Voting in The Eagle’s Readers’ Choice Awards is something we look forward to every year. It tells us how we’re doing in our community. The annual process–when businesses, individuals, and professionals are nominated, you vote for your top three choices, and finally you choose one winner in each category–is exciting!
This year, our Callaway-Jones Funeral and Cremation Centers team was honored four times. You, the readers, nominated our business as Favorite Funeral Home. As a family-owned business, located for 65 years in Bryan, Texas, serving our Bryan-College Station and Brazos Valley surrounding community, Chelsea, Lorene, and I—as owners—extend our personal thanks to those who selected us as your preferred Funeral Home.
This year, our Callaway-Jones Funeral and Cremation Centers team was honored four times. You, the readers, nominated our business as Favorite Funeral Home. As a family-owned business, located for 65 years in Bryan, Texas, serving our Bryan-College Station and Brazos Valley surrounding community, Chelsea, Lorene, and —as owners—extend our personal thanks to those who selected us as your preferred Funeral Home.
As a family-owned business, we care very deeply about what our community thinks of us. Trust is the most important factor consumers exercise in choosing with whom and where we place our confidence. We hear frequently from individuals that we’ve earned, and have kept, your trust. Today we’ve heard from you as a community, and it’s a great feeling!
For the position of Favorite Funeral Director, we were so pleased to learn that, of all the local funeral directors, you chose me and Ricky Alderete as two of your top three community favorites. I don’t think that’s happened before in the history of the contest. It’s really rewarding to know what you think of us.
Personally being chosen your overall favorite is an honor I share with my father and my grandfather, because it’s from them that I was taught how to take care of our friends, and neighbors, as we journey with you through the process of loss.
This year we were also honored that you voted Anaili Hernandez as your Favorite Receptionist of all area businesses. A recent Aggie graduate, Anaili has been working in our offices as one of two receptionists, plus she’s a provisional funeral director, working to complete her full credentialing process. Thank you, times four, for voting for us to again be The Eagle’s Readers’ Choice Favorites.
There were eight categories where readers of The Eagle cast their ballots: Dining; Entertainment, Events & Leisure; Goods & Services; Local Community; Medical; Pets; Professional; and, Shopping. The annual Readers’ Choice Awards emphasize “Your Vote, Your Voice,” and this is why these awards mean so much to us.
It’s the most personal expression of support we have. It’s an opportunity where one voice can, and does, make a difference. You take precious time out of your day to cast your votes, and tell others on social media who you’re supporting. Throughout this process, some of you voted every day you could. It always made me smile to see when you posted that you supported us for this award on Facebook.
We were proud to vote for our own personal favorites as well throughout the contest. That’s the beauty of local ownership. We live and shop where you do, too, and so we have very firm opinions about supporting businesses that are locally owned. Bryan-College Station thrives because neighbors support neighbors, and our money stays here and our taxes go back into reinvesting in our own community. Keeping your money here, instead of sending it out of state to a nonlocal corporation means a special bonus to local tax dollars when you choose Callaway-Jones.
Whatever your reason for your votes, our family and our team are most grateful to you for all your support once again this year. Again, we are your favorite family home, again, I am your favorite funeral director, again two of our directors made the Top 3 Favorite Funeral Directors, and this year, we have your favorite receptionist working here. We frankly couldn’t ask for more. May your summer bring good things your way, and thanks to all of you for bringing these honors our way.
On behalf of all of us,
Cody D. Jones ‘02
