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Cremation has been on the rise in the United States as well as the Charleston area in part to the convenience, lower cost, and numerous cremation options funeral homes can provide.

McAlister-Smith Funeral Home in West Ashley says that currently, about half of their clients choose cremation over traditional burial. South Carolina as a state predicts about 20 percent of clients opt for cremation, which is actually low compared to states like Hawaii or Nevada which hover around 65 percent.

The Moultrie News has an intriguing article on the nation's shift toward cremation, it's definitely worth a read.