Mason and Ward buys Little-Davenport Funeral Home

GAINESVILLE - Two prominent Gainesville funeral homes now have the same owners.

Jerry Ward of Mason and Ward Funeral Home said Friday that his company has bought Little-Davenport Funeral Home from Service Corporation International, a national provider of funeral services.

"It brings together two of the biggest names in funeral homes in the northeast Georgia area," Ward said.

He said he and Ben Mason have been wanting to buy Little-Davenport ever since it was sold out of local hands years ago.

"Ben Mason and myself wanted to bring it back to local ownership," Ward said.

He said there's been a long-standing relationship between the two funeral homes, and both parties are excited about the change.

Ward said Little-Davenport's name and location will not change.