Oakey's Funeral Service Donates 160 Trees to Roanoke

The local business is marking its 160-year milestone with a significant green donation to city parks.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Philanthropy

Young trees in wire guards along a green riverbank, with the Roanoke River and distant mountains in the background. — Oakey's Funeral Service has donated 160 trees to the City of Roanoke, set to be planted along the Roanoke River to mark the firm's 160-year milestone. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Oakey's Funeral Service has donated 160 trees to the City of Roanoke to commemorate the firm's 160 years of business operations. The trees are set to be planted in public spaces along the Roanoke River as part of an anniversary celebration.

Why it matters

This initiative aims to create a lasting community legacy while simultaneously improving the visual landscape for families and patients at the nearby hospital complex. The project reflects a partnership between the long-standing business and municipal planners.

The donation consists of 160 individual trees, matching the 160-year history of the funeral service provider. City officials and the arborist are currently finalizing the specific distribution across the designated riverfront and street-side areas.

The players

Oakey's Funeral Service

A long-standing business entity in Roanoke that has maintained operations for 160 years.

City of Roanoke

The local municipal government responsible for managing public parks and urban forestry efforts.

The details

Collaborating with city planners and the municipal arborist, the donor selected sites along the Roanoke River, near the Jefferson Street Bridge, and along Reserve Avenue. If additional space is required, city officials will assess planting sites in other local parks.

Planting is scheduled to take place between October 2026 and December 2026.
The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

Market Landscape

The donation follows the Roanoke Parks and Recreation tree canopy expansion initiative, marking a departure from typical small-scale private landscaping donations. This move positions the business as a major contributor to local urban beautification efforts, contrasting with standard corporate social responsibility projects.

Residents and families visiting the hospital complex near the Roanoke River can expect a significantly improved aesthetic environment once the planting concludes. No immediate changes to retail pricing or funeral service costs are linked to this charitable investment.

The takeaway

Large-scale corporate donations often serve to strengthen the relationship between legacy businesses and their local municipality. Citizens can monitor future city park projects to see how these newly planted trees mature over the coming years.