Veteran services at Johns-Ridout's Mortuary-Elmwood Chapel & Elmwood Cemetery & Mausoleum
Johns-Ridout's Mortuary-Elmwood Chapel & Elmwood Cemetery & Mausoleum serves veteran families in Birmingham, AL with military funeral planning. In their own words: "Elmwood Chapel provides Military Funeral Honors for eligible veterans, including flag folding, flag presentation by a representative of the veteran’s parent Service, and the playing of Taps. They also offer assistance with insurance claims, Social Security notification, and VA monetary claim forms. Eligibility extends to military members on active duty or in the Selected Reserve, and former military members who served on active duty or completed a term of enlistment in the Selected Reserve under conditions other than dishonorable, or were discharged due to a service-incurred disability." On-site amenities include chapel, suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies. Published pricing lists $7,685 for basic burial and $4,150 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs.
Veteran-related services offered include cremation and military funeral honors. Each service is coordinated with the family and, where applicable, with the deceased's last unit or branch honor detail.
On-site facilities of note include chapel. These spaces accommodate full military honors details, family gatherings before and after the service, and the placement of the United States flag during the visitation period.
Published pricing at Johns-Ridout's Mortuary-Elmwood Chapel & Elmwood Cemetery & Mausoleum: direct cremation from $2,385. That places direct cremation roughly 28% above the Alabama median ($1,870). Veterans who served on active duty for at least 24 months may qualify for VA burial allowance to offset funeral costs — this home accepts assignment of those benefits where eligible.
The nearest VA national cemetery is Alabama National Cemetery in AL, approximately 24 miles from Johns-Ridout's Mortuary-Elmwood Chapel & Elmwood Cemetery & Mausoleum. Johns-Ridout's Mortuary-Elmwood Chapel & Elmwood Cemetery & Mausoleum can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.
Alabama has approximately 479 licensed funeral homes serving its population, of which a subset specifically lists military funeral honors and VA benefits assistance among their services. Johns-Ridout's Mortuary-Elmwood Chapel & Elmwood Cemetery & Mausoleum is among them.
Frequently asked questions
What does a funeral at Johns-Ridout's Mortuary-Elmwood Chapel & Elmwood Cemetery & Mausoleum cost for veteran families?
From its published general price list, direct cremation starts at $2,385. Eligible veterans can offset these costs with a VA burial allowance, and burial in a VA national cemetery is provided at no charge.
Where is Johns-Ridout's Mortuary-Elmwood Chapel & Elmwood Cemetery & Mausoleum located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?
Johns-Ridout's Mortuary-Elmwood Chapel & Elmwood Cemetery & Mausoleum is located at 800 Dennison Ave. SW in Birmingham, AL. You can reach the home at (205) 251-7227. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.
What services does Johns-Ridout's Mortuary-Elmwood Chapel & Elmwood Cemetery & Mausoleum offer veteran families?
Johns-Ridout's Mortuary-Elmwood Chapel & Elmwood Cemetery & Mausoleum provides traditional funeral services, same-day funeral services, cremation, after-care services, pre-arranging funeral, and can arrange military funeral honors for eligible veterans.
Does Johns-Ridout's Mortuary-Elmwood Chapel & Elmwood Cemetery & Mausoleum help veterans with VA burial benefits?
Elmwood Chapel provides Military Funeral Honors for eligible veterans, including flag folding, flag presentation by a representative of the veteran’s parent Service, and the playing of Taps. They also offer assistance with insurance claims, Social Security notification, and VA monetary claim forms. Eligibility extends to military members on active duty or in the Selected Reserve, and former military members who served on active duty or completed a term of enlistment in the Selected Reserve under conditions other than dishonorable, or were discharged due to a service-incurred disability.
Which faith traditions does Johns-Ridout's Mortuary-Elmwood Chapel & Elmwood Cemetery & Mausoleum accommodate?
Staff coordinate services for Catholic, Christian families, among others.
What sets Johns-Ridout's Mortuary-Elmwood Chapel & Elmwood Cemetery & Mausoleum apart
- Family-owned and operated by the Betkowski family since 1989, with multiple generations actively involved.
- On-site crematory at their Cedar Lake, Indiana location, ensuring loved ones remain under their direct care throughout the cremation process.
- Specialized Military Funeral Honors, including flag folding, flag presentation, and playing of Taps, with assistance for VA claims and Social Security.
- Comprehensive After-Care Services, including a Family Follow-Up Specialist and a bereavement resource library.
- Staff members are part of the Teamsters Union, Local 727, indicating a commitment to professional employment standards.
Military & veteran services offered
Burial & cremation services
Cremation
- · Cremation
On-site facilities
Affiliations & specializations
Industry affiliations
- · Crematory
- · Funeral Home
- · Mortuary
Specializations
- · Veterans Services
- · Pre-Need Planning
- · After Care
Religious traditions & languages
Religious traditions accommodated: Catholic, Christian. Languages spoken at the home: English, Spanish (implied support through staff and community served).
EverSettled · After the Veteran Funeral
The veteran's spouse may qualify for VA Dependency & Indemnity Compensation.
DIC is a tax-free monthly benefit for surviving spouses, dependent children, and (in some cases) parents of veterans whose death is service-connected. EverSettled walks veteran families through DIC eligibility, survivor pension, life-insurance claims, probate, and the federal-account paperwork that follows.
Begin Veteran Estate SettlementHow honors are coordinated
Military funeral honors are guaranteed at no cost for any veteran discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. The funeral home arranges the honors detail by contacting the deceased's last unit or the nearest active-duty installation of the appropriate branch and submitting the DD-214 to verify eligibility.
For requests less than 72 hours from service time, families can call the Department of Defense's expedited honors line at 1-877-MIL-HONR (1-877-645-4667). See the full honors protocol.