By Mary Elizabeth Dial, Staff Correspondent
Morgan Funeral Chapel has been serving Attalla and surrounding areas since 1973, but the business can still find new ways to serve the area. This year, it is lighting up the night with pink bulbs to support members of the community affected by breast cancer.
When funeral home associates were discussing how they could show public support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, apprentice funeral director Derian Sampson had the idea to switch the white bulbs that illuminate the building at night for pink, the official color of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Each night for the month of October, the building lights up Gilbert Ferry Road with pink.
Since the lights are only turned on at night, the building is also festooned with pink ribbons tied around its columns and a large banner that reads, “Morgan Funeral Chapel & Crematory supports breast cancer awareness.” Regardless of the time of day, passersby can see evidence of the business’s support for people afflicted with breast cancer.
“Being a member of the Dignity Memorial network of funeral homes, we are encouraged to be active in the communities we serve,” Sampson said. “We saw this special lighting as an opportunity to show our solidarity with those in the brave fight against breast cancer.” The lights, she said, are to show support for those currently battling the disease, congratulations to those who have beaten it and remembrance for those who lost their fight.
Morgan Funeral Home debuted its new pink lights on Wednesday, Oct. 12 and intends to turn them on every night until Nov. 1, the end of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Funeral home associates have also discussed similar lighting projects for different causes in the future, including autism awareness and Veterans Day.
“We are in a very high-traffic location and we hope that even after other organizations are done with fundraisers early in the month, we can continue to remind [people] that the entire month is a time for us to continue to donate and reflect on the impact of breast cancer,” said Sampson.