Our History
Cox-Blevins Funeral Home
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| 140 North Pickren Street Salem, AR 72576 Phone 870.895.2501 Email: coxfuneral@aol.com |
| 140 North Pickren Street Salem, AR 72576 Phone 870.895.2501 Email: coxfuneral@aol.com |
| Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday 8:00 - 4:00 |
Back in the early 1930’s when money was really hard to come by, Uncle Jim Caldwell
devised a plan where people could afford a low cost burial policy to take care of the
expense of losing a loved one. For just a few pennies a month, the burial was taken
care of. He sold his first policy under the name Tri-County Burial Association in 1934.
For over 70 years, the burial association and funeral home have strived for the same
goal, to make life a lot easier for the loved ones who will have to live with the sorrow of
losing someone close without worrying about the expenses.
Back when Uncle Jim started on the north side of the court square in Salem,
Arkansas, things were a lot different. He constructed the casket as well as taking care
of the funeral; in most cases all within two days, because at that time embalming was
not a common practice in the area. Generally the body was prepared and brought
back to the home where friends and neighbors would sit up all night until the services
the next day.
Uncle Jim Caldwell sold to Higginbotham Funeral Home in the 1930‘s. In those days, a
nice suit was $12.50, and the casket was $65.00. Most of the stone markers were
hand made by a relative or friend of the family. Rent for the building was $10.00 a
month, 17 yards of satin (to line the casket) was $4.25, the light bill was $7.41. Total
cost for a complete funeral was $100.00.
Higginbotham sold the funeral home in the 1940’s to Leland Carter who operated it
until 1986 when it sold to Madden Enterprises. In 1995, Clell and Donna Cox
purchased the business, and in 1999, Powell and Donna Blevins became partners in
the total operation of Cox Funeral Services, Inc. and Cox-Blevins Funeral Home.
The burial association, which is now called Leland Carter Burial Association, is still
helping families today, just as they did in 1935. The present building at 140 North
Pickren Street was constructed around 1955 by Leland Carter, and at that time was
an unusual structure to say the least, with the roof extending almost to the ground
and the use of stained glass . It is still one of the most modern funeral homes in the
area.
Most of the funerals conducted today at Cox-Blevins Funeral Home are for folks the
Cox’s and the Blevins’ have known for a very long time. The Cox’s have lived in the
area for many years and Powell Blevins was born and raised in the Salem area.
Many people have been associated with the funeral home through the years and
have helped to shape the business into the fine operation that it is today. Bartus
Estes, Dick and Anita Harris, W.A. and Vanita Harris, Regina Welch, Van Brown, Olan
and Jackie Gooch, Garry Williams and Nathan Dixon.
Today Cox-Blevins Funeral Home also sells monuments, prepaid funeral plans, and
insurance, as well as maintaining the Leland Carter Burial Association.
devised a plan where people could afford a low cost burial policy to take care of the
expense of losing a loved one. For just a few pennies a month, the burial was taken
care of. He sold his first policy under the name Tri-County Burial Association in 1934.
For over 70 years, the burial association and funeral home have strived for the same
goal, to make life a lot easier for the loved ones who will have to live with the sorrow of
losing someone close without worrying about the expenses.
Back when Uncle Jim started on the north side of the court square in Salem,
Arkansas, things were a lot different. He constructed the casket as well as taking care
of the funeral; in most cases all within two days, because at that time embalming was
not a common practice in the area. Generally the body was prepared and brought
back to the home where friends and neighbors would sit up all night until the services
the next day.
Uncle Jim Caldwell sold to Higginbotham Funeral Home in the 1930‘s. In those days, a
nice suit was $12.50, and the casket was $65.00. Most of the stone markers were
hand made by a relative or friend of the family. Rent for the building was $10.00 a
month, 17 yards of satin (to line the casket) was $4.25, the light bill was $7.41. Total
cost for a complete funeral was $100.00.
Higginbotham sold the funeral home in the 1940’s to Leland Carter who operated it
until 1986 when it sold to Madden Enterprises. In 1995, Clell and Donna Cox
purchased the business, and in 1999, Powell and Donna Blevins became partners in
the total operation of Cox Funeral Services, Inc. and Cox-Blevins Funeral Home.
The burial association, which is now called Leland Carter Burial Association, is still
helping families today, just as they did in 1935. The present building at 140 North
Pickren Street was constructed around 1955 by Leland Carter, and at that time was
an unusual structure to say the least, with the roof extending almost to the ground
and the use of stained glass . It is still one of the most modern funeral homes in the
area.
Most of the funerals conducted today at Cox-Blevins Funeral Home are for folks the
Cox’s and the Blevins’ have known for a very long time. The Cox’s have lived in the
area for many years and Powell Blevins was born and raised in the Salem area.
Many people have been associated with the funeral home through the years and
have helped to shape the business into the fine operation that it is today. Bartus
Estes, Dick and Anita Harris, W.A. and Vanita Harris, Regina Welch, Van Brown, Olan
and Jackie Gooch, Garry Williams and Nathan Dixon.
Today Cox-Blevins Funeral Home also sells monuments, prepaid funeral plans, and
insurance, as well as maintaining the Leland Carter Burial Association.
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