### How to Use the Online Search Tools The official website provides several tools to help you narrow down your search on their obituaries page: * **Name Search:** You can search using either a full name or a partial name. This is helpful if you are unsure of the exact spelling of a surname. * **Browse by Month and Year:** If you know the approximate date of death or when the services were held, you can browse the listings chronologically. * **Alphabetical Filtering:** You can filter the directory by selecting the first letter of the deceased person's last name. ### Information Available on Individual Obituary Pages Once you locate the correct listing, the individual memorial page typically provides: * **The Full Obituary:** A biography detailing the life, family, career, and legacy of the deceased. * **Service Details:** Specific dates, times, and locations for visitations, funeral services, and burials. * **Tribute Walls:** An interactive space where family and friends share condolences, memories, and photos. * **Memorial Links:** Direct links to send flowers, plant memorial trees, or make donations in memory of the individual. ## Finding Historical and Older Obituaries The online database on the funeral home's website generally covers recent decades. If you are searching for an obituary from the 19th century or the mid-to-late 20th century, you will need to utilize local historical repositories.
### Maury County Archives and Public Libraries For older records, local physical archives in Columbia, Tennessee, are invaluable resources: * **Maury County Archives:** Located in Columbia, the county archives house historical records, including court documents, wills, and vital statistics that can help verify dates of death. * **Maury County Public Library:** The library maintains microfilm archives of local newspapers, most notably *The Daily Herald* (Columbia's primary newspaper). Because Oakes & Nichols has historically published obituaries in *The Daily Herald*, searching these newspaper archives is a highly effective way to find older notices. ### Online Historical Databases and Genealogy Sites If you cannot visit Maury County in person, several digital platforms index local records: * **Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA):** TSLA offers online search indexes for Tennessee death records and historical newspapers. You can order copies of specific obituary clippings through their research services. * **Find a Grave:** Many individuals buried in prominent Maury County cemeteries—such as Rose Hill Cemetery, St. John's Ashwood, or Polk Memorial Gardens—have detailed memorial pages. These pages often include transcribed obituaries originally published by Oakes & Nichols. * **Genealogy Platforms:** Websites like Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org have digitized collections of Tennessee death certificates and historical newspaper indexes that frequently reference Oakes & Nichols services. ## Tips for a Successful Obituary Search When searching for historical records in Maury County, keep these best practices in mind to improve your chances of success: * **Search for Spelling Variations:** Names in older newspaper printings and handwritten records were occasionally misspelled. Try searching for phonetic variations of the surname. * **Use Maiden Names and Relatives' Names:** If a direct search for the individual fails, search for the names of their parents, spouse, or children. Obituaries often list surviving family members, which can lead you to the correct record. * **Verify the Date of Death:** Knowing the exact year, or at least the decade, of death will significantly narrow down your search when browsing microfilm or physical archives.
## Contacting Oakes & Nichols Directly If your online search yields no results and you believe the record exists within their historical files, you can contact the funeral home directly. Oakes & Nichols Inc. is located at **320 West Seventh Street, Columbia, TN 38401**. When reaching out by phone or email, be prepared to provide as much identifying information as possible, including the individual's full name, approximate date of death, and family connections. Keep in mind that retrieving archived paper records from decades ago may take time and is subject to staff availability.
