No-Cost Cremation in Tennessee Through Body Donation at MERI
A no-cost cremation in Tennessee is one of the most meaningful benefits of the Genesis whole body donation program at MERI. With the average funeral costing $9,000 or more, thousands of Tennessee families are choosing no-cost cremation through body donation.
No-Cost Cremation at No Cost to Your Family
Cremation
No-cost cremation in Tennessee through the Genesis program covers everything your family would have to otherwise pay. Not a single expense falls to your family, not now or later
Legacy
The Genesis whole body donation program in Tennessee allows you to take part in groundbreaking medical training and research, even after passing away. Your gift creates a significant and enduring impact on patients across Tennessee and far beyond.
Environmental Responsibility
Cremated remains are returned to your loved ones or interred in a mausoleum in the Memphis, TN area, which avoids the ecological burden of a traditional burial. A final choice that honors both the person and the planet.
Peace of Mind
Every Tennessee donor is treated with the utmost dignity and respect during their time at MERI and is regarded as a living patient for every procedure performed. MERI holds AATB accreditation and is licensed by the New York State Department of Health.
No-Cost Cremation
Acceptance into the Genesis body donor program is contingent on each donor’s medical suitability at the time of death. MERI’s board, staff, faculty, students, and researchers appreciate all who generously plan and hope to become anatomic donors.
MERI limits its acceptance to donors who, at the time of death, are free of infectious diseases that could harm the learner. The donor’s physical condition must also be suitable to support a safe, high-quality learning experience.
Texas donors qualify for the Genesis service area. We cannot accept donors who have moved to or passed away outside of the Genesis coverage states. If you are a Texas resident who passes away in Texas, you are within our service area.
Cremation at No Cost to Your Family
The Genesis Donation Process
You may pre-sign into the body donation program by filling out the donor forms available here, or at the time of death, a legal authorizing party may arrange for the donation using the Third Party Authorization form in the donor packet linked above.
Frequently Asked Questions About
Body Donation in Tennessee
No-cost cremation in Tennessee through the Genesis program at MERI means your family pays nothing — ever. The program covers transportation in Tennessee to MERI’s Memphis facility, filing of the death certificate, 6–12 months of medical research at your facilities, cremation, and return of cremated remains to your designated loved one. Families also receive a detailed letter describing the research programs and training events the donor’s gift contributed to.
Register with the Genesis program at MERI by completing the donor forms and mailing them to our Memphis facility. Your family or a legal authorizing party can also arrange a donation at the time of death — no advance registration required. Genesis covers transportation from anywhere in Tennessee, including Memphis (Shelby County), Nashville (Davidson County), Knoxville (Knox County), Chattanooga (Hamilton County), Clarksville (Montgomery County), and Murfreesboro (Rutherford County).
While low-cost cremation options exist in Tennessee, whole body donation through Genesis is unique because it provides no-cost cremation alongside a meaningful legacy. Rather than simply reducing costs, body donation transforms the end-of-life experience into a lasting contribution to medical science — enabling the healthcare professionals who serve Tennessee communities to train, grow, and save lives.
No. There is no waiting period. Tennessee families can pre-register at any time or arrange a donation through a legal authorizing party at the time of death. This flexibility is especially important for families in Memphis, Jackson, Clarksville, and Murfreesboro who may be making time-sensitive decisions. Genesis is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Yes. Genesis allows donors to be registered organ, eye, or brain donors and still participate in the whole body donation program. If organs are recovered at the time of death, the remaining body may still be accepted by Genesis, subject to medical suitability. Inform the Genesis team of any existing organ donor registration when making arrangements.
All of Tennessee is within the Genesis service area. The program serves donors from Shelby, Davidson, Knox, Hamilton, Montgomery, Rutherford, Madison, Tipton, Fayette, Williamson, Sullivan, Anderson, and all other Tennessee counties. Cities served include Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Clarksville, Murfreesboro, Jackson, Germantown, Collierville, Bartlett, Brentwood, Franklin, Johnson City, Kingsport, and Oak Ridge.
The no cost cremation Tennessee program covers: (1) transportation from the donor’s location in Tennessee to MERI’s Memphis facility; (2) death certificate filing; (3) 6–12 months of medical education and research use; (4) cremation services; (5) return of cremated remains to a designated loved one or interment in a Memphis-area mausoleum; and (6) a detailed letter to the family acknowledging the programs and research the donor contributed to.
