Kersey Funeral Home

Kersey Funeral Home is a funeral home in Auburndale, Florida. Located on more than seven acres in Auburndale, the home serves families across Polk County with burial services, cremation services, funeral and memorial services, pre-need planning, veterans services including military honors, ash scattering assistance, certified celebrant services, and human composting through a partner provider.

Kersey Funeral Home was established in 1950 by Walter Kersey. The business operated as a family-run funeral home for seven decades — Walter Kersey's children, David Kersey and Mary Kersey Wright, began transitioning into ownership and management in 1990, and the Kersey family continued managing the location after its 2000 acquisition by Foundation Partners Group through 2020.

The property itself predates the funeral home by nearly four decades: the building was constructed between 1913 and 1914 as a private estate for local businessman and citrus grower Ephraim Mikell Baynard, built by Harry Thorp — son of architect Alfred Chipman Thorp, who designed the nearby Baynard House museum. The 19-room structure was built at a cost of approximately $7,500 and features eight fireplaces, each with a distinct mantle, and a wraparound porch supported by massive pillars reportedly transported down the Mississippi River and across the Gulf of Mexico during original construction.

Despite its reserved street-facing appearance — an exterior quality that drew local notice for generations — the interior is filled with oak-trimmed windows that provide substantial natural light throughout. The Kersey family has maintained the building's architectural integrity since acquisition, preserving its historical character. Note: Kersey Funeral Home is a separate and distinct property from the Ephraim M. Baynard House museum located at 208 West Lake Avenue.

The facility includes a chapel with lake views, private viewings, and identification viewings. Spanish-language services are available.

Kersey Funeral Home does not operate an on-site crematory or on-site cemetery. Pet cremation is not offered.

Families at Kersey Funeral Home frequently recognize individual team members by name in reviews — five staff members named across the feedback — and consistently describe the team's ability to guide families through unfamiliar processes while personalizing arrangements to their specific needs.