Gentry-Smith Funeral Home

12/29/2025

12/24/2025

Believe it or not, funeral insurance can easily be a gift that keeps on giving, especially in terms of the problems that it helps avoid. The most obvious being, the funds are set aside for the funeral expenses, relieving the financial burden they might otherwise pose to your loved ones. Yet, there are other benefits to having funeral insurance.

To name a few, the funds are not counted as an asset against you if you are going through Medicaid spend down. You get to go through and pick out all of your services and merchandise to make your wishes known. You designate the beneficiary to whom any left over funds would be paid, reducing the potential for family friction. Your loved ones don't have to worry about your bank account being froze upon notification of your death and not having access to the funds. The list can go on and on, but reducing the potential for financial stress in an already distressing situation can alleviate uncertainties and burdens off of your loved ones.

12/23/2025

Sharon Lynne Haley

Sharon (White) Haley was born on April 14, 1962 in Woodbury, TN. She lived her life partially on the west coast in California and Washington, but most of her life was spent here in Middle Tennessee. She was known for her care-free spirit and her relentless love. She was an adored mother and grandmother. She brought laughter and love everywhere she went. She was preceded in death by her mother Linda Henry, her sister Susan White, and her daughter Harmony...

View Sharon Lynne Haley's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

12/17/2025

The purpose of funeral insurance is to cover your final expenses revolving around your funeral service and merchandise selections along with cash advance items, such as death certificates and obituary notices. It is meant to give peace of mind to the individual and their loved ones, knowing that the funds are set aside. It also can function as a savings plan for someone with a low or fixed income.

12/15/2025

Even if you fall into one of the aforementioned categories and do not need funeral insurance, you may elect to take out a policy anyway. Having funds designated specifically for your funeral can have benefits. First and foremost, if you are being placed in a nursing home for long-term care, you may be dealing with the Medicaid spend down. Placing funds in an irrevocable funeral insurance policy removes those funds from the assets counted against you. Another situation that frequently arises is the individual may want a funeral insurance policy to have everything "taken care of" for their family. The next of kin would just complete the claim form with the funeral provider.

12/07/2025

Funeral insurance is a niche area. It is meant to solely cover the cost of your funeral expenses, but did you know there are circumstances where you do NOT need funeral insurance? These include:

1) Ample Savings: If you already have more than enough savings in your bank account, there is no need to take out a funeral insurance policy. In this case, it is a good idea to have another person (e.g. a spouse, child, primary caregiver, etc.) on your account to give them access to these funds when the time of need arises. If you are not comfortable having someone else on your account, talk to your financial institution about setting up designated beneficiaries.

2) Life Insurance: If you already have a large life insurance policy that you have taken out through your employer or independently, you generally don't need a funeral insurance policy. However, be sure you talk to your funeral provider to ensure that they accept what is called an "insurance assignment." Some funeral providers require a certain percentage of the funeral expenses up front because the claim process can be lengthy with some insurance companies.

3) Death Benefits: If you are currently employed and your employer provides death benefits to cover final expenses, you do not need funeral insurance. The same consideration for talking to your funeral provider applies in this situation, but you also have the added consideration of revisiting taking out a funeral policy should the death benefits not remain if your employment status changes.

12/02/2025

Beverly Halliburton

Mrs. Beverly Halliburton, 65, of Bradyville, Tennessee passed away unexpectedly on November 28, 2025. She was born in Jacksonville, Florida on January 13, 1960. She was preceded in death by her parents Raymond Mathis and Emma Murphy Mathis, a sister, Claudia Mathis, and a son, Josh Halliburton. She is survived by her husband, Russell Halliburton, son, Chris Ford, stepdaughter, Crystal Collene, sister, Debbie Mathis, seven grandchildren and several great grandchildren. Beverly’s mother was known and recognized as a hard worker....

View Beverly Halliburton's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.