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About

Brown-Wynne Funeral Home and Crematory dates back to 1836, when Henry Brown founded H.J. Brown Coffin House in Raleigh. We are, in fact, closing in on 200 years of service excellence. Ours is the oldest business in the city and the oldest funeral home in the state. For six generations, we've worked hard to care for Raleigh’s families in unique ways.

Personalized funerals and memorials

Lobby at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home & CrematoryWe are a part of a growing and progressive company in one of the most vibrant communities in the United States. We offer the kinds of personalized funeral services and celebration of life ceremonies today's families want. Our professional, compassionate funeral home team is here to create an event that celebrates the details of your loved one's life—and to take care of your family as if they were our own.

Brown-Wynne Funeral Home and Crematory offers traditional religious services, visitations and catered receptions before or after funerals or cremations. The Wynne Center is the largest celebration of life facility in the Raleigh area. Equipped for all gatherings of all sizes, it can accommodate everything from a breakfast to a banquet meal to anything in between.

In addition, we can provide custom touches such as musicians, themed decor and much more.

Learn about our catering and reception offerings.

Cremation in Raleigh

Signature Dedication at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home & CrematoryThere are many options for cremation in Raleigh—and they're not all equal. We specialize in cremation services that honor loved ones in personalized ways, and families love our all-inclusive pricing. With a cremation viewing suite, expertise in scattering ashes and a friendly team who pays attention to every detail, we provide service that is second to none. Plus, we operate two private crematories.

More and more people are choosing cremation over traditional burial, but most aren’t familiar with the many options:

  • a cremation without a funeral or memorial service of any kind.
  • a funeral with your loved one present, followed by cremation.
  • a cremation followed by a scattering, cemetery memorialization or celebration of life—or all three.

If you're interested in cemetery placement, our sister cemetery, Raleigh Memorial Park, is among the prettiest in the area.

And for those who wish for something more momentous, Neptune Memorial Reef is an underwater cremation garden off the coast of Florida. A Celestis Memorial Spaceflight takes ashes into space for a little while or forever.

Read more about our unique cremation services.

Veterans burial benefits

Brown-Wynne Funeral Home and Crematory is honored to provide veterans with funerals befitting their service to our country. Our team is well-versed in military funeral honors and the burial benefits offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. We can walk you through the requirements and ensure your veteran has a most dignified memorial.

Read about how we honor veterans and watch a video about our services.

Plan ahead for peace of mind

Chapel at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home & CrematoryIn addition to assisting with an immediate need, we specialize in working with families to plan final arrangements in advance. We recognize that funeral arrangements and associated expenses can be overwhelming. When you prepare ahead of time, you provide a sense of relief and comfort to your loved ones while ensuring your wishes are met. We offer in-person and virtual consultations, as well as a free Personal Planning Guide to help you get started.

Find out everything you need to know about prepaid funerals and cremations.

We're always here for you

As a member of the Dignity Memorial® network, Brown-Wynne Funeral Home and Crematory gives you not only the warm, familiar attention you expect from a locally operated business but also the value you deserve. We invite you to call us for immediate assistance 24/7 or to learn more about planning ahead.

Reach out now.

History

Brown-Wynne Funeral Home & CrematoryHenry J. Brown founded the H.J. Brown Coffin House in Raleigh in 1836. He'd operated the business for more than 30 years when, in 1868, he helped transfer 267 Confederate soldiers from Rock Quarry Cemetery to Oakwood Cemetery.

When Henry died in 1879, he left his well-respected funeral home to his son, John W. Brown, who became the first president of the North Carolina Funeral Directors Association. In 1915, Henry’s grandson, Fab Brown, brought motor-driven hearses to the business. This pattern of innovation is a hallmark of Brown-Wynne Funeral Home and Crematory to this day.

Relocations over the years

Brown-Wynne has grown along with Raleigh and the surrounding cities. The original building site was at the corner of Dawson and Morgan. The home moved to the corner of Hargett and Salisbury in 1889 and again in 1928 to Hillsborough Street.

In 1954, Robert W. Wynne Jr. built a new funeral home on the corner of St. Mary’s and North streets, which is where we are today. He also had the foresight to expand to Cary in 1969 and Millbrook in 1973.

185 years and counting

In 1991, Brown-Wynne became part of the Dignity Memorial family, North America’s largest network of funeral, cremation and cemetery service providers. We added the Wynne Center in 2006 so that families could host large celebrations with our compassionate team at their side.

In 2011, Henry J. Brown was inducted into the Raleigh Hall of Fame for his business leadership and contribution to our great city. Today, we're proud to continue to uphold his legacy, providing the finest services available anywhere.

Amenities

Location

Cremation

Service

Other

Every Detail Remembered

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An experience like no other, carefully crafted by our caring planning team.

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Our Venues

Our welcoming and comfortable spaces can be customized to fit your needs.

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Our Collections

A lasting remembrance as unique and special as the individual it represents.

Pricing Starts At 195
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Create an unforgettable memorial that perfectly reflects the life lived.

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Plan a Simple Cremation

Simple can still mean exceptional. Let us show you how.

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Express your sympathy with flowers & gifts

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Remember the one you love

Honor the memory of your loved one with cemetery flower placement. You choose the flowers. You choose the months. We do the rest.

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Express your sympathy with flowers & gifts

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View arrangements

Bouquet of flowers on a cemetery

Remember the one you love

Honor the memory of your loved one with cemetery flower placement. You choose the flowers. You choose the months. We do the rest.

Learn More

Express your sympathy with flowers & gifts

View arrangements
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Express your sympathy with flowers & gifts

1-800-Flowers

View arrangements

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Unable to find an obituary?

Not finding what you are looking for? Search for your loved one's obituary across any of our other locations.

VIEW OBITUARIES
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Express your sympathy with flowers & gifts

1-800-Flowers

View arrangements

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Unable to find an obituary?

Not finding what you are looking for? Search for your loved one's obituary across any of our Washelli locations.

VIEW OBITUARIES
A beautiful bouquet of flowers

Express your sympathy with flowers & gifts

 1-800-Flowers

View Arrangements
Bouquet of flowers on a cemetery

Remember the one you love

Honor the memory of your loved one with cemetery flower placement. You choose the flowers. You choose the months. We do the rest.

Learn More
Vintage photos scattered

Unable to find an obituary?

Not finding what you are looking for? Search for your loved one's obituary across any of our other locations.

VIEW OBITUARIES

Ratings & Reviews

Verified Customer Reviews

Since 2005, many of our customers have taken the time to tell us how we did each year via our Voice of the Customer program. Our star ratings and comments from families come directly from these surveys.

"Every member of the Brown-Wynne team was extremely professional and caring!"

jd-power-verified-checkmark Verified Cremation & Memorial Service Customer

July 2021

"From the moment my husband and I arrived at the funeral home until the end of my mother's service, every detail was explained and handled with such warm care. Any question was answered promptly and with compassion and professionally. We are very thankful."

jd-power-verified-checkmark Verified Cremation & Memorial Service Customer

June 2021

"Brown Wynne provides an exceptionally competent and thorough service. Every detail was handled to perfection, leaving the family free to reflect on the departed and to concentrate on receiving their guests. In addition, the staff took a genuine interest in the life of our departed father and in the family. We feel we were in the best of hands."

jd-power-verified-checkmark Verified Cremation & Memorial Service Customer

June 2021

"Mark Blake and the entire staff at Brown-Wynne, St. Mary's Street were extremely professional, thoughtful, and genuine. They strove to accommodate our wishes and guide us through unfamiliar procedures at a difficult time. At no time did we feel pressured or exploited. I don't think our experience could have been any better. I would give Mark and his staff our highest recommendation."

jd-power-verified-checkmark Verified Cremation & Memorial Service Customer

May 2021

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