Business

Nashville Native Offers Affordable Cremation Services

THE TENNESSEE TRIBUNE — SAG Funeral Home owner Steve Ganaway is a man dedicated to giving back to his community. He grew up on Arthur St. in North Nashville in a little enclave of houses and small businesses. As a kid, he says, he’d help neighbors carry groceries and mow lawns, never asking for money but not turning it down when it was offered. He was raised that way.

Published

7 years ago

April 14, 2019

Ashley Benkarski

NASHVILLE, TN — SAG Funeral Home owner Steve Ganaway is a man dedicated to giving back to his community.

He grew up on Arthur St. in North Nashville in a little enclave of houses and small businesses. As a kid, he says, he’d help neighbors carry groceries and mow lawns, never asking for money but not turning it down when it was offered. He was raised that way.

Now, he owns the funeral home at the corner of Buchanan and 16th Ave., the same bit of land he’d mow as a boy. Formerly McGavok and Martin Brothers Funeral Home, his is the only black-owned crematory in Tennessee, he says, and he bought the funeral home to help low-income folks in his neighborhood.

The death of a loved one can be quite expensive—thousands to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on client request—and oftentimes the people Ganaway serves don’t have the money on hand to bury them. He says cremation is becoming a common alternative to burial, especially among younger folks, due to its lower cost. However, the rise in demand for cremation has caused an increase in prices, making it harder for people to afford.

Seeing this need, Ganaway made the move to offer a simple cremation (minus the ceremony) for about $700. It covers the service of the funeral director and staff, cremation fee, box and temporary urn. Also included is the transfer of the loved one’s remains to a mortuary within a 50-mile radius.

He also doesn’t charge families to bury children under two years old—all the family pays for is the casket, which is $197.

One way to lessen the financial burden is to get pre-need life insurance to help pay the cost of services, Ganaway advised. It’s also important to tell loved ones about purchasing the insurance, noting he has decades-old records with unclaimed money from life insurance accounts that pre-date his purchase of the business. He says part of that comes from folks not wanting to talk about death.

“I have learned in this line of work that death is a part of life,” Ganaway said.

If you have questions about cremation or would like more information on services offered, you can call 615-244-5044. You can view active accounts of life insurance at www.sagfuneralhome.com.

This article originally appeared in The Tennessee Tribune.

Ashley Benkarski

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Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

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1 week ago

March 22, 2026

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Advice

Financial Wellness and Mental Health: Managing Money Stress in College 

While everyone’s financial situation is unique, several common sources of stress have the potential to strain your financial health. These include financial and economic uncertainty, existing debts, unexpected expenses, and mental or physical health changes. Financial stress may differ from situation to situation, but understanding the factors contributing to yours may help you begin to craft a plan for your unique circumstances.

Published

2 weeks ago

March 17, 2026

Oakland Post

Sponsored by JPMorganChase

As a college student, managing financial responsibilities can be stressful.

If you’ve found yourself staying up late thinking about your finances or just feeling anxious overall about your financial future, you’re not alone. In one survey, 78% of college students who reported financial stress had negative impacts on their mental health, and 59% considered dropping out. While finances can impact overall stress, taking steps to manage your finances can support your mental, emotional and physical well-being.

When it comes to money, the sources of stress may look different for each student, but identifying the underlying causes and setting goals accordingly may help you feel more confident about your financial future.

Consider these strategies to help improve your financial wellness and reduce stress.

Understand what causes financial stress

2. Determine your financial priorities

Start by reflecting on your financial priorities. For students this often includes paying for school or paying off student loans, studying abroad, saving for spring break, building an emergency fund, paying down credit card debt or buying a car. Name the milestones that are most important to you, and plan accordingly.

3. Create a plan and stick to it

While setting actionable goals starts you on the journey to better financial health, it’s essential to craft a plan to follow through. Identifying and committing to a savings plan may give you a greater sense of control over your finances, which may help reduce your stress. Creating and sticking to a budget allows you to better track where your money is going so you may spend less and save more.

4. Pay down debt

Many students have some form of debt and want to make progress toward reducing their debt obligations. One option is the debt avalanche method, which focuses on paying off your debt with the highest interest rate first, then moving on to the debt with the next-highest interest rate. Another is the debt snowball method, which builds momentum by paying off your smallest debt balance, and then working your way up to the largest amounts.

5. Build your financial resilience

Some financial stress may be inevitable, but building financial resilience may allow you to overcome obstacles more easily. The more you learn about managing your money, for instance, the more prepared you’ll feel if the unexpected happens. Growing your emergency savings also may increase resilience since you’ll be more financially prepared to cover unexpected expenses or pay your living expenses.

6. Seek help and support

Many colleges have resources to help students experiencing financial stress, like financial literacy courses or funds that provide some assistance for students in need. Talk to your admissions counselor or advisor about your concerns, and they can direct you to sources of support. Your school’s counseling center can also be a great resource for mental health assistance if you’re struggling with financial stress.

The bottom line

Financial stress can affect college students’ health and wellbeing, but it doesn’t have to derail your dreams. Setting smart financial goals and developing simple plans to achieve them may help ease your stress. Revisit and adjust your plan as needed to ensure it continues to work for you, and seek additional support on campus as needed to help keep you on track.

 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC