Heritage Funeral Home

George Luther Taylor died on May 8. The Army veteran was 71, according to his obituary.Taylor’s family told WTVC that there was a problem with his life insurance payment and the funeral home refused to put his body in a coffin. Rather, he was placed on a gurney and partially covered with an American flag with an towel under his head, according to a photo posted on Facebook. Taylor’s son James told WTVC that he felt it was a disgrace.The funeral home said they did what the family asked. The hangup was over $9,000, according to the family.“We asked him to be shown, but I didn’t realize they were going to bring him out on the table like that, open,” James Taylor told WRBC. “I was hoping that they would cover it up a little bit more ... it was a disrespect to my dad.”A photo of the scene was posted to Facebook, attracting more than 2,100 shares and nearly 1,000 comments.Ella Moss, who posted the original message, posted a follow-up message, claiming that the director of Heritage Funeral Home and the family had come to an agreement and alluding to the funeral home receiving death threats. Heritage Funeral Home told WTVC that it had received death threats after the news hit social media. According to WTVC, Taylor’s body was placed in a coffin in time for the funeral service and burial.Heritage posted a tribute video to Taylor, who was buried at Chattanooga National Cemetery in Tennessee with military honors on Friday.

Rhodes and Sarah Catherine Rhodes passed away May 28, 2017, in Collegedale, TN.  She was born July 2, 1939 in Dayton, VA. She attended the public schools of Rockingham County before she attended Shenandoah Valley Academy her senior year of high school.She started her college education at Columbia Union College in Maryland but took a break in her schooling to be the mother to her four wonderful children Rhonda, Lynette, William (Billy) and DeAnn.  She then returned to school to finish her degree in medical technology.  After her children finished their education, Dorothy went back to school and earned her master's in public administration from James Madison University.Music was always important to Dorothy and she started playing piano by ear at a very early age.  She continued her love of music taking both piano and organ lessons and becoming the church organist at just about every church she attended.  She was a very integral part of the New Market church’s pipe organ build and maintenance.  She loved her church and playing the organ there.  She spent many late Friday evenings and early Sabbath mornings preparing to play for the week’s church service.  After she retired, she began teaching piano lessons at Shenandoah Valley Adventist Elementary.  She loved teaching her students to love music and to play with their heart.  She especially loved having the privilege to teach some of her grandchildren to play piano. Her beautiful life will forever be cherished by her children: Rhonda (Jonathan) Malloch of Apison, Lynette (Darryl) Armstrong of McDowell, Va., Bill (Cindy) Champion of New Market, Va., DeAnn (Raymond) Bell of Ooltewah; 12 grandchildren, Jessica and Sarah Malloch, Joshua, Nicole, Billie, and Paul Armstrong, Christina and Mandy Champion, Payton, Jessie, Jack and Will Bell; siblings Delores (Larry) Mountz of Ooltewah, Betty (George) Grames of Redlands, Ca., Brenda (Jim) Fluharty of Dayton, Va., Blake Rhodes of Dayton, Va., and a host of devoted nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Dee and Catherine Rhodes.Fam...

A lifelong resident of Chattanooga, Mr. Owen retired from Sears after more than 30 years of service. He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Air Force and was an avid gardener, woodworker, enjoyed flying, and most of all, loved his family.He served his church faithfully at Rossville First Baptist for 50 years.He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Hazel Owen; son, Terry Owen; parents, Arthur and Gladys Owen; brother, Herman Owen; and sisters, Geniva Demsey, Mabel Duckett and Thelma Hydas.Survivors are his daughter, Debra (Lamar) Plunkett, Ringgold; granddaughter, Tabitha Bohannon (Jamie Harris); two grandsons, Aaron Plunkett (Danielle Smith), and Greg Owen (Heather Fox);  five great-grandchildren, Wyatt Owen, Maddox and Parker Bohannon, Jaxson and Ingread Harris;  daughter-in-law, Sheila Owen; and several nieces and nephews.Services will be held on Wednesday, April 19, at 2 p.m. in the chapel with Reverend Bill Mason and Reverend Paul Williams officiating. Burial will follow at Lakewood Memory Gardens, South.The family would like to give a special thanks to Home Health Care and Amedisys Hospice of Dalton for their love and care.Memorial contributions may be made to Amedisys Hospice of Dalton or Morris Hill Baptist Church.Visit www.heritagechattanooga.com to share condolences to the family and view the memorial tribute.The family will receive friends on Tuesday, April 18, from 4-8 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 E. Brainerd Road.