Veteran services at Jacksonville Memory Gardens Funeral Home & Cemetery
Jacksonville Memory Gardens Funeral Home & Cemetery is a funeral home in Orange Park, FL that accepts veteran families and provides military funeral honors coordination through the Department of Defense honors program.
The nearest VA national cemetery is Jacksonville National Cemetery in FL, approximately 26 miles from Jacksonville Memory Gardens Funeral Home & Cemetery. Jacksonville Memory Gardens Funeral Home & Cemetery can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.
Jacksonville Memory Gardens Funeral Home & Cemetery holds a 4.2-star rating from 52 Google reviews, indicating consistent service quality reported by families who have used the home for veteran and non-veteran services alike.
What families have said
Recent reviews from families who used Jacksonville Memory Gardens Funeral Home & Cemetery. Reviews are sourced from Google Places and shown verbatim — we do not edit or filter for sentiment.
“Jacksonville Memory Gardens provided exceptional service with personalized attention from start to finish. They are very caring people who truly understand what families need during such a difficult time. They kept me informed throughout the entire process, which gave me peace of mind. Josh was an absolute blessing to work with. He is obviously very experienced in this industry, but beyond that, he is incredibly compassionate and patient. He walked me through every single detail with clarity, never rushing me, and always making sure I understood my options. His calm, reassuring presence truly put me at ease while I had to make decisions during the most difficult time of my life. Josh also conducted the graveside service with such care and professionalism, and we were truly grateful for the way he honored my husband. Ben, who handled the cemetery arrangements, was equally remarkable. He didn’t just do his job—he went above and beyond to help us find a very peaceful and beautiful location. Ben was thoughtful in every conversation, attentive to every need, and genuinely caring. His kindness came through in so many little ways, and I will always appreciate the dignity and grace he brought to this process. What stood out most was their integrity and sincere care. They focused on meeting all of our needs for a traditional Catholic service and made sure nothing was overlooked. There was no high-pressure upselling—just true kindness and respect for our wishes. Their pricing was very reasonable and fair, especially considering the exceptional level of service and compassion they provided. Prior to coming to Jacksonville Memory Gardens, I had a very unprofessional and horrific experience at another corporate-owned funeral home in Middleburg. Switching to Jacksonville Memory Gardens was a completely different experience, and I’m so glad I made the switch. If you are looking for a funeral home that offers personalized attention, compassionate support, reasonable pricing, and knowledgeable guidance, I highly recommend Jacksonville Memory Gardens.”
“My father just passed away. His service was yesterday 1/30/25. Ruby Taylor planned and oversaw the service. I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for the exceptionally and fantastic job she did from start to finish. She was top notch. We couldn't have ask for a better service. It was exceptional. From the Hall family and friends we thank you Ruby Taylor. You are the best.”
“I have never been to a more disrespectful cemetery. I was there for the Wreaths Across America event and one of their employees parked his loud gator only feet away from the ceremony and behind the volunteers. He kept starting, moving, and stopping back in the road anytime a car would pass to exit. This repeated action caused continued disruption during an otherwise solemn ceremony. He also was watching the same ceremony on his phone on about a minute delay, at full volume. Also there is evidence that the employees are too lazy to drive up the road or even a mere 15 more feet to get a dirt trail to the office. Instead, they drive right over top of several graves. This isn’t a one time pass over or just recent work, it is a worn path showing laziness and complete disregard for the deceased. This could be your family.”
“I would give 6 stars if I could. After the sudden and unexpected passing of my wife, they made what I thought would be impossible, possible. I dealt with Ruby Taylor, and I want to publicly thank her and the entire staff at Jacksonville Memory Gardens for their exceptional care and compassion during this difficult time for our family. It was a great comfort to me.”
“The grounds are immaculately kept. A number of my Family members are buried there. And it’s where I plan to be buried someday. Mr. Shipley is the owner. I went to him with a concern about my Dad’s Army Memorial. He listened and was so very kind. He took care of the concern promptly and efficiently. When I went to visit my Dad’s Grave, Tristan showed me how to find it. The Memorial was placed perfectly. I’d also like to say thank you to Ruby who works in the funeral home. When I was trying to sort out everything for my Dad’s funeral, she helped me every step of the way. Looking through pictures of my Dad to put in the DVD slideshow was an emotional roller coaster for me. I kept emailing more pictures to Ruby to add to it. Even on the very morning of the funeral. She added every picture I sent and the DVD is an item I cherish.”
EverSettled · After the Veteran Funeral
The veteran's spouse may qualify for VA Dependency & Indemnity Compensation.
DIC is a tax-free monthly benefit for surviving spouses, dependent children, and (in some cases) parents of veterans whose death is service-connected. EverSettled walks veteran families through DIC eligibility, survivor pension, life-insurance claims, probate, and the federal-account paperwork that follows.
Begin Veteran Estate SettlementHow honors are coordinated
Military funeral honors are guaranteed at no cost for any veteran discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. The funeral home arranges the honors detail by contacting the deceased's last unit or the nearest active-duty installation of the appropriate branch and submitting the DD-214 to verify eligibility.
For requests less than 72 hours from service time, families can call the Department of Defense's expedited honors line at 1-877-MIL-HONR (1-877-645-4667). See the full honors protocol.