How to Find and Place Obituaries in the Chattanooga Times Free Press

The Chattanooga Times Free Press handles obituary placement differently depending on whether you need a paid notice, a death announcement, or archival access to historical obits. This guide covers submission options, costs, and where to find published notices across print and digital platforms.

Submission Options and Costs

The Times Free Press operates two distinct pathways for obituary content. Paid obituaries, which allow families to write custom notices with photos and biographical detail, are handled through the newspaper's advertising department. As of recent years, standard paid obituary packages start around $200 to $300 for print placement and typically include digital republication on the newspaper's website for a set period (often 30 days or longer, depending on package tier). The actual cost scales with length and photo inclusion; a full-page tribute costs substantially more than a brief death notice.

Death announcements, shorter notices that include basic information like the deceased's name, age, and service details, are sometimes placed at no charge or reduced cost by funeral homes as part of their service arrangements. If you're working with a funeral home in the Chattanooga area—whether in downtown near the Tennessee Riverpark, in East Brainerd, or another neighborhood—ask whether obituary placement is included in their package or whether they handle submission to the Times Free Press directly.

To submit a paid obituary, contact the Times Free Press advertising department by phone or visit their website to access submission forms. Families can also work through their chosen funeral home, which often coordinates with the newspaper as part of end-of-life services. Funeral homes typically know the current submission deadlines (usually 24 to 48 hours before publication for timely placement) and can advise on package options.

Accessing Published Obituaries

Recent obituaries appear in the print edition's obituary section, typically published daily. The Times Free Press website includes an obituary search function that lets you filter by name, date range, or funeral home. This is the most direct way to confirm a notice has been published and to read full-text versions online.

For historical obituaries predating digital archives, the Chattanooga Public Library's Local History Collection holds microfilm of the Times Free Press dating back decades. Staff can assist with searches by name and approximate date. The library is located in downtown Chattanooga and requires advance notice for microfilm retrieval; a phone call to confirm availability before visiting saves time.

Ancestry.com and other genealogy platforms index some Chattanooga Times Free Press obituaries, particularly those from the 1990s onward, though coverage is incomplete and lag time between publication and indexing can be several months.

Timing and Practical Considerations

Placement timing matters. Weekend editions of the Times Free Press traditionally carry higher obituary volume, so if you're targeting a specific publication date during high-volume periods (winter months, for instance), confirm availability with the advertising department early. Weekday publication is generally easier to secure on shorter notice.

If the deceased had ties to specific Chattanooga institutions or neighborhoods—Brainerd, the North Shore, Northgate, or Midtown—mentioning those connections in the obituary text helps readers in those areas locate the notice. Some families also choose to run notices in neighborhood or community newsletters in addition to the Times Free Press, which reaches a broader regional audience.

For families managing multiple notifications, clarify with the funeral home what they will handle versus what you need to coordinate separately. Some homes include one basic obituary placement; others require separate payment for additional placements or enhanced packages.

Digital Considerations

The Times Free Press's digital archive is searchable, but access to very old articles (pre-2000) may require library access or specialized genealogy databases. If you're researching a historical figure's obituary, the library's Local History Collection remains the most reliable starting point.

Social media sharing of obituary links has become common, and the Times Free Press's website supports easy sharing to Facebook and other platforms. This extends reach beyond print subscribers, particularly for families with younger relatives or those living outside the Chattanooga area.

What You'll Need to Submit

Have ready the deceased's full name, age, date of death, hometown, occupation, surviving family members, and funeral service details (date, time, location). Funeral homes typically request this information on their own intake forms and pass it to the newspaper, but if you're submitting independently, ensure all details are accurate before submission to avoid delays or corrections.

Photographs should be high-resolution (300 dpi or higher for print reproduction) if included. Most packages allow one photo; additional photos typically incur extra fees.

The takeaway: Contact the Times Free Press advertising department directly for current pricing and deadlines rather than relying on outdated fee information; costs and package options shift. If working with a funeral home, confirm what services they include before paying separately. For historical research, the Chattanooga Public Library's Local History Collection is more reliable than general web searches for older obituaries.