| Sources |
- [S47] Sevier County, Tennessee and its Heritage, Sevier County Heritage Book Committee, (1994, Don Mills, Inc.), 144.
- [S78] Atchley Funeral Home Records, Volume I, 1930-1954, Larry D. Fox, (Smoky Mountain Historical Society), 6 Feb 1950.
Steward Walker Atchley obituary
- [S76] Atchley Funeral Home Records, Volume III, 1974-1986, Larry D. Fox, (Smoky Mountain Historical Society).
The Atchley Funeral Home was established in March 1920 by James H. Atchley, Sevier county’s first licensed embalmer. Like many other funeral homes of that era, Atchley evolved from a furniture store that went from making caskets, to actually providing funeral services.
The furniture and funeral business were able to operate out of the same building because at that time everything related to the funeral service took place either in someone’s home or in a church. A typical scenario at this point in history of Atchley’s would be for Mr Atchley to go to the place of death of the deceased, usually at the home, and perform the embalming there. After that process was completed, the body was dressed and placed in a casket brought by Mr. Atchley, or perhaps one made by the family or someone in the community.
Friends wishing to call on the family would come to the house where the body would be displayed, most likely in the living room When it was time for the funeral service everyone would go to the church and from there to the cemetery. As time went by and traditions changed, those things that were once done in the home began to take place at the funeral home, which eventually separated from the furniture store and became a business of its own.
After operating at three separate locations on Main Street, the Atchley Funeral Home moved to it’s present location at 118 East Main Street in Sevierville in 1948.
James H. Atchley was married to the former Blanche Kyker. Their three sons, Blaine, Bill, and Harold, all helped their father in the family business. Only Blaine and Harold made the funeral business their career. These two men guided Atchley Funeral Home out of it’s infancy.
To accommodate a growing and progressive community, a modern chapel and large receiving rooms were added to the old victorian house that was the Atchley Funeral Home. Atchley’s also provided Sevier County with ambulance service until the early 1970’s. By this time, the third generation of Atchleys, Jim, Chuck, and Albert Atchley became part of the funeral home’s activities.
The 1980's brought in a new wave of leadership—Jim and Albert became partners with their fathers at a time when the funeral industry itself was changing drastically. The types of funeral services and merchandise available to the public were becoming more varied, while new concepts such as prearranged funerals were on the horizon.
Jim and Albert kept ahead of the pace, however, making it an easy transition into this new era of funeral service. In 1988, D. J. Atchley joined Blaine, Harold, Jim, and Albert in full-time service to the funeral needs of Sevier County. Going into the 1990's the Atchley family was prepared to keep pace with the needs of one of the fastest growing areas in the country.
The deaths of Blaine in 1991 and his son Jim in 1992, along with the semi-retirement of Harold put the reins of Atchley Funeral Home into the hands Albert and D. J.
This also was an era of change in the funeral industry, when large corporations were buying out family funeral businesses at a fast pace. While many established funeral homes gave up trying to compete with their new national competitors, the Atchley family concentrated solely on how best to continue serving the people of Sevier County.
The Atchley Funeral Home bucked the trend of selling out to big corporations, and actually did a reversal by buying a funeral home/cemetery combination.. In 1997, the Atchley’s acquired Smoky Mountain Memory Gardens and Funeral Home in Pigeon Forge, TN. By having two locations and operating a cemetery of it’s own, the Atchley Funeral Home had an even better opportunity to assist Sevier Countians during their most difficult hours.
As the new millennium begins, yet another generation of the Atchleys entered the family business. Albert’s son, Adam Atchley, joined his father and uncle in full time funeral service.
The people served by Atchley Funeral Home can rest assured that the same caring service offered by James H Atchley will continue to be available by the Atchley family.
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 1 Mar 2014.
Upland Chronicles: Atchley Funeral Home was established in 1920
CARROLL MCMAHAN
The Penland-Blair House at 118 Main St. became the permanent home of Atchley Funeral Home in 1948.
The first fully equipped ambulance purchased by Jim Atchley in 1929.
Front row, left to right: Harold, Jim and Blanche Atchley; back row: Blaine and Bill Atchley.
With two horse-drawn hearses and a Model T Ford hearse, Jim Atchley founded Atchley Funeral Home on March 1, 1920. The funeral business was a sideline for People’s Furniture Company, which he operated with his brother Charles “Charlie” Atchley, who had just returned from serving in World War I. Charlie Atchley later sold his interest in the company to Jim, who became the sole owner.
James Harrison “Jim” Atchley was born Jan. 3, 1889, in the Catlettsburg community, where he was raised on a farm. On Feb. 23, 1916, he married Blanche Kyker, and they had three sons, Blaine, Bill, and Harold. Blaine and Harold made the funeral business their career as well.
Jim Atchley was involved in his community. He was a member and deacon of the First Baptist Church in Sevierville, and he was active in civic organizations. He served several terms as alderman and once served a term as state representative.
The first location of the business was on the north side of West Main Street in a two-story brick building. In the beginning, most of the caskets were sold over the counter and loaded on a wagon or truck; the funeral was handled by the community. Some caskets were sold with the handles sold separately.
