About Us

Our Founder and Organization

For Tom M. Wages, who was born on September 22, 1924, the funeral business began early in his life when with great pomp and ceremony he buried every dog, cat, bird, and chicken that met its death on the Wages Farm in the Harbin’s Community of Gwinnett County, Georgia. Brothers, sisters, and playmates were often persuaded to take part in these funerals – serving as preachers, pallbearers, or mourners, as the case demanded.

Like most boys, Tom M. Wages had dreams of what he would be when he grew up.  Even as a young schoolboy, Tom was often reprimanded by his teacher for drawing pictures of hearses, graves, and caskets. But one thing was certain--Tom Wages knew what he wanted to do.  He would become a funeral director.  He would drive a long, shiny hearse, swap his overalls for a pin-striped suit and wear shoes as shiny as those of Mr. F. Q. Sammon, the local funeral director.

His father, desiring a secure financial future for young Tom, encouraged him to become a doctor or attend the University of Georgia or Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, but that was not Tom’s calling.  He, nor his father, really knew why he wanted to be a funeral director, but Tom’s mind was made up.  After high school he attended Jackson Lake Vocational School studying electricity, air conditioning and refrigeration while working in the building business.

Tom worked for F. Q. Sammon Funeral Home until World War II when he was drafted in April, 1943 to serve in the United States Navy. Much of his time during the war was spent as a helmsman steering ships in the South Pacific. He participated in the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. The famous war correspondent, Ernie Pyle, was about 300 yards from the bow of Tom’s ship when he was killed. After the war Tom worked for his mentor, F.Q. Sammon, Sr., until September of 1946 when he entered the Cleveland College of Mortuary Sciences in Cleveland, Ohio, where he graduated on April 2, 1948.  Mr. Sammon, Tom’s mentor, often said of him, “I had to hire Tom to get rid of him, but I made a fine funeral director out of him.”

In January 1949, the Tom M. Wages Funeral Home opened in Lawrenceville, Georgia, on Pike Street in an old dwelling on Courthouse Square, where it remained until 1963. The business outgrew the facility, leading Tom to build his first modern establishment, Wages Oak Lawn Chapel, corner of Scenic Highway and Jackson Street in Lawrenceville. Several changes and additions occurred during a remodeling of the facility in 1973.

Groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the second location on Highway 78 outside of Snellville, Georgia, in May 1984.  The Snellville location currently serves as one of the most elegant funeral homes in the Greater Atlanta area.

In 1993 Tom M. Wages Funeral Service, Inc. once again proved to be the “leader in the area” opening Gwinnett County’s first Crematory.  Since its opening the North Georgia Crematory, has been on the “cutting edge” for a facility of its kind.  The crematory has proven to be a vital part of the services offered to meet the needs of Tom M. Wage’s families exclusively. Loved ones no longer need to be transported miles away for cremation.  All services are handled right here—on site, which provides a tremendous amount of peace of mind for the families we serve.  We are proud to offer exclusively to the families served by our firms the cremation services of North Georgia Crematory.  

An important aspect of funeral service is advanced planning and prepayment for an impending death as well as estate planning. Advanced planning is one of the most caring, compassionate things you can do for your family.  Tom M. Wages Advanced Planning Service is available daily to explain the benefits of advanced planning and if desired, prepayment for services.

Throughout the years, the reputation of Tom M. Wages Funeral Service, Inc. as caring, friendly, and professional has become widely known throughout the state as well as the nation.  On November 19, 2005, Tom M. Wages, Sr., died at 81 years of age. During the visitations held at each chapel many people called him “an icon, one of a kind, my mentor, my friend, and my father.” Tom Wages, Sr., was truly one the greatest funeral directors having the honor of serving families. He continues to be greatly missed by his community and the funeral profession.

With the passing of Tom M. Wages, Sr., the businesses are co-owned by his son-in-law and daughter, Rick and Tommie Ann Wages Johnson and oldest child and daughter, Valerie J. Wages.  Rick Johnson has been with the firm since 1978 and is a seasoned funeral director with 29 years of experience.  He serves as the CEO of Tom M. Wages Funeral Service, LLC. Vice President, Valerie Wages, returned to the business following a 15-year career as one of the premier funeral service educators in the profession.  Rick and Valerie jointly oversee operations at both locations:  Lawrenceville Chapel, 120 Scenic Highway, Lawrenceville, Georgia, and Snellville Chapel, 3705 Highway 78 West, Snellville, Georgia.  They are available upon request at either location to assist with arrangements during your time of need.

The youngest Wages child currently works part-time in the business, and the family looks forward to welcoming Tom M. (Tommy) Wages, Jr. to full time service in the coming years, further preserving the legacy of the Wages commitment to serving others through caring, personal, and professional funeral service.  It has been and always will be a “Wages family tradition.” 

Both funeral homes as well as The North Georgia Crematory, the Wages family and staff welcome the opportunity to assist all who find themselves in need of care at one of the lowest points in their lives…when they have lost a loved one to death. 

We invite you to visit either location if you have questions about funeral services or advanced planning.  We guarantee a quality service will be conducted in a caring, personal, and professional manner according to you and your loved one’s desires.