Hanging in Brookhaven Monument Company’s office is an engraved granite sign that reads, “You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy local and that’s kind of the same.”

The sign is but one example of the owner and staff’s philosophy, which has been essential to the company’s success in its more than five decades in the Lincoln County area.

As its name implies, Brookhaven Monument provide memorials, vases, other cemetery items and signs. The company also offers engraving services.

In recognition of Brookhaven Monument’s service and accomplishments in the community, the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce honored the company as its June Business of the Month in a formal plaque presentation Wednesday.

The company dates back to the summer of 1947 when the business belonged to the Belton E. Different family. The company was bought in 1977 by the Jeff Pace family and has been a part of Brookhaven’s business scene ever since.

The business is now under the leadership of owner and president Dave Pace. The son of the late Jeff Pace, Dave got started with the business early.

“I sold my first tombstone when I was 15 years old,” he explained.

First located across the road from the current location, Brookhaven Monument is now at 807 Highway 51 North.

Summing up the business’s overall operating philosophy, Kevin Laird, sales manager and memorialist, said, “We try to serve people as best as we can in their time of need because we are usually helping people at a very sad time in their life.”

Brookhaven monument stocks 25 different marbles and granites as well as bronze and cast aluminum, and customers have more than 250 monuments to choose from.

“Brookhaven Monument is a home-grown success story and has been an anchor for Brookhaven and Southwest Mississippi,” said Dustin Walker, president of the chamber, at Wednesday’s presentation.

The monument company owns and operates facilities in Brookhaven, Natchez and Vicksburg, but the majority of the staff is located in Brookhaven.

The store hours for Brookhaven Monument Company are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m.