To whom did you "cave"? That is, who's the person who really cares about the funeral? I wouldn't be above pointing out the differences in cost to this person /asking him or her to help with the cost ... but maybe that person is the brother-in-law who's already ponying up some money.
She has no children?
Will she leave an estate with any assets that could be used towards the burial?
She should receive a small amount from Social Security.
You say your wife read about transporting her body after its embalmed. You mean you yourself will drive the body to Virginia? In the coffin? Do you own a vehicle big enough? I think you can put her on the train; it'd be worth investigating.
Transportation is going to be a pain. Could you potentially buy another plot in Georgia and sell the Virginia plot to "make back" the money? If you could bury her in Georgia, you could go with direct burial /skip the embalming (embalming is expensive and downright icky ... but probably necessary if you're transporting the body).
You will have to pay for death certificates, and they're outrageous considering they're just a piece of paper.
Go with an inexpensive coffin and vault. Most cemeteries require vaults.
Bury her in an outfit she already owns.
Would one of the ladies in the family do her hair and make-up instead of paying a professional?
Go ahead and gather some photographs of her throughout the years; funeral homes are posting them online these days.
You may end up needing a hearse, but you can skip the limo for the family.
Expect to pay for the "opening and closing" of the grave.
Hold a graveside ceremony only ... if the family feels a visitation is necessary, hold it at someone's house (blame it on the distance /transportation thing) instead of at the funeral home. Friends will give food, so this shouldn't be a big expense.
What about a headstone?
I suggest speaking to a funeral home now -- before the event occurs and everyone's more emotional.
In closing, I'm sorry you're in this situation, but -- as someone said above -- you do for family.