84 years later.
2016-12-23
Jimmy and Annie Mae Woods opened the doors of James Woods Funeral Parlor, December 15, 1928 in Pasadena, California. Please see "Our Heritage" page. Today, 88 years later the Woods-Valentine Mortuary is still a Black owned, 3rd generation family business in the San Gabriel Valley.
Some 4 years after Fred and Arzella Valentine purchased the business from Uncle Jimmy's widow Annie Mae, the mortuary was re-named, Woods-Valentine Mortuary in 1958.
Our motto "Our Aim is to be Worthy of Your Confidence" continues to resonate to each family served throughout the 88 years. The third generation of the Woods-Valentine business, Janyce Valentine and Gail Valentine Taylor, love
and appreciate all of the people who have come through the doors and placed their trust the Woods-Valentine Family.
May God richly bless our families.
Woods-Valentine and social networking
2016-12-23
Woods-Valentine Mortuary has a Facebook page. Please visit our page, add comments, suggestions and be sure and contact us. We strongly appreciate your support of our endeavors to inform, and be of service to the community. We will be featuring regular articles written by Gail Valentine Taylor for the Pasadena Journal Newspaper. These articles are titled "Funeralwise" and are written to educate, inform and to comfort families. We are here to help and serve. Again, remember to Like Us on Facebook.
New Website
2016-12-23
We at Woods-Valentine have a new website. We have received lots of compliments on it. People are able to look up loved ones' service information, order flowers to be delivered for the viewing or service, light a candle in memory, share a story about a special time you spent with your deceased love one and more.
Like us on FACEBOOK
2014-03-25
Please remember to go to our FACEBOOK page for updated information and articles.
Congratulations Gail Valentine Taylor
2012-10-04
We are delighted to announce that on September 27, 2012, Gail Valentine Taylor, Assistant Vice President of Woods-Valentine Mortuary was installed as the President of the Los Angeles County Funeral Directors Association (LACFDA). We are so proud of her and wish her a great and successful year.
Please check out the page titled "Whats New" under the "About Us" tab for pictures of the event.
Fred and Arzella Valentine, 2012 Living Legends of Funeral Service Awards
2012-08-01
We are pleased and proud to announce that Fred and Arzella Valentine are being honored at the 75th Diamond Jubilee of the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association, Inc., convention as "Living Legends". Fred and Arzella have proudly served the profession and community for over 60 years. The event will take place in August, and is sponsored by the 100 Black Women of Funeral Service, Inc. Congratulations to a wonderful partnership!
Arzella Valentine will also be displaying and signing her books, "Growing Up in Mt. Olive", and "Return to Mt. Olive" at the convention.
Cremation arrangements
2012-04-20
Woods-Valentine offers cremation arrangements. Someone recently told us that they didn’t know we offered cremation. We do and have offered cremation for decades. Cremation is an option that we all have when making decisions regarding the disposition of our body, upon death. It is the process of incinerating human remains in a cremation chamber known as a retort. The alternative to cremation is burial, which involves interment in a grave or in a crypt (entombment). In considering cremation you have a number of choices: 1)Direct Cremation is the simplest and least expensive option (with no viewing). 2)Direct Cremation with a Memorial Service includes the above and a service. 3)The Traditional Funeral Service with Cremation involves a full service at a church or chapel, with viewing, followed by cremation. Cremation can be arranged for at time of need or, in advance through our Pre-Need Planning Program. For more information look up “Cremation Options” on this website. Go to “Funeralwise Articles” and click on “C.” Click on “B” for article on “Burial vs. Cremation.” For more information including prices, call to speak to a counselor at (626) 798-8941.
Pre-Need Funeral Planning
2011-09-20
Pre-Need Funeral Planning is an opportunity to
plan ahead and make sure your wishes are on file. Selecting what you want in services and identifying or establishing a way to pay for it is a gift to those you love. Janyce Valentine, Gail Valentine Taylor and Rev. Jesse Chapman, our experienced counselors, are awaiting your call.