When There Was No Undertaker and Neighbors Buried the Dead

Mamie Jones wrote that in the early days of Shelby and Cleveland County there were no undertakers and no funeral parlors. When a person died, the neighbors took charge. They washed and dressed the body, usually laid it out on a bed or table, and watched with it until burial. Coffins were made by hand, often by a local carpenter, and were sometimes covered with black velvet if the family could afford it.

She wrote that funerals were held at the home, and burial usually followed quickly, partly because there was no embalming and partly because families lived far apart and travel was slow. The grave was dug by neighbors, and the service was simple, often conducted by a local preacher or, if none was available, by a respected member of the community.

Source: Mamie Jones.