Veteran services at Oakes & Nichols Inc
Veteran families in Columbia, TN can turn to Oakes & Nichols Inc for honors and benefit coordination. In their own words: "Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home provides services for veterans, including military honors at graveside services. The firm assists families with death-related claims, including those from the VA." On-site amenities include on-site chapel, suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies. Published pricing lists $4,975 for basic burial and $2,185 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs.
Veteran-related services offered include memorial service, cremation, and arrangements for special fraternal or military services. 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 on-site 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 Oakes & Nichols Inc: direct cremation from $2,185. That places direct cremation roughly 17% above the Tennessee median ($1,865). 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 Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery in TN, approximately 33 miles from Oakes & Nichols Inc. Oakes & Nichols Inc can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.
Tennessee has approximately 641 licensed funeral homes serving its population, of which a subset specifically lists military funeral honors and VA benefits assistance among their services. Oakes & Nichols Inc is among them.
Frequently asked questions
What does a funeral at Oakes & Nichols Inc cost for veteran families?
From its published general price list, direct cremation starts at $2,185. 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 Oakes & Nichols Inc located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?
Oakes & Nichols Inc is located at 320 West 7Th Street in Columbia, TN. You can reach the home at (931) 388-4711. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.
What services does Oakes & Nichols Inc offer veteran families?
Oakes & Nichols Inc provides traditional funeral service, memorial service, committal service, cremation, preplanning, and can arrange military funeral honors for eligible veterans.
Does Oakes & Nichols Inc help veterans with VA burial benefits?
Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home provides services for veterans, including military honors at graveside services. The firm assists families with death-related claims, including those from the VA.
Which faith traditions does Oakes & Nichols Inc accommodate?
Staff coordinate services for Church of Christ, Methodist, Presbyterian, Freewill Baptist families, among others.
What sets Oakes & Nichols Inc apart
- Over 150 years of continuous, independent, family ownership, established in 1856.
- Four generations of the Sowell family actively involved in the funeral home's operations.
- Located in the historic former home of U.S. Senator Edward Ward Carmack on West Seventh Street.
- Staff members hold leadership positions and serve on committees within state and national funeral director associations.
- Offers a 'Year of Grief Support' program with weekly messages.
- Provides comprehensive online resources for 'Children & Grief' and 'The Grieving Process'.
Military & veteran services offered
Burial & cremation services
Burial
- · Committal Service
Cremation
- · Cremation
On-site facilities
Affiliations & specializations
Industry affiliations
- · Tennessee Funeral Directors Association
- · National Funeral Directors Association
- · Selected Independent Funeral Homes
- · Associated Funeral Directors Service
- · Federated Funeral Directors
Specializations
- · Life Celebrants
Religious traditions & languages
Religious traditions accommodated: Church of Christ, Methodist, Presbyterian, Freewill Baptist. Languages spoken at the home: English.
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.