Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandee Valentine.
Hi Brandee, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I came out of the property management industry. I loved my job there and planned to retire with Central Management Company. However, the business owners got sick and sold all of their Ohio properties. I unfortunately, have lost two sons, One to a car accident at the age of 17 and his older brother took his own life a year and a half later at the age of 23. All the things that you don’t ever want to deal with when it comes to losing a loved one was made easier by the professionals that we encountered during this time. I will forever be thankful for, and appreciate all that they did to help during that time. Because I have been through loss of so many types, not just our sons, when this opportunity arose, I was eager to take on the challenge and I feel honored to now pay forward the kindness that was shown to me and my family during our hardest days. I took over for a lady named Donna Ellis who served in this position for 33 years. I started in September of 2025 and absolutely love my job. I have hired an assistant Madison Green since then, and together we are so happy to serve our community in this way.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has been ALOT to learn. Donna’s shoes have been big ones to fill. She stayed with me until the end of October. She has such a head full of knowledge about the cemetery and about the families in the cemetery that only comes form 33 years of experience. Having Donna on speed dial and the trustees, my maintenance team Ken and Seth, and Madison all here supporting me has made all the difference. Even others in the profession, other cemeteries, the funeral homes and all my vendors have done so much to help with the transition. I feel very blessed to have each one around me to help. That alone has made the transition smoother.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Here at Grand Prairie we are a cemetery and a monument sales company. Our cemetery is 36 beautiful acres in a country setting. Here I am the Sexton, which means I take care of everything. I work with Funeral Homes to be sure families are taken care of respectfully the day the funeral happens. I make sure that all the paperwork and burial are accurate and up to date. I make sure that the cemetery is in good repair and that the grounds are groomed beautifully. I take care of families even before the need arises, through preneed sales of graves, internments, vaults and monuments. The monuments are where I can let my creative side come out, as I work with families that want something a bit different and personalized for their loved ones, or for themselves. There are so many options out there that most people never even think of. It is a very enjoyable part of the job to help people pick out what will be there lasting memorial for centuries to come. One fairly unique thing at Grand Prairie is that we have a Jewish Section. And even though we DO NOT bury pets in the cemetery, I have started offering pet markers. So, if Fido dies and you would like a monument to place where you buried him in the backyard I can help with that as well.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I had a great childhood! I lived on a dairy goat farm out in the country and it taught me to have an awe of my God and His awesome creation. I was the baby of the family so I was a bit spoiled. My family were Jehovah’s Witnesses (most of them still are, but I am not) so I was not allowed to be involved in any sports or extra curricular activities, so I learned to entertain myself and never be bored out on the farm. Like most little girls I enjoyed coloring and riding my bike, I had a fascination with beads and all things shiney and I still do. And I loved having all the animals to play with on the farm.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://grandprairiecemetery.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584736241505
