The Pounders family opened their doors with a simple commitment: to care for Columbus families the way they would care for their own. Nearly thirty years later, that commitment is still the foundation of everything we do.
J. Tim Pounders grew up in Columbus, Mississippi — and he never left. After earning his AAS in Mortuary Science from East Mississippi Community College, he pursued licensure in both Mississippi and Alabama, a dual credential that set him apart from his first day in the profession. He believed that Lowndes County deserved a funeral home that was genuinely its own.
On August 1, 1997, Tim opened Lowndes Funeral Home & Crematory alongside his wife Dawn and his parents. They started with one location, one team, and one principle: that every family who walks through these doors should feel the same care and attention, regardless of their circumstances.
Tim is a member of Columbus Masonic Lodge No. 5 and holds the 32nd Degree of the Scottish Rite — a reflection of his deep roots in the Columbus community and his belief in service above self.
Dawn Pounders has been at the heart of Lowndes Funeral Home since the first day. As co-founder and the home's dedicated pre-need specialist, she is a licensed insurance agent who helps Columbus families plan ahead — protecting their loved ones from the financial and emotional weight of an unexpected loss.
Dawn is a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church and remains deeply embedded in the Columbus community. Families who come to her for pre-need planning consistently describe the conversation as one of the most meaningful they have had — clarifying, comforting, and freeing.
Every person in our care is treated with the same dignity we would give a member of our own family — always.
We provide a clear General Price List and explain every cost before a family commits to anything. No surprises, ever.
Our team is made up of Columbus and Lowndes County people — many of them pastors, church members, and long-time community servants.
We stay with every family for a full year after the service — weekly grief support, resources, and a team that is always reachable.
Reach us at any hour. Our team is always on call — for immediate needs, arrangements, or simply a conversation about what comes next.