About Us

    In December of 1945, the vision of J. Robert Scales became a reality with the establishment of Scales-Danner-Scales Funeral Home. The facility was located at 601 Jefferson Street near downtown Nashville, Tennessee. The other partners of the firm were O.M. Danner of Nashville and H. Preston Scales of Rutherford County, Tennessee.

In 1946, Shortly after the firm began, Preston Scales passed and his widow chose not to continue the business relationship with the Nashville based funeral establishment. However, the remaining partners, Scales and Danner continued the successful operation of the business until Danner's passing in 1965.

The business relocated to it's current location in the Summer of 1951, 1412 Jefferson Street adjacent to the the Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church in the heart of the Historic Fisk-Meharry community. J. Robert Scales, a graduate of Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science made great strides to maintain a certain level of professionalism among Black funeral directors. He served as President of the Tennessee State Funeral Directors & Morticians Association. He was also a member of its national brach as well as the Tennessee and National Funeral Directors Association and numerous other trade organizations designed for the betterment of the funeral service industry. J. Robert served a 5-year term (1972-1977) on the state regulatory board which governs the funeral service industry, the State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers, ending his terms as President.

Upon the passing of J. Robert, his widow, Mrs. Elizabeth J. Scales, served as general manager of the firm from 1986 until her retirement in 1996 to become Secretary/Treasurer and advisor of the firm. In 1996, the life-long dream of a young man became a reality when A. Brandon Sharks, a native Nashvillian, became a shareholder of the firm after its incorporation. Starks is a graduate of John A. Gupton College of Mortuary Science, a Tennessee licensed funeral director and life insurance agent, and a member of the State & National Funeral Directors & Morticians Association as well as numerous other professional and social organizations.

A. Brandon Starks, along with his very professional and capable staff continue to operate the firm with the same level of professionalism established by its founders nearly 60 years ago.

Remember - Being Large is not always better...And that's one of our many advantages. You won't feel like just another number; but like an old friend...with people who take time to listen. You should never feel rushed when making difficult decisions realizing that death is a life changing experience, and that it takes time to heal and respond. We're large enough to serve your funeral needs but, small enough to care.