Extracted from Guide to Genealogical and Historical Research in Jefferson County, Tennessee, copyright ©1995 Billie R. McNamara. All rights reserved. This page will be supplemented periodically as new information is located. Additions and corrections are welcome via the Contact Us link on this Web site.
Inside Jefferson County
There are no known records for mortuaries or undertakers located in Jefferson County prior to the 1920's. Early records of estate settlements and claims paid by the County show payments made to casket makers, "shrouders," and others involved in burial activities. Many of the early stores in Jefferson County sold caskets.
Identified casket vendors, undertakers and funeral homes are the following:
Name | Location | Dates of Operation | Location of Records |
Wilson Ore (casket-maker) |
Jefferson City | pre-Civil War | None |
Minnis' Store (sold caskets) |
New Market | circa 1860 - circa 1960 | None |
Harry Vance & father | Dandridge | circa 1912 - circa 1935 | Limited records at Farrar, Dandridge |
Farrar Funeral Home | Jefferson City, Dandridge, White Pine | 1924 - present | 162 E. Meeting St., Dandridge 37725 411 W. Broadway Blvd., Jefferson City 37760 1906 Main St., White Pine 37890 Records from 1945-2000 are on-line at the Sevierville Library Web Site) |
Malcolm & Jacobs; Robinson & Jacobs; Robinson & Fielden Funeral Home |
New Market | 1947 - present (3 name changes before becoming Fielden) |
Fielden Funeral Home (below) |
Fielden Funeral Home | New Market | 1966 - present | 910 Churchview Street, New Market, TN 37820 |
Alfred Sartain, undertaker | White Pine | circa 1920 - circa 1940 | Farrar Funeral Home, White Pine |
Marvin Zimmerman, undertaker | White Pine | before 1906 - circa 1920 | Farrar Funeral Home, White Pine |
Kenneth Buckner, undertaker | Dandridge | circa 1939 - circa 1945 | Unknown |
Estes Funeral Home | Jefferson City | circa 1936 - 1977 (hiatus 1941-1949) |
In 1995: Mrs. E. P. Estes 434 Buckingham Dr. Jefferson City 37760 |
Surrounding Counties
Funeral homes in surrounding counties have also provided services to Jefferson Countians:
Name | Location | Dates of Operation | Location of Records |
Stetzer | Hamblen County | 1905 - present | 146 E. Main St., Morristown 37814 |
Rawlings | Sevier County | 1911 - present | 212 Court Ave., Sevierville 37862 |
Atchley | Sevier County | 1920 - present (records exist from 1936) |
118 E. Main St., Sevierville 37862 |
Holder; became Griffey | Cocke County | circa 1920 - 1966 | Gentry-Griffey Funeral Home, 5301 Fountain Rd., Knoxville 37918 |
Brown | Cocke County | 1930 - pressent | 338 E. Main St., Newport 37821 |
Willis-LaRue; Maloy-Suggs (1940); Maloy (1945); Costner-Maloy (1995) | Cocke County | circa 1910 - present (records complete from 1924) |
322 E. Main St., Newport 37821 |
Horton; Horton & Hipshire | Hamblen County | circa 1925 - 1949 | Unknown |
Smith Funeral Home | Grainger County | 1904 - present (fire in 1972 destroyed all but a few records from 1950-1970 period) |