During the Great Depression, Jim Atchley formed Atchley‘s Mutual Burial Association. Members paid premiums based on their age, ranging from 15 cents for a young child to 50 cents for a senior adult. An assessment was mailed to members each time a certain number of members had died. The average time frame was about once every three months.
In 1923, People’s Furniture and Undertaking Company moved to the old Public Square in the old Yett Building on the northwest corner of the square.
In 1928, Jim Atchley graduated from Gupton-Jones School of Embalming in Nashville, where he was taught the art and science of funeral directing and embalming. The school had two faculty members to teach students the courses in mortuary science. He was the first licensed embalmer in Sevier County.
The company began the first ambulance service in Sevier County in January 1929 with a fully equipped automobile, which was purchased from Meteor Motor Car Company in Piqua, Ohio, for $2,000. Traditions changed, and those things that were once done at home began to take place at the funeral home, which eventually separated from the furniture store and became a business of its own.
In 1933, Atchley’s moved to the southeast corner of the public square and the old Murphy Brick Building, which was built in 1900.
The funeral home moved to the present location at 118 E. Main St. in 1948. Known as the Penland-Blair House, the handsome two-story Victorian home was built by attorney James R. Penland in 1897. Architect Martin E. Parmlee of Knoxville designed the building, which was constructed by contractor William L. Murphy of Sevierville.
Penland moved to Knoxville in 1906, and the home was rented for about a year. In 1907, he sold the home to Frank E. Woody. Hugh C. Blair Sr. and his wife Julia Kate “Katie” Thomas Blair purchased the house in 1910. Hugh C. Blair Sr. died in 1929, and his son and daughter-in-law, Hugh C. Jr. and Robbie Houk Blair, lived there until they sold the home to Atchley in 1948.
The building has undergone extensive changes over the past 66 years. Today the old building has been totally encased between new walls and a new roof. The facility was first modified in 1951 with the addition of a chapel, measuring 32 feet by 55 feet. The new section with a stone façade is fronted with a protective overhang, supported by small pillars.
In the late 1950s, the family operated a branch in Gatlinburg, located on Highway 321. At that time Gatlinburg was still a seasonal town, and the venture only lasted for a few years before closing.
Jim Atchley died Feb. 26, 1969, at age 80. His funeral service was held March 1, 1969, the 49th anniversary of the establishment of the funeral home.
In 1969, another addition was added to the east side of the building, extending toward the street. In 1980, the gables on the original house were removed and a new roof was constructed over the entire structure.
When the Sevier County Ambulance Service was established in 1973, Atchley Funeral Home discontinued the ambulance service they had provided for 44 years.
By this time, the third generation of the Atchley family played an active role in the family business. They included Jim Atchley, son of Blaine; and Chuck and Albert Atchley, sons of Harold. Chuck resigned from the business, and Jim and Albert became partners with their fathers at a time when the industry was changing drastically
Jim and Albert kept ahead of the pace, making it easy to transition into a new era of funeral service. In 1988, D.J. Atchley, son of Harold, joined Blaine, Harold, Jim and Albert in full-time service at the funeral home. The deaths of Blaine in 1991 and his son Jim in 1992, along with the semi-retirement of Harold, left the direction of the business in the hands of Albert and D.J.
In the 1990s, the funeral industry was undergoing a major shift as large corporations bought out family-owned funeral businesses at an alarming pace. Instead of selling out, the Atchleys purchased a funeral home and cemetery. In 1997, Atchley Funeral Home acquired Smoky Mountain Memory Gardens and Funeral Home in Pigeon Forge.
Atchley’s acquired the property located on the west side of the funeral home in 1995 and converted a section of the multi-use building into the West Chapel in 1997.
In 2003, the Atchleys opened a new funeral home in Seymour along with Atchley‘s Seymour Memorial Gardens. Albert’s sons, Adam and Reed, have now joined their father and uncle as current owners of Atchley Funeral Home.
Harold Atchley once served as president of the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association and served several terms as a member of the Sevier County Commission. He also served as coroner of Sevier County for several years. Harold died Aug. 14, 2008, at age 85. His older brother Bill, 88, had died three days earlier.
Few Sevier County businesses of any kind can match the longevity, the rich tradition, and the incomparable service provided by four generations of the Atchley family. The Atchleys have earned an impeccable reputation by serving the needs of Sevier County families with dignity during their most vulnerable situations, for 94 years.
Carroll McMahan is the special projects facilitator for the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce and serves as Sevier County historian.
The Upland Chronicles series celebrates the heritage and past of Sevier County. If you have suggestions for future topics, would like to submit a column or have comments, please contact Carroll McMahan at 453-6411, email cmcmahan@scoc.org; or Ron Rader at 604-9161, email ron@ronraderproperties.com
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 24 Jan 2016.
Upland Chronicles: Emert Brick was a Sevierville landmark
- [S75] Atchley Funeral Home Records, Volume II, 1955-1973, Larry D. Fox, (Smoky Mountain Historical Society), 26 Feb 1969.
Atchley, James Harrison 80 b. 1-3-89 TN d. 2-26-69 Bapt Hosp occupation F. D. Funeral Home w. Blanche Kyker f. G A Atchley m. Sarah Lindsey member First Bapt Ch.
- [S34] In the Shadow of the Smokies, Smoky Mountain Historical Society, (1993), 340.
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