M. J. Edwards - Whitehaven Funeral Chapel

Traditional and contemporary funeral services in Memphis, TN

Located in a two-story red brick building on Elvis Presley Boulevard, M.J. Edwards Whitehaven Funeral Chapel serves people from all walks of life and all faiths. A long-standing supporter of the people of Memphis, we know and understand the backgrounds and customs that are important to our friends and neighbors. Our large-capacity funeral chapel holds up to 250 guests. We also have white limousines available to lease.

When you first meet with an M.J. Edwards funeral director, we'll ask questions about your loved one: what he liked to do, what she cherished, how he thought about the world, or how she liked to spend time. From there, we create a service that speaks to the unique life of your loved one—whether that's a traditional religious funeral or a contemporary and upbeat celebration of life.

You can inspire us with a memory of your loved one, a hobby that grew into a passion, a favorite music genre or a signature style. From boating to boxing, jazz music to old-time gospel, prize-winning roses to prize-winning roadsters, we take the things that mattered most to your loved one and gracefully weave them together to create a personal and heartfelt memorial.

Our team is experienced in planning catered events. Whether it's a breakfast buffet after a morning service, cake and coffee in the afternoon, or a full dinner reception, just let us know what you have in mind. We'll handle food, drinks, decor and more. We'll also help you write an obituary, create a multimedia tribute video for the service and assist you in choosing music.

Cremation services

We specialize in cremation services that honor loved ones in personalized ways, and families love our transparent pricing. With expertise in scattering ashes and a friendly team who pays attention to every detail, we provide service that is second to none.

More and more people are choosing cremation over traditional burial, but most aren’t familiar with the many options:

• a cremation without a funeral or memorial service of any kind.
• a funeral with your loved one present, followed by cremation.
• a cremation followed by a scattering, cemetery memorialization or celebration of life—or all three.

For those who wish for a more momentous memorial, Neptune Memorial Reef is an underwater cremation garden off the coast of Florida. A Celestis Memorial Spaceflight takes ashes into space for a little while or forever.

There are many options for cremation—and they're not all equal. Here's what you can expect when you choose us for your loved one's cremation:

• Custody of care guaranteed. Our custody-of-care program helps safeguard the identification of your loved one from the time we bring them into our care until the time we return them to your family. We check, cross-check and check again, every step of the way.
• Exclusive custody of your loved one. We use only crematories owned and operated by Dignity Memorial^® providers or trusted partners. Once your loved one is in our custody or that of a trusted partner, they’re in our care until they’re returned to your family.
• Licensed, certified, conscientious staff. All Dignity Memorial crematory operators are licensed and certified by Cremation Association of North America, or CANA. Only one person at a time is cremated, and the cremation chamber is thoroughly cleaned before the next person is cremated.

Read more about our cremation services.

Planning ahead

At M.J. Edwards, we also recognize that funeral arrangements and associated expenses can be overwhelming. In addition to assisting during a time of immediate need, our funeral directors specialize in working with families to plan ahead. By preparing in advance, you provide a sense of relief, peace of mind and comfort for your loved ones while ensuring your wishes are met and your budget is maintained. A complimentary planning guide is also available with no obligation.

Here for you

Our funeral directors and staff are among the most experienced professionals anywhere. There is absolutely no request too small or too large when it comes to providing a family exactly what they want.

You are welcome to call us any time of the day, any day of the week, for assistance. We also invite you to come in to tour the funeral home and meet our associates. We're honored to help your family at a time of loss or to help pre-plan a funeral in Memphis.

History

M.J. Edwards Funeral Home served the African American communities in Memphis for decades. M.J. Edwards Sr. opened the first of three Memphis-area locations in March 1980, along with two associates, the Rev. David Craft and his long-time companion, Evelyn Cooper.

Initially he had one hearse, one limousine and one sedan. In the first month, the funeral home on Airways Boulevard handled 12 services. Back then, the average funeral was $795, but M.J. also offered a special $250 package. He wanted to be sure that everyone could afford a dignified service. Today, M.J. Edwards Funeral Home has more than a dozen hearses, even more limousines and a half-dozen sedans at locations in Orange Mound, Southaven and Raleigh—and still works hard to provide affordable funeral services.

Like father, like son

M.J. learned the funeral business from his father, who purchased a mortuary he renamed Victory Funeral Home around 1950, after moving from Mississippi to Memphis. M.J. and other family members worked to help make Victory a success by providing personal service and compassionate care.

Monroe J. Edwards Jr., M.J.'s son, describes his father as a persistent businessman who was deeply interested in serving his community. He was known for never turning anyone away.

A legacy that lives on

During his life, M.J. created a foundation and made generous donations to Memphis institutions, including Hanley Elementary School (where the library is named after him), Melrose Alumni Association and Beulah Baptist Church. In Coldwater, Mississippi, the M.J. Edwards (Health) Center sits in the spot where one of his funeral homes once sat.

M.J. Edwards Sr. died in 2019, after more than 70 years of funeral service. His legacy of compassion lives on with his funeral homes, and M.J. Edwards Whitehaven Funeral Chapel, along with M.J. Edwards Funeral Home Stage Road Chapel, is now a member of the Dignity Memorial® network.