Scales & Sons Funeral Home

Address: 318 E. State Street

The H. Preston Scales and Sons Funeral Home is the oldest Black owned funeral home in Rutherford County. Potentially also the oldest Black owned business in Murfreesboro, this funeral home was founded by Henry Preston Scales in 1916 and was a symbol of change in the American South. The business, although a place of mourning and sadness, was a focal point of community and familial ties for African Americans in Rutherford County.

H. Preston Scales would often travel as much as a full day journey, even in inclement weather, to rural homes of African Americans in Rutherford County. Traveling by horse and buggy the embalming was done on site, at which point the deceased’s body would be transported to their church and then to their cemetery. Often paying for such services was difficult for the mainly sharecropper clients. Mr. Scales was often paid chickens, ham, whatever was available, or would wait till harvest time to be paid. In years with bad crop yields services were provided by the funeral home for free to those who now could not afford to pay. With the slogan “We help each other” Mr. Scales established a burial association called Helping Hand Mutual Burial Association which helped deceased members furnish more affordable care. H. Preston Scales went on to train his young son Robert (Tee-Ninety) Scales from an early age to carry on the family’s business.

Robert W. Scales, born in 1926 to Henry Preston and Willie Burkeen Scales, was a civic leader, politician, and a small business owner in Murfreesboro, TN. He owned The Friendly Spot Café, the Weeping Willow Motel and Café, and the Scales and Sons Funeral Home. Scales was the first African American elected to the City Council of Murfreesboro. He was a local hero who sadly passed away in October of 2000. Robert's wife Mary C. Scales also pursued public service as a Councilwoman for four years. Their daughter Councilwoman Madelyn Scales Harris continued her parent's legacy of public service going on to become Vice-Mayor.

With its vital role in building community ties and maintaining a small business amidst segregation, the H. Preston Scales and Sons Funeral Home is a prime example of historic black business in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. A powerful nurtured legacy of public service can be found with Madelyn and her siblings Melvin, Preston, and Robert Jr. who continue to provide “dignified, caring, and helpful service."