Trae Cody Receives Bedwell Award

CLEVELAND, TN – Trae Cody, Owner/operator of Companion Funeral & Cremation Services, has been chosen as the 2024 Mel Bedwell Small Businesspersons of the Year by the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce award search committee. Cody becomes the 31^st recipients of the award.
            Companion Funeral & Cremation Services opened its doors in 2008 under the name Constant Companion Pet Crematory. Trae’s father and mother, Robbie and Shelli Cody, opened the facility just after the economic downturn. Trae would work hand-in-hand with families in the midst of the loss of their pets, navigating the delicate conversations and decisions that had to be made. In August of 2011, the funeral home was opened, expanding their services, and effectively changing their name to Companion Funeral & Cremation Services. Trae spent his time working directly with families, planning additional offerings, and building the brand within the community and neighboring areas. With his passion for community and family, Trae was able to assume the direction of the facility in 2017 and continue to grow their family business each year.
            The company has since added second and third locations in Athens and Chattanooga, built an additional chapel adjacent to their primary Cleveland location, opened Olive Branch, an events venue for community use, and will officially open Hiwassee Memorial Gardens later this year. From 2017 to 2023, they served nearly 3,000 families over their three locations. In their nearly 16 years in business, they have grown to employ 47 employees throughout their locations and maintain their annual growth in sales volume and services offered. They pride themselves on offering a full-service funeral home, with on-site crematory, but mostly on their ability to serve families in their most delicate times by providing high value services at reasonable prices.
            Trae serves as Chairman for City Fields, and has served on the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and the State of Tennessee Fellowship of Christian Athletes Board. Trae and his wife, Payton, have three children: Ivie, Crosby, and Storie.
            The Mel Bedwell Small Businessperson of the Year award is given in memoriam of Mel Bedwell, remembered for his energy, determination, ingenuity, honesty, enthusiasm, and loyalty.
            To be considered for this award, nominees should be leaders of small business displaying growth in number of employees, increase in sales or volume, innovativeness of the product or service offered, thoughtful response to adversity, evidence of contributions by the nominee to aid community-oriented projects and must have been in business at least three years.
            Cody joins many other Small Businessperson of the Year winners: Preston West & Ricard King, KeyStone Solutions; Brittany Katz, Terra Running Co.; Brad Benton, Benton Enterprises; Steve Hartline, WCLE-Mix 104.1; Bob McIntire, McIntire & Associates Insurance, Inc.; Jeff Cocks, Corporate Networking Solutions; Greg Hicks, Impressions Catering; Roger Pickett, MurMaid Mattress Inc.; Debbie Melton, Don Ledford Automotive Center; Shannon Ritzhaupt, Café Roma; Ed Jacobs, Ed Jacobs & Associates Inc., and Northwestern Mutual Financial Network; Hal Roe, Bradley Rentals; Jim Workman, Bender Realty LLC; Don Geren, Cleveland/Bradley Business Incubator; Steve Robinson, Cleveland Plywood; Lynn Jones, Lynn Jones Enterprises; Ross Tarver, Tarver Distributing Co. Inc.; Loye Hamilton, Coldwell Banker, Hamilton & Associates; Kenneth Higgins, Santek Environmental Inc.; Kay Jenkins Cowan, Jenkins Restaurant & Deli; Dan Cooke, Cooke’s Food Store and Panera Bread; Catherine Boettner, Cleveland Tubing; Jim Duggan, Robinson Building Center; Reba Garrison, State Farm Insurance; Ron Braam, Manufacturers Chemicals LLC; Susan Shelton, Bradley News Weekly; Larry McDaniel, Town Squire; Mel Bedwell, Cleveland Business Machines; Pam Nelson, Ocoee Insurance Services; and Jeff Wolfenden, Wolfenden Family Pharmacies.
The Small Business Committee of the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce sponsors business development programs and initiatives as part of the Chamber’s commitment to the business development of its members, the economic growth of the region, and the highest quality of life in our community.
    For more information, contact Aaron Weatherford at AWeatherford@clevelandchamber.com or (423) 472-6587.