ALABAMA

Abriam L. Brown recently shared the following with The Director magazine: “As a proud NFDA member, I am writing to share a recent professional milestone: I have officially completed my credentials and am now licensed as a funeral director and Certified Crematory Operator (CCO) in the state of Alabama. I am incredibly honored to advance my journey in funeral service and to continue serving families in my community with the highest standard of dignity and compassionate care.”

CALIFORNIA

Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks & Mortuaries (Glendale) hosted its third annual Classic Cars & Coffee event on August 9 from 7-10 a.m. The free community event featured a lineup of vintage vehicles, free coffee and doughnuts, and prize giveaways. Forest Lawn displayed its fleet of classic Cadillac coaches, and drivers of classic cars brought their own vehicles, as well.

The event took place in the parking lot of Forest Lawn – Glendale’s Hall of Crucifixion-
Resurrection, which offers breathtaking panoramic views of Los Angeles.

“Our Classic Cars & Coffee event has become a summer favorite,” said Rodolfo Saenz, Forest Lawn senior vice president of marketing. “Car culture is a part of life in Southern California, and we look forward to bringing car enthusiasts and appreciators together to look at and talk about vehicles from our community, along with Forest Lawn’s classic car fleet.”

In other news, on May 21, Forest Lawn opened its doors to 700 students for two free performances of A Visit With Michelangelo & Leonardo. The performances were staged in Forest Lawn –
Glendale’s Great Mausoleum, which houses Rosa Caselli-Moretti’s large-scale stained-glass re-
creation of Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, as well as full-scale marble replicas of Michelangelo Buonarroti’s Pietà, Twilight and Dawn, Night and Day and Moses, among others. Additionally, the neighboring Court of David houses a bronze replica of David.

Forest Lawn welcomed students with jugglers and unicyclists from Joe Diamond Events and introduced the show with a marionette performance by Franklin Haynes Marionettes. Next, Michelangelo Buonarroti, played by Pablo Mraz, entered the stage and immediately engaged students by asking who in the room was an artist. After a show of hands by many of the children, Michelangelo talked about his life and work as an artist and sculptor.

He then brought the sculptures in the room and around Forest Lawn to life by explaining his revolutionary depictions of Mary as a peaceful, beautiful mother in Pietà; of David as a thoughtful warrior preparing for battle; and of Moses with tension. He then gave interpretations of Twilight and Dawn and Night and Day.

Next, Carl Weintraub entered as Leonardo da Vinci. Beginning with the importance of experimentation in art, he spoke to the paint he invented and used for The Last Supper, which did not adhere to the wall properly. He stated: “If you’re going to be an artist – if you’re going to be anything – you must fail. If you don’t fail, you never took a chance.”

In a lively dialogue, the artists spoke of their lives, works and legacies before taking questions from eager audience members.

Following the performances, students received art-themed gift bags and enjoyed lunch outside.

“Forest Lawn’s founder, Dr. Hubert Eaton, wrote in his ‘Builder’s Creed’ that our park should be a ‘place where artists study and sketch; where schoolteachers bring happy children to see the things they read of in books,’ ” said Saenz. “These performances fulfill that mission, animating the permanent collection that adorns our six memorial parks.” ForestLawn.com

GEORGIA

A.S. Turner & Sons Funeral Home & Crematory (Decatur) recently acquired Ford-Stewart
Funeral Home in Jonesboro. The latter funeral home will now operate as Ford Funeral Home & Cremation Services, a division of A.S. Turner & Sons Inc.

The acquisition marks an exciting new chapter for the two independently owned and operated funeral homes, whose histories are rooted in compassionate service, community involvement and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Led by owner Cy Hume and general manager Tommy Wages, A.S. Turner & Sons has served families throughout Decatur and the Atlanta area for more than 120 years. The addition of Ford-Stewart Funeral Home reflects the company’s long-term vision of thoughtfully expanding its reach while preserving the heritage and identity of the communities it serves.

Founded in August 1997 by Horace Ford and his wife, Linda, Ford-Stewart Funeral Home has become one of the most respected funeral homes in South Metro Atlanta. Ford began his career in funeral service in 1963 and earned his funeral director’s license in 1968. During his nearly three decades as owner and operator, he built a reputation for compassionate care and personalized service alongside Linda, who died in January 2018; his son, Darren, a licensed funeral director; and his daughter, Jennifer, who oversees funeral assistance and administrative operations.

Recognizing the legacy the Ford family has built, A.S. Turner & Sons has chosen to keep the Ford name a part of the funeral home’s new identity. Furthermore, all three Fords will continue serving the families of Jonesboro as a way to ensure trusted relationships remain intact.

In other news, A.S. Turner & Sons Funeral Home & Crematory recently became the first state-licensed human-composting facility, marking a milestone for funeral service in Georgia and across the Southeast.

Reinforcing the company’s commitment to environmental stewardship, the new facility features six state-of-the-art Chrysalis vessels and a rooftop solar array that will continue to expand to help power the human-composting process. Families throughout Georgia and the Southeastern United States now have local/regional access to this environmentally conscious end-of-life option.

“Our families asked me for this,” said Hume. “For years, people sitting across from me during the hardest moments of their lives shared that they wanted an option that was gentler and more connected to the earth. I listened. Today, I’m proud to say we’ve answered.”

As interest in environmentally conscious funeral options continues to grow, A.S. Turner & Sons hopes to serve as a resource for other funeral service professionals in the Southeast. Said Hume: “If you’re a funeral home, crematory or cemetery operator interested in bringing organic human reduction to your community, I’d welcome the opportunity to speak with you.” ASTurner.com

KENTUCKY

In June, the Funeral Directors Association of Kentucky (FDAK) held its 144th Annual State Convention & Mid-West Regional Funeral Trade Show at the Kentucky Expo Center and Crowne Plaza Hotel in Louisville. The event, with a theme of “Country in the Commonwealth,” highlighted industry education, regional engagement and leadership transition. 2025-26 FDAK President Chad Townsend presided alongside First Lady Jeana Townsend.

This year’s programming drew strong participation. It included the opening of a large funeral exhibit and a continuing-education program with standing room only. Speakers included Andy Clayton, Indiana Funeral Directors Association executive director, presenting “Funeral Trade Associations and the Volunteer Leadership Behind Them”; Mike Kubasak, presenting “21 Tips Guaranteed to Improve Your Cremation Arrangement Conference & Bottom Line”; Jay Jacobson of Jacobson Professional Staffing, presenting “Augmented Intelligence (AI) for Funeral Homes: Practical Integration – Clear Boundaries – Human Oversight”; and John T. Hill of Hill Mortuary Service & Seminars, presenting “How to Talk About Embalming.”

John Hill of James H. Davis Funeral Home in Owensboro and Bevil Brothers Funeral Home in Beaver Dam was sworn in as 2026-27 FDAK president by his daughters, Kendra and Addison, while First Lady Kim Hill looked on.

Outgoing Chairman of the Board Wesley Rominger of Manchester then swore in the remaining FDAK board members and district directors. Board members include Chairman of the Board Brandy Harwood, Cave City; Immediate Past President Chad Townsend, Dixon; President-elect Kyle Wolfe, Hyden; Vice President Louis Linnemann, Erlanger; Secretary/Treasurer Tony Floro, Hustonville; and Sergeant-at-arms Frank Giles, Hopkinsville.

District directors include Patrick Stanley, Williamstown, Northern District; Doherty Reynolds, Frankfort, Central District; Laura Neal, Catlettsburg, Eastern District; James Chism, Vine Grove, Southcentral District; Jason Steele, Pineville, Southeastern District; Andy Fox, Salem, Western District; and Lee Muster, Calhoun, Southern District.

The annual President’s Party featured entertainment by Kalico, an expansive buffet and a mechanical bull. Additional convention events included a dinner for past presidents and a service of remembrance, led by chaplain Philip Brown of Ninth & O Baptist Church in Louisville. The service honored Kentucky funeral directors, sales club members and family members who died since the previous convention. Messenger provided commemorative ornaments for the families of the deceased.

Finally, during its annual House of Delegates meeting, FDAK recognized funeral directors who have been licensed for 50, 60 or 70 years, as well as funeral homes celebrating 50, 75 or 100 years in business. FDAofKY.com

MAINE

Milestone Funeral Partners (Auburn) appointed Lang Hoyt as its chief financial officer (CFO). He will advance Milestone’s long-term financial strategy while strengthening the financial infrastructure that supports the company’s continued growth. He will work closely with executive leadership to enhance financial planning, improve operational visibility, support strategic acquisitions and ensure the organization remains well-positioned for sustainable success.

Hoyt has extensive experience in strategic finance, financial planning and analysis, capital allocation, and corporate development at high-growth,
acquisition-oriented businesses. Most recently, he served as director of financial planning and analysis for VETRO. Prior to that, he held finance positions with The Wanderlust Group and WEX.

Hoyt earned his MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business and his bachelor’s degree from Connecticut College. MilestoneFuneralPartners.com

OHIO

Landmark Funeral Group (Toledo) recently partnered with Physicians Mutual and Precoa to expand preplanning services across its network of 30-plus funeral homes in Ohio, Pennsylvania and surrounding areas. This collaboration grants Landmark’s firms access to a comprehensive preplanning program that combines funding with consumer education and outreach.

For years, Precoa and Physicians Mutual have worked together to help funeral homes build preplanning programs, and they now are bringing their relationship and model to Landmark’s firms.

Said Seb D’Appolonia, president and CEO of Landmark Funeral Group: “Partnering with respected organizations like Physicians Mutual and Precoa strengthens the support available across our network of firms and reinforces our commitment to helping community funeral homes adapt, evolve and thrive in a changing marketplace.” LandmarkFuneralGroup.com

PENNSYLVANIA

On July 13, Justin Keiper, supervisor of Cantelmi Long Funeral Home (Bethlehem), appeared as a guest on the Young Valley Leaders podcast. During the episode, titled “I Was Put on Earth to Help People,” Keiper discussed his journey into funeral service, the importance of authentic and compassionate care, and the meaningful relationships he has built by serving families during life’s most difficult moments.

He also reflected on leadership, community involvement and the evolving role of funeral service professionals in supporting the bereaved. CantelmiFuneralHome.com

In partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, the Chesapeake Bay Trust awarded Historic Easton Cemetery (Easton) a $250,000 grant. The largest grant in the cemetery’s 177-year history, this transformational investment will fund the restoration and renewal of the tree canopy throughout Easton’s largest green space. Enhancing the beauty, safety and accessibility of the cemetery’s remarkable 85-acre landscape, the project will remove dead and declining trees and replace them with new plantings.

The cemetery was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990 for its design and landscaping. Notable cemetery residents include George Taylor, who signed the Declaration of Independence; George Oliver Barclay, the inventor of the football helmet; Samuel Phillippe, who perfected the split-bamboo fly rod in the 1840s; and many others – each of whom is marked with a QR code so visitors can learn more.

“We are profoundly grateful to the Chesapeake Bay Trust and the U.S. Forest Service for their confidence in our mission and their investment in this extraordinary treasure,” said Keith Lampman-Perlman, executive director. “This remarkable investment in our nonprofit cemetery strengthens our tree canopy and preserves the natural beauty of Easton’s largest green space, helping ensure that Historic Easton Cemetery continues to flourish for generations to come.”

As a historical, cultural and environmental asset of the Lehigh Valley region, Historic Easton Cemetery serves as not only an active burial ground but also a place of education, recreation and connection. TheHistoricEastonCemetery.org

VIRGINIA

Hamlar-Curtis Funeral Home & Crematory (Roanoke) and the Hamlar Family Foundation invited families across the Roanoke Valley to celebrate the end of summer and prepare for the upcoming school year at its Back-to-School Pool Party at Washington Park Pool on August 8.

The free community event brought families together for an afternoon of fun and preparation for the school year ahead. Attendees enjoyed free swimming, complimentary hot dogs, music by DJ Dink, free school supplies, exciting prizes and other family-friendly activities. The event reflected the Hamlar family’s commitment to investing in the community.

“Giving back to the neighborhood where I grew up is truly special to me,” said Mike Hamlar, owner and president. “I grew up just down the street … and spent countless days walking to Washington Park to play basketball with friends. Those memories helped shape who I am, and it’s an incredible blessing to return to this community and provide an opportunity for local families and children to come together, have fun, and start the school year with the supplies and encouragement they deserve. We are excited to continue investing in the place that means so much to our family.” Hamlar-Curtis.com

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

The Selected Educational Trust recently launched “Preparing for a Job Interview,” a free online course designed to help funeral service students, apprentices and early-career professionals navigate the application and interview processes. The self-paced course provides practical guidance on identifying employment opportunities, creating professional resