Family Works: Johnson Funeral Homes 

by Kristy Como Armand 

For nearly 50 years, Zeb Johnson and his family have been serving the needs of families in Southwest Louisiana.

Johnson Funeral Home in Lake Charles opened its doors in October 1976 with Zeb Johnson as the owner and sole funeral director. Johnson, a former police officer, investigator and coroner, opened the funeral home with one chapel, two staterooms and a small residence for his family.  

Fast forward nearly 50 years, and that original funeral home has not only been expanded multiple times, but the Johnson Family of Funeral Homes is now operated by three generations of Johnsons and includes six locations across Southwest Louisiana, making it the region’s largest, family-owned funeral home.  

Zeb Johnson remains actively involved in its operations, providing experienced leadership to his daughter, son-in-law, and grandson, who lead their dedicated team of over 60 funeral professionals. 

Zeb’s daughter Wendy serves in an ownership role, and her husband Andy Hankins is the CEO, overseeing everything from training and strategy to daily operations. “I came into Johnson with a strong corporate background, but nothing in my previous 16 years of experience compares to the culture and service excellence Zeb created here,” says Andy. “We all take great pride in sharing the same traditional values as the community we serve, and it’s extremely fulfilling to work together as a family to care for families.”  

Graham Hankins, Wendy and Andy’s son, joined Johnson as CFO in 2019. While earning his degree in financial management with a minor in accounting from Clemson University in South Carolina, Graham says the idea of doing the same thing day after day did not appeal. “My father and grandfather had expressed a need for help with the financial side of the business as it continued to grow. The proposal they made included the accounting, financial management and acquisitions, which offered me the chance to do more than any entry level position at an accounting firm. And, both my father and grandfather had mentored me from a young age in business, so working alongside them sounded like an opportunity to continue to learn from them.” 

Both Graham and Andy say caring for families during a time of loss is the most rewarding aspect of their work. “As a Christian, serving is something I consider a pillar of my faith,” says Graham. “Being able to care for someone who is going through a hard time and make that situation easier fills my cup.”  

He adds that working with his family every day has been a “fun adventure,” explaining, “We face a lot of challenges at work, and don’t always agree, but the most surprising part to me since is how well we manage the balance between work and home.” 

Graham says he recognizes and respects the responsibility of following in their founder’s footsteps. “It’s very humbling for me to see the reaction from the community when they realize I am Zeb’s grandson. People are comforted because he did it well for so long. It’s an honor for me to continue that legacy, which means so much to him and the community.” 

In addition to new locations, Johnson has also expanded services throughout its history, building the Lake Charles Crematory facility in 2001, which made them the largest crematory operator in Southwest Louisiana. As an extension of this service, the Pet Angels pet cremation program was added. In response to community need, a full-service pre-arrangement department is available at Johnson, along with Medicare coverage consultations.  

“Cremation and technology are changing the industry every year,” adds Graham. “I hope to continue to innovate and serve our families in the manner they prefer. Additionally, I hope to expand and grow to serve more communities in Southwest Louisiana. Every community deserves to have a funeral home that will care for them like family.”  

Learn more at www.johnsonfuneralhome.net.