Cremation doubles in Georgia and Tennessee

photo Cremation

Tennessee used to be a state where both cultural tradition and evangelical beliefs about the body's importance meant Grandma went into the ground instead of being sprinkled on her favorite scenic spot.

But the latest report from the Cremation Association of North America placed Tennessee fifth in the United States for its increase in the percentage of deaths handled with cremation. The actual number of cremations doubled from 9,217 in 2007 to 18,036 in 2011.

Nationally, about 44 percent of bodies are cremated.

Locals who deal with end-of-life issues attribute the Tennessee trend to three main factors:

Read more from our news partner at The Tennessean.

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