Funeral Homes in Summersville, West Virginia
Summersville is the seat of Nicholas County and a gateway to the Gauley River and Summersville Lake recreation areas. The local funeral market is small — 2–3 providers — but the community is well-served. For families wanting additional options, Beckley (45 min south) and Lewisburg (45 min southeast) each have 4–7+ providers including on-site crematories. No local crematory exists in Nicholas County.
At a Glance
| Funeral Home | Type | Crematory | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adam Reed Funeral Home | Independent | ❌ | $–$ | Summersville's primary provider |
| Waters Funeral Chapel | Independent | ❌ | $–$ | Traditional service, local alternative |
| W&W — Rainelle (30 min) | 6-location network | ❌ | $ | Connected to Lewisburg crematory |
| Beckley providers (45 min) | Various | ✅ Melton | $–$$ | Cremation families, 6+ options |
| Lewisburg providers (45 min) | Various | ✅ W&W | $ | W&W network, Morgan (body donation) |
Price guide: $ = budget-friendly | $ = moderate
Not sure where to start?
Call both local providers — then decide if you need a third:
- 1. Adam Reed Funeral Home — Summersville's primary provider. Get their full-service and cremation quotes.
- 2. Waters Funeral Chapel — the local alternative. Compare directly against Adam Reed.
- 3. If cremation is your choice: also call Melton Mortuary in Beckley (304) 253-8100 — only nearby crematory, 45 min south. Compare their direct cremation price against what local providers quote for outsourced cremation.
With only 2 local options, calling both takes 20 minutes. Add one regional call if cremation matters — that's 30 minutes total for a complete picture.
Adam Reed Funeral Home
Summersville's primary funeral provider — the funeral home most Nicholas County families call first. Adam Reed serves families throughout the county, including remote communities along the Gauley River, Cherry River, and Cranberry River drainages. In a county of 24,000 people spread across 649 square miles of mountain terrain, a funeral home that handles long-distance transportation is essential — and Adam Reed does this routinely.
Waters Funeral Chapel
The second Summersville option — ensuring Nicholas County families have a genuine choice without leaving the county. In small markets, having even two providers matters: it creates price competition and gives families an alternative if their first choice can't accommodate their preferred schedule or service style. Contact Waters for a General Price List and compare line by line against Adam Reed.
Wallace & Wallace — Rainelle Chapel
Wallace & Wallace's Rainelle Chapel is the closest location in their 6-chapel network to Summersville. For families in the southern part of Nicholas County — Richwood, Nettie, Craigsville — Rainelle may actually be closer than Summersville. Cremation arranged through the Rainelle chapel is processed through Wallace & Wallace's own crematory in the Lewisburg area.
Beckley (45 Min South) — Cremation Hub
If cremation is your choice, Beckley has the nearest on-site crematory.
Melton Mortuary & Cremation Center — ✅ only crematory in the Beckley area. Since 1951. (304) 253-8100.
Rose & Quesenberry — voted best in southern WV 5 of 6 years. Publishes prices.
Blue Ridge Funeral Home — Dignity Memorial, combined funeral + cemetery.
Affordable options — 6+ providers competing keeps Beckley prices low.
45 minutes is a real drive — but if the price difference between local outsourced cremation and going directly to Melton is significant, it's worth the trip.
Lewisburg (45 Min Southeast) — Advanced Options
If you want body donation, burial at sea, or the Wallace & Wallace network, Lewisburg is your destination.
Wallace & Wallace — 6 locations, own crematory, widest network in southeastern WV.
Morgan Funeral Home — body donation coordination ($0 cost), burial at sea, CFSP-certified director.
Morgan's body donation option (through the Human Gift Registry) costs the family nothing. If finances are the primary concern and the deceased would have supported it, this eliminates funeral costs entirely.
How to Choose a Funeral Home in Summersville
1. Call both local providers. With only 2 in town, there's no reason not to compare. Twenty minutes and you have every quote in the market.
2. Cremation? Consider Beckley. No Nicholas County funeral home has a crematory. Your loved one will be transported to a regional facility regardless of which local provider you choose. Calling Melton in Beckley directly (304) 253-8100 gives you the source price to compare against.
3. Southern Nicholas County families: check Rainelle. Wallace & Wallace's Rainelle Chapel (30 min) may be closer than Summersville if you're in Richwood, Nettie, or the Cherry River area.
4. Seasonal residents and recreation families. Summersville Lake brings thousands of seasonal visitors. If a death occurs at the lake or in a vacation rental, any Summersville funeral home can coordinate with out-of-state families and arrange transportation home. Call immediately — they handle this.
5. No financial resources? Body donation is $0. Morgan Funeral Home in Lewisburg (45 min) can coordinate donation through the Human Gift Registry. The receiving institution covers all costs.
Summersville Lake & Seasonal Deaths
This section exists because Summersville Lake is one of WV's busiest recreation areas — and accidents happen.
Drowning, boating, and recreation accidents. When a death occurs at Summersville Lake, the Nicholas County Medical Examiner and local funeral homes coordinate with law enforcement and the family. The process can be complicated if the family is from out of state.
What to do if you're an out-of-state family. Call either Summersville funeral home immediately. They can: hold the body until you arrive, coordinate with the WV Medical Examiner's office, arrange ground or air transportation to your home state, and handle all WV death certificate paperwork. You don't need to figure out the logistics — that's their job.
Travel insurance and accidental death coverage. If the deceased had travel insurance or a credit card with accidental death coverage, file claims immediately. Some credit cards include $10,000–$100,000 in accidental death benefits that families don't know about.
Summersville Funeral Cost Quick Reference
| Service | Summersville Estimate |
|---|---|
| Traditional burial | $5,800–$6,200 |
| Direct cremation | $1,100–$1,300 |
| Body donation (via Morgan, Lewisburg) | $0 |
Nicholas County pricing is comparable to the Beckley and Lewisburg markets — among the most affordable in WV.