Our Legacy
The Chambers legacy of excellence in professional, dignified, and personal funeral service began over 85 years ago, fueled by the vision of Laura Mae Chambers . Today, Chambers Funeral Home, Inc. offers a full line of quality end-of-life services. From our large selection of caskets, urns, and clothing (fit for every budget) to a highly experienced and compassionate staff, Chambers Funeral Home is committed to making sure services for your loved ones are dignified and memorable. Our team consists of seven licensed funeral directors who are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, ready to serve those families who entrust their loved ones to our care.
Chambers Funeral Home takes pride in staying current with advancements in funeral services and industry trends. Our facility consists of a chapel that seats one hundred and fifty of your loved ones, along with a state-of-the-art selection room and three intimate viewing rooms equipped with high-definition TVs.
We have always understood that every situation is unique, and through the years, our firm has perfected ways to provide families with burial options while not overwhelming them during difficult times. We offer personalized funeral services, cremations, and preplanned funeral arrangements, and we are willing to work with families of all means. It’s simple - our experience, professionalism, kindness, and empathy are what set us apart from other firms.
With an unprecedented and unmatched commitment to community service that spans five generations, we are happy to give back through civic organizations, community outreach, and the newly established Mabel L. Chambers Endowment.
Chambers Funeral Home, Inc. - Five Generations of Excellence.
Helping your family celebrate a lifetime of memories.
Our History
Five Generations of Excellence
Chambers Funeral Home's story starts in the early 1900s, when a young couple from Uniontown, Alabama, decided to relocate within the state and settled seventy-three miles south in a small city within Jefferson County called Bessemer. In an effort to establish themselves, Charlie J. and Laura Chambers became barbers, and together they cut hair to earn a living.
With a passion for underprivileged children, Mrs. Chambers became principal of the Tuggle Institute in 1931. Under her leadership, this state-operated school became known for its service to disadvantaged children. Unfortunately, after several years of operation, educational funds were no longer available, and the school ultimately closed.
Mrs. Chambers continued her service by opening her home and establishing residence for three of the children she taught. Sadly, she had become a widow raising two children on her own, so in an effort to support her family, she began to write insurance policies for the Smith and Gaston Insurance Company and worked with them for several years.
In April 1935, Laura Chambers and her son, Augustus C. Chambers Sr., partnered and created a funeral home to operate in the downstairs portion of their two-story home. Mrs. Chambers named it "Laura Chambers Funeral Home." She and Augustus, also known as "Gus," worked diligently in serving their client families and made a lasting impression on everyone.
Laura Chambers' vision for serving families was shared by two of her dear friends, Catherine Malone and Minnie Lee Edwards. These two women contributed much to Chambers Funeral Home from its inception. Ms. Malone was there when the business opened and served as the firm's first cosmetologist, taking great pride in making sure client families were pleased with the appearance of their loved ones. Minnie Lee Edwards, one of the first African American women to own a vehicle in Bessemer, often used her car to transport families during funeral services. Together they worked with Laura Chambers and Augustus Sr. to lay the foundation for the legacy to come.
In 1959, Laura Chambers passed away, leaving her son Gus to operate the funeral business on his own. His resilience after his mother's death proved to be rewarding as the business continued to thrive under his direction. Gus was a distinctive and compassionate funeral director and businessman. He was a skilled and sought after embalmer for his unparalleled embalming technique. On April 23, 1969, he was called from labor to reward.
The legacy was continued by his son and daughter; Augustus C. Chambers Jr. and Augusta Ellen Chambers. They were also known to many by their nicknames, "Little Gus" and "Sister." Together the Chambers children carried on their father's vision by incorporating the business on October 1, 1969, and building a new facility, the present location of the funeral home, in 1971. Many believed "Little Gus" and "Sister" had a sibling bond that went beyond words, and for the next four years they operated the business together.
But on August 27, 1975, tragedy struck. Augusta and her husband, Bryant Jr., were suddenly killed in an automobile accident involving a train. Due to this misfortune, the family business was left to Augustus Jr., and he continued to provide the same level of service that the community was accustomed to receiving. In addition to his commitment to the funeral home, Augustus Jr. was an active member in several community organizations and funeral service associations, including the 33rd Degree Mason, the Boy Scouts of America, the A.G. Gaston Boys Club, the Sgt. Roosevelt Police Dept., the Fraternal Order of Police, the Ram Rod Motorcycle Club, the Allen Temple A.M.E Church's Board of Trustees, and the State and National Board of Funeral Directors and Morticians Association.
Augustus Jr. set new standards of professionalism in the funeral industry. He made Chambers Funeral Home, Inc. the first firm to offer limousines services in Jefferson County and had staff members wear uniforms during funeral services. On August 12, 1988, Augustus Jr. passed away and the leadership within the funeral home transferred to three of his family members: his wife, Jacqueline Chambers, his son, Augustus C. Chambers III, and his niece, Augusta D. Chambers. Together they revamped the office procedures and implemented techniques to make day to day operations more efficient and to better serve families.
Today
Chambers Funeral Home, Inc. is currently led by President Augustus C. Chambers III and Vice-President BryOnda Williams Collins, daughter of Augusta Chambers Williams and Bryant Williams. Augustus brings a strong passion for people, a genuine dedication to funeral service, and a natural strength in the logistics that help families during their most difficult moments. BryOnda is a licensed funeral professional and an active member of the Alabama Funeral Directors & Morticians Association, Inc., the Alabama Funeral Directors Association, the National Funeral Directors Association, and the National Funeral Directors & Morticians Association. She also serves on both the Alabama Board of Funeral Service and the Board of Directors for the Bessemer Area Chamber of Commerce.
Together, Augustus III and BryOnda are committed to continuing and expanding the Chambers family legacy. Their leadership is rooted in a shared dedication to excellence in service, community involvement, and public education about the importance and purpose of funeral service.
The facility has recently undergone a complete renovation, demonstrating their commitment to providing a warm, dignified, and comforting environment for the families they are honored to serve in Bessemer and the surrounding communities.
Guided by the enduring motto, “Golden Rule Service,” Chambers Funeral Home remains a trusted name that families can depend on when the need arises.
