About us
Aikens Funeral Home was founded on February 20, 1980, by Thomas and Yvonne Aikens with a clear and enduring mission: to provide dignified, respectful, and professional service to the families of Tampa Bay.
Thomas Aikens was inspired early in life by his aunt, Doris Hanley, owner of Hanley Funeral Home in Atlanta, Georgia. As one of the few female funeral directors of her time, Doris Hanley held a prominent role in her profession and was the only female funeral director involved in the funeral service for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Her example of leadership, skill, and meticulous care shaped Thomas’s approach to service and laid the foundation for the values on which Aikens Funeral Home was built.
Yvonne Aikens, a graduate of Florida A&M University with honors, began her career in education, serving as a teacher in Hillsborough County. As the funeral home grew, she joined the family business as Administrator and later became CEO and Co-Owner. Her commitment to families and attention to detail helped establish the guiding principle:
to remain Family Focused in every service provided.
Today, Aikens Funeral Home remains family-owned and is operated by the third generation of leadership. LaCheryl Aikens-Guzman serves as Licensed Funeral Director in Charge and President of the company, continuing the legacy of excellence established in 1980. She works alongside dedicated family members and professional staff to ensure every family receives care delivered with dignity, compassion, and professionalism.
Aikens Funeral Home is a proud member of the:
- National Funeral Directors & Morticians Association
- National Funeral Directors Association
- Florida Morticians Association
- Independent Funeral Directors of Florida
As a past Chairperson of the Florida Morticians Association Education Department, LaCheryl Aikens-Guzman remains actively engaged in advancing professional standards and introducing innovative services that benefit the families we serve.
For more than four decades, Aikens Funeral Home has remained steadfast in its
commitment to the Tampa community — supporting local organizations, events, and
charitable initiatives while maintaining the highest standards of service.
Aikens Funeral Home was founded on February 20, 1980, by Thomas and Yvonne Aikens with a clear and enduring mission: to provide dignified, respectful, and professional service to the families of Tampa Bay.
Thomas Aikens was inspired early in life by his aunt,
Doris Hanley, owner of Hanley Funeral Home in Atlanta, Georgia. As one of the few female funeral directors of her time, Doris Hanley held a prominent role in her profession and was
the only female funeral director involved in the funeral service for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Her example of leadership, skill, and meticulous care shaped Thomas’s approach to service and laid the foundation for the values on which Aikens Funeral Home was built.
Yvonne Aikens, a graduate of Florida A&M University with honors, began her career in education, serving as a teacher in Hillsborough County. As the funeral home grew, she joined the family business as Administrator and later became CEO and Co-Owner. Her commitment to families and attention to detail helped establish the guiding principle:
to remain Family Focused in every service provided.
Today, Aikens Funeral Home remains family-owned and is operated by the third generation of leadership. LaCheryl Aikens-Guzman serves as Licensed Funeral Director in Charge and President of the company, continuing the legacy of excellence established in 1980. She works alongside dedicated family members and professional staff to ensure every family receives care delivered with dignity, compassion, and professionalism.
Aikens Funeral Home is a proud member of the:
- National Funeral Directors & Morticians Association
- National Funeral Directors Association
- Florida Morticians Association
- Independent Funeral Directors of Florida
As a past Chairperson of the Florida Morticians Association Education Department, LaCheryl Aikens-Guzman remains actively engaged in advancing professional standards and introducing innovative services that benefit the families we serve.
For more than four decades, Aikens Funeral Home has remained steadfast in its commitment to the Tampa community — supporting local organizations, events, and charitable initiatives while maintaining the highest standards of service.