What did it cost to bury someone in 1947?
This funeral statement from Union Funeral Home in Pocahontas, Virginia, gives us a rare, detailed answer, while also preserving a small piece of the story of Calvin Isaac Scott and his wife, Edith Scott.
Calvin Isaac Scott, a 45-year-old coal mine fire boss, died on January 17, 1947, following a horrific mining accident. His death certificate records severe crushing injuries to his skull. The following day, January 18, 1947, Union Funeral Home issued this statement to his wife, Edith Scott of Bishop, Virginia.
The total funeral cost was $567, including:
Casket, $475
Embalming, $25
Tie and hose, $1.50
Flowers, $25.50
Equipment and professional service, $40
The Compensation Commission paid $150, leaving Edith Scott and the family with $417 to pay.
In today’s dollars, $417 in 1947 represents roughly $6,245 in purchasing power, while the full $567 would be approximately $8,480. Even a stripped down version of these funeral costs came to $500, equivalent to roughly $7,485 today.
For working families in Central Appalachia, that was a significant financial burden. And this is where the importance of Maggie L. Walker’s St. Luke, the Odd Fellows, and the Household of Ruth becomes even clearer. Mutual aid societies provided a financial safety net when families faced death, illness, and other hardships.
