefits. Since Robert Flowers and many others in the area have deep military ties, the staff is usually great at navigating VA benefits. If your loved one served, you can save thousands on the plot and headstone at a national cemetery, or get a specialized marker at Hillcrest.
4. Consider "Pre-Planning" but watch the "Pre-Paying." Planning is great because it tells your family what you want. Paying ahead is also good, but make sure the funds are in an irrevocable trust or a specialized insurance policy so the money is protected if the business ever changes hands.

The reality of Dillard Funeral Home in Pickens SC is that it's a bridge between the old-school Pickens of 1933 and the high-tech, corporate world of 2026. It’s not the cheapest option in the county, but it’s arguably the most stable. For a lot of families, that stability is worth the premium.

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To get started, you should request a copy of their current General Price List (GPL) to compare the costs of traditional burial versus cremation options. If you are a veteran or a spouse of one, your next step is to gather discharge papers (DD-214) to see which burial honors and plot allowances you are eligible for before signing any contracts.