Funeral Homes in Princeton & Bluefield, West Virginia
Princeton and Bluefield are 10 miles apart in Mercer County and share a funeral market. With 7+ providers between them — more than most WV communities this size — families have genuine competition working in their favor. Two standout features: Mercer Funeral Home in Bluefield operates the only crematory in the county (family-owned since 1921), and Seaver Funeral Home in Princeton offers YouTube live streaming of services. The Virginia border adds options for families with cross-state roots.
At a Glance
| Funeral Home | City | Type | Crematory | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memorial Funeral Directory | Princeton | Independent · Since 1930 | ❌ | $ | Nearly a century of local service |
| Seaver Funeral Home | Princeton | Independent | ❌ | $ | YouTube live streaming of services |
| Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home | Princeton | Independent | ❌ | $ | Traditional service |
| Fredeking Funeral Service | Princeton | Independent | ❌ | $ | Daily grief email program for 1 year |
| Roselawn Funeral Home & Cemetery | Princeton | Memorial Planning | ❌ | $–$$ | Combined funeral + cemetery, 6 mausoleums |
| Mercer Funeral Home & Crematory | Bluefield | Independent · Since 1921 | ✅ Only in county | $ | Cremation families, 100+ years family-owned |
| Cravens-Shires Funeral Home | Bluefield | Independent | ❌ | $ | Serves both WV and southwest VA |
Price guide: $ = moderate · $$ = mid-range
Not sure where to start?
Three calls to make first:
- 1. Mercer Funeral Home (Bluefield) — only crematory in the county. If you're considering cremation, this is your starting point. Family-owned since 1921.
- 2. Memorial Funeral Directory (Princeton) — independent since 1930, nearly a century of local service. Your traditional funeral benchmark.
- 3. Seaver Funeral Home (Princeton) — if you have family members who can't travel to southern WV, Seaver's YouTube live streaming lets them attend virtually.
Three calls covering: the only crematory, the longest-established traditional provider, and the most technologically modern option. That's a complete market picture.
Memorial Funeral Directory & Cremation Center
Princeton's longest-established funeral home — approaching a full century of service. Founded in 1930, Memorial has moved from its early days on Thorn Street to Mercer Street and finally to the current Athens Road location. Their longevity in a competitive market speaks to consistent, trusted service. Licensed under Charles T. Mathena.
Seaver Funeral Home & Cremation Service
Seaver's standout feature: live streaming of funeral services via their YouTube channel. In a region where families are often scattered across the country — children who moved away for work, elderly relatives who can't travel — this technology matters. It's not a fancy video production; it's a practical tool that lets distant family members participate in real time. For families in rural southern WV where travel to the funeral can be genuinely difficult, this removes a barrier that no amount of sympathy cards can replace.
Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home
An independent Princeton provider adding to the competitive landscape in Mercer County. With 5 Princeton-area providers competing, families benefit from price competition. Contact Bailey-Kirk for a General Price List and include them in your comparison calls.
Fredeking Funeral Service
Located on Goodwyns Chapel Road outside of Princeton proper. Fredeking offers a distinctive aftercare feature: a free daily grief support email program for one year following the funeral. 'Our support in your time of need does not end after the funeral services.' This ongoing connection is unusual for a small-market funeral home and reflects a commitment to the family beyond the day of service.
Roselawn Funeral Home and Cemetery
The only combined funeral home + cemetery in the Princeton-Bluefield market. Roselawn's grounds feature 13 gardens, 6 mausoleums, cremation niches, and private estates — making it one of the most extensive cemetery operations in southern WV. A 'ring of stone monoliths centers the serene grounds, creating a place of reflection and remembrance.' For families planning a burial, having the funeral and cemetery at one property simplifies everything. Part of the Memorial Planning network. Currently planning a new mausoleum with pre-construction pricing.
Mercer Funeral Home & Crematory
Over 100 years of family-owned service AND the only crematory in all of Mercer County. That combination makes Mercer Funeral Home the most important provider to call if cremation is your preference. Every other funeral home in Princeton and Bluefield outsources cremation — which means they're sending your loved one to Mercer's facility anyway. Going directly to Mercer for cremation cuts out the middleman, potentially saving transfer fees and giving you direct communication with the people performing the cremation. 1921 to 2026: 105 years of 'service and compassion.'
Cravens-Shires Funeral Home
The border-straddling provider. Cravens-Shires explicitly serves families in both southern West Virginia and southwest Virginia — making them the go-to choice for families with connections on both sides of the state line. Bluefield, WV and Bluefield, VA are essentially one community split by a border, and Cravens-Shires treats them that way. If you have family, a church, or a cemetery in Virginia, Cravens-Shires handles the cross-state coordination routinely.
How to Choose a Funeral Home in Princeton / Bluefield
- 1. Cremation? Go directly to Mercer Funeral Home. Only crematory in the county. Every other provider outsources to them. Cut out the middleman.
- 2. Family can't travel? Ask Seaver about live streaming. Their YouTube channel lets distant family members watch the service in real time. This is especially valuable in southern WV where families are often scattered and travel is difficult.
- 3. Planning a burial? Compare Roselawn's package against separate providers. Roselawn's combined funeral + cemetery may offer convenient pricing. But run the numbers against Memorial or Mercer + a separate cemetery before committing.
- 4. Virginia connections? Cravens-Shires simplifies it. If your family straddles the WV/VA border — cemetery in Virginia, church in West Virginia — Cravens-Shires handles this as part of their normal service area.
- 5. 7 providers = real competition. In a combined metro area of about 35,000 people, 7 funeral homes is a lot. Use that competition. Call at least 3 and compare General Price Lists line by line.
The Virginia Border
Bluefield, WV and Bluefield, VA are one community with two zip codes and a state line.
Virginia costs are comparable. Unlike the Martinsburg/DC corridor where Maryland prices are $1,500–$3,000 higher, southwest Virginia funeral costs are similar to southern WV. The financial incentive to stay in WV is smaller here.
Cravens-Shires serves both states. They're the obvious choice for families with connections in both Bluefields.
Cemetery decisions matter. If your family cemetery is in Virginia, you can use a WV funeral home for the service and have burial in VA. The funeral home coordinates everything.
Death certificates follow the state of death. If the death occurs in WV, the death certificate is issued by WV Vital Registration regardless of where the burial takes place.
Serving Rural Southern WV
Princeton and Bluefield funeral homes serve families well beyond Mercer County.
Communities routinely served: Athens, Oakvale, Rock, Green Valley, Peterstown (Monroe County), Hinton (Summers County), Welch and Iaeger (McDowell County), Pineville (Wyoming County), and communities throughout the southern coalfields.
"If you live in one of WV's most rural communities — McDowell County, Wyoming County, Monroe County — Princeton and Bluefield providers handle transportation across these distances regularly. Don't hesitate to call even if you're 30–45 minutes away."
Princeton / Bluefield Funeral Cost Quick Reference
| Service | Princeton/Bluefield Average |
|---|---|
| Traditional burial | $6,000 |
| Direct cremation | $1,150 |
| Cremation with memorial | $2,800–$4,200 |
| Cemetery plot | $600–$1,400 |
Among the most affordable funeral markets in WV — 24% below the national average.
Full Princeton/Bluefield cost breakdown with itemized pricing →