In 1911 Sevierville was a sleepy little farming community. The town was surrounded by the Great Smoky Mountains. In this setting K. Rawlings, Sr. saw a need for a funeral establishment and opened for business using the top floor of his furniture store to show caskets. The first reported funeral conducted by the K. Rawlings Funeral Home was for C. M. McMahan who died October 11, 1911.
There were two other funeral homes in the community at this time. Even with these other established funeral homes, K. Rawlings, Sr. recognized the need for a business and offered personalized and compassionate service to the families that they served.
The first location was on Main Street and was called K. Rawlings Furniture and Undertaking. The furniture store was established in 1902 with a hundred dollars of merchandise. Out of this humble beginning, a legacy of compassion and caring became synonymous with the name K. Rawlings Funeral Home.
Other members of K. Rawling's family who went into partnership with him were his father, Milton Rush Rawlings, and a brother Edgar L. Rawlings. M. R. Rawlings retired in 1928 and died on July 16, 1937.
Edgar tended the horses that were used to pull the hearses until the first motorized hearse was purchased in the early 1920's. Edgar withdrew his partnership in the business in 1923 to pursue other interests.
Fred Rawlings, brother of K. Rawlings, Sr. became a partner in the business in either 1919 or 1920 following WWI. In 1929, the first licensed embalmer in Sevier County; W. R. Miller came to work full time for the funeral home. As the business flourished there became a need for more dedicated people to provide the service that the funeral home had become known. In 1929, another brother Lynn Rawlings, became a partner.
The year 1931 brought another change to the business. The brothers started an ambulance service serving all of Sevier County. During this era, most funeral homes operated an ambulance service. The service operated until 1972 when the county took control of the ambulance business.
In 1935, the brothers bought the Davis Hotel. The hotel was built in the 1920's with 22 rooms and four bathrooms. During 1935 and 1936 the building was renovated to accommodate the funeral home.
With a growing business and the name recognition of K. Rawlings Funeral Home in Sevier County, the family decided it was time to start another funeral home. In either 1939 or 1940, K. Rawlings and family joined into another funeral home with W. R. Miller opening another business in Maryville. Both funeral homes went under the name of Rawlings and Miller Funeral Home.
In 1951, shortly after WW2, K. Rawlings, Jr. entered into the business. He was a graduate of a Nashville School of Embalming. K. Rawlings, Jr. served in the Navy during WWII. In 1952, Lynn P. Rawlings, Jr. joined the partnership. Lynn served in the Air Corps during WWII.
In the early 1950's, as both funeral homes flourished, the partners recognized that the business was growing so rapidly changes needed to be made. It was agreed that the funeral homes would each become a stand-alone business. K. Rawlings and family kept the Sevierville funeral home and W. R. Miller took the Maryville funeral home.
In 1955, the business bought an adjoining lot that had a garage on it. After tearing down the garage, a new chapel was built. No expenses were spared in the building of the chapel. Beautiful wood paneling was installed on the upper part of the walls and was accented with knotty pine on the lower part. Stained glass windows were installed. Church type pews were used instead of the traditional folding chairs, giving the chapel a church like appearance.
K. Rawlings, Sr. remained active in the business until his death on May 8, 1966 at the age of 86. Mr. Rawlings had been very active in community service. He had served four years as chairman of the Board of Education and was a member of the Board of Alderman of Sevierville.
In 1976, Mark and Mike Rawlings, the sons of L. P. Rawlings, Jr. joined the firm. Fred, L. P., Jr., Kenny, Mark and Mike Rawlings all remained active in the family business until 1986 when the business was sold to Jeff Gamble of Winchester, Tennessee. Chester Bridges was manager until Jeff sold the business to the Loewen Group in 1991. During this time a local person, Jack Parton was hired to assist in the business.
Following the acquisition of the business, the Loewen Group brought in Gary Hicks as general manager. At this time remodeling was done with new carpet and painting of the chapel ceiling. The exterior, which was red brick, was painted gray. An open house was held to show the community the new look of the funeral home. The theme of the open house was "A New Look for an Old Friend".
Gary Hicks remained as manager, with Jack Parton assisting him until 1997. In 1992 or 1993, Georgia Parton, wife of Jack Parton, joined the staff as secretary. Kenny Rawlings, Jr. remained active in the business until his death in December of 2005. Kenny helped tremendously in the business with his expertise and knowledge of the business and community.
In December of 1997, Gary left to pursue other interests. In 2008 Gary came back as Manager of Rawlings Funeral Home. Gary, Jack and Georgia Parton, the staff of Rawlings Funeral Home, are still dedicated to serving the families with the same kind of care and compassion they always have.
With the dedication of the staff and the continual support of the community, Rawlings Funeral Home should be prepared to enter the 21st century. The funeral service business is becoming more competitive with the passing of each year, however we feel that our staff is dedicated to offering the families the caring and compassionate service that they have come to expect since 1911.
In order to make an informed decision when you pre-arrange a funeral, you need to have answers to the following six questions:
Essentially, funeral planning is a two step process: (1) Making the pre-arrangements, and (2) Funding the pre-arrangements. Why make the pre-arrangements? If you have ever made funeral arrangements after the death of a loved one, you already know the answer to that question. Funeral planning is difficult and emotionally exhausting while struggling with grief and shock. With the help of our qualified staff, planning in advance gives you the ability to make informed, insightful decisions that will spare your loved ones from this task. Why fund the pre-arrangements? Pre-funding may protect your family from the burden of funeral expenses. There are funding options and payment plans to meet almost any situation. When funding the pre-arrangement, your funeral contract will identify the person selling the contract and the person purchasing the contract. The contract will contain complete descriptions and current prices of merchandise and services that are purchased. Most, if not all, of the prices will be "frozen" or "guaranteed".
Funeral merchandise selections include, but not limited to, are: casket and/or urn, outer burial container, flowers, and occasionally, clothing. Funeral service selections include, but not limited to, are: professional services of funeral director and staff, transportation, embalming and other preperations, use of facilities for visitation, ceremony, funeral vehicles, music, opening and closing of grave, and pastoral services.
Here are some commonly "misguided" thoughts about funeral pre-arrangements:
The staff at Rawlings Funeral Home welcomes any questions you have. We want to be your source of information that will make your decisions as informed, intelligent, rational, and caring as possible.
The following checklist is designed to help you file for your Social Security benefits correctly so that prompt payments may be made.
ELIGIBILITY
The deceased worker must have credit for work covered by Social Security, ranging from 1 1/2 to 10 years depending on his or her age at death.
WHO MAY RECEIVE MONTHLY BENEFITS
Reimbursement of Burial Expenses
VA will pay a burial allowance up to $2,000 if the veteran's death is service connected. VA also will pay the cost of transporting the remains of a service-disabled veteran to the national cemetery nearest the home of a deceased that has available gravesites. In such cases, the person who bore the veteran's burial expenses may claim reimbursement from VA. VA will pay a $300 burial and funeral expense allowance for veterans who, at time of death, were entitled to receive pension or compensation or would have been entitled to compensation but for receipt of military retirement pay. Eligibility also is established when death occurs in a VA facility or a nursing home with which VA contracted. Additional costs of transportation of the remains may be reimbursed. There is no time limit for filing reimbursement claims of service-connected deaths. In other deaths, claims must be filed within two years after permanent burial or cremation.
VA will pay a $300 plot allowance when the veteran is not buried in a cemetery that is under U.S. Government jurisdiction if the veteran is discharged from active duty because of disability incurred or aggravated in line of duty, if the veteran was in receipt of compensation or pension or would have been in receipt of compensation but for receipt of military retired pay, or if the veteran died while hospitalized by VA. The plot allowance is not payable solely on wartime service.
If the veteran is buried without charge for the cost of a plot or interment in a state-owned cemetery reserved solely for veteran burials, the $300 plot allowance may be paid to the state. Burial expenses paid by the deceased's employer or a state agency will not be reimbursed.
Burial Flags
VA provides an American flag to drape the casket of a veteran and to a person entitled to retired military pay. After the funeral service, the flag may be given to the next of kin or a close associate. VA also will issue a flag on behalf of a service member who was missing in action and later presumed dead. Flags are issued at VA regional offices, national cemeteries, and post offices.
Burial in National Cemeteries VA Cemeteries
Burial benefits in a VA national cemetery include the gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, and perpetual care. Many national cemeteries have columbaria for the inurnment of cremated remains or special gravesites for the burial of cremated remains. Headstones and markers and their placement are provided at the government's expense.
Veterans and armed forces members who die on active duty are eligible for burial in one of VA's 114 national cemeteries. An eligible veteran must have been discharged or separated from active duty under honorable or general conditions and have completed the required period of service. Persons entitled to retired pay as a result of 20 years creditable service with a reserve component are eligible. A U.S. citizen who served in the armed forces of a government allied with the United States in a war also may be eligible.
Spouses and minor children of eligible veterans and of armed forces members also may be buried in a national cemetery. A surviving spouse of an eligible veteran who married a nonveteran, and whose remarriage was teminated by death or divorce, is eligible for burial in a national cemetery.
Gravesites in national cemeteries cannot be reserved. Funeral directors or others making burial arrangements must apply at the time of death. Reservations made under previous programs are honored. The National Cemetery System normally does not conduct burials on weekends. A weekend caller, however, will be directed to on eof three strategically located VA cemetery offices that remain open during weekends to schedule burials at the cemetery of the caller's choice during the following week.
Headstones and Markers
VA provides headstones and markers for the unmarked graves of veterans anywhere in the world and for eligible dependents of veterans buried in national, state veteran or military cemeteries.
Flat bronze, flat granite, flat marble, upright granite and upright marble types are available to mark the grave in a style consistent with the place of burial. Niche markers also are available to mark columbaria used for inurnment of cremated remains.
Headstones and markers are inscribed with the name of the deceased, the years of birth and death, and branch of service. Optional items that also may be inscribed at VA expense are: military grade, rank or rate; war service such as World War II; months and days of birth and death; an emblem reflecting one's beliefs; valor awards; and the Purple Heart. Additional items may be inscribed at private expense.
When burial is in a national, state veteran or military cemetery, the headstone marker is ordered through the cemetery, inscription, shipping and placement can be obtained from the cemetery.
When burial occurs in a cemetery other than a national, military post or state veterans cemetery, the headstone marker must be applied for from VA. It is shipped at government expense. VA, however, does not pay the cost of placing the headstone or marker on the grave. To apply, you must complete VA form 40-1330 and forward it to Director, Office of Memorial Programs (403A), National Cemetery System, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC 20420. Forms and assistance are available at VA application you may call the Director, Office of Memorial Programs at 1-800-697-6947.
VA cannot issue a headstone or marker for a spouse or child buried in a private cemetery. Twenty year reservists without active duty service are eligible for a headstone or marker, if they are entitled to military retired pay at the time of death.
Headstones or Markers for Memorial Plots
To memorialize an eligible veteran whose remains are not available for burial, VA will provide a plot and headstone or marker in a national cemetery. The headstone or marker is the same as that used to identify a grave except that the mandatory phrase "In Memory of" precedes the authorized inscription. The headstone or marker is available to memorialize eligible veterans or deceased active-duty members whose remains were not recovered or identified, were buried at sea, donated to science, or cremated and scattered. The memorial marker may be provided for placement in a cemetery other than a national cemetery. In such a case, VA supplies the marker and pays the cost of shipping, but does not pay for the plot or the placement of the marker. Only a relative recognized as the next of kin may apply for the benefit.
Presidential Memorial Certificates
The Presidential Memorial Certificate is a parchment certificate with a calligraphic inscription expressing the nation's recognition of the veteran's service. The veteran's name is inscribed and the certificate bears the signature of the President. Certificates are issued in the name of honorably discharged, deceased veterans. Eligible recipients include next of kin, other relatives and friends. The award of a certificate to one eligible recipient does not preclude certificates to other eligible recipients. The veteran may have died at any time in the past. The local VA regional office generally originates the application for a Presidential Memorial Certificate. The next of kin also may request a certificate. Requests should be accompanied by a copy of a document such as a discharge to establish honorable service. VA regional offices can assist in applying for certificates.
Headstone and Gravemarker Program
1-800-697-6947
8:00am to 4:30pm Eastern Time
Government Life Insurance Information
VA Insurance Center
1-800-669-8477
8:00am to 6:30pm Eastern Time
Veterans Service Offices
Knox County
Veterans Service Office
(865) 215-5645
Tennessee Dept. of Veterans Affairs
Knoxville
(865)594-6158