In 1862, the J.B. Cole & Son Funeral Home was established on the corner of Dorchester Avenue and Silver Street in South Boston, Massachusetts. In those days, the hearse was a stately black carriage, and it was drawn by black horses wearing plumed headgear.

Near the turn of the century, Harry O. Phillips, great uncle of Chapman, Cole & Gleason's current President went to work for Jabius Cole. Eventually, Philips purchased the business and moved it to Upham's Corner in Dorchester, Massachusetts where he also operated a livery stable. The house Phillips bought at 490 Columbia Road served as both his home and his place of business.

When Phillips died in 1938, his nephew Charles P. Chapman, who had been working with him, took charge of the firm. In 1950, Chapman purchased the R. & E. F. Gleason Funeral Home in Codman Square, merging the two businesses and the two names. Chapman built the J.B. Cole & Gleason Milton Home for Funerals in 1955. Cole & Gleason was the first funeral home in the town of Milton, where the Chapman family lived.

The family-run business has always been a responsible and responsive participant in community affairs. For example, Chapman Cole & Gleason was one of the first sponsors of Little League in Milton.

Over the years, Chapman, Cole & Gleason have continued to grow and move with families. As people resettled outside of the Greater Boston area, we did too.

Chapman, Cole & Gleason established its branch in Falmouth Center in 1979. One year later, Chapman, Cole & Gleason acquired the Jenkins Funeral Home located in West Falmouth that had been in operation since the 1940's. Sylvia Funeral Home that was located in Vineyard Haven on the island of Martha's Vineyard merged with Chapman, Cole & Gleason in 1983. A more centrally located, spacious facility was built in the Town of Oak Bluffs on the Vineyard in 1988. In 1993, Chapman, Cole & Gleason established a branch in the Town of Wareham, merging with the Stott Funeral Home. Once again, Chapman, Cole & Gleason constructed a new, more spacious funeral home to serve the growing needs of the Wareham area. In 1995, Chapman, Cole & Gleason assumed responsibility for serving the families formerly served by the Cornwell Memorial Chapel when the funeral home closed due to retirement. The expanding community of Mashpee signaled the need for its own funeral home. Construction was completed in October of 2002 and the funeral home is currently in operation.

Since we have a funeral home in the Greater Boston area, as well as locations on the Cape & Islands and Southeastern Massachusetts, we are able to provide prompt transportation from all surrounding hospitals and airports.

Whatever location of Chapman, Cole & Gleason you should visit, you will always find beautiful facilities, the best possible service, fair prices, and the absolute commitment of a community focused, family owned and run business.

Chapman, Cole & Gleason is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) and the Massachusetts Funeral Directors Association (MFDA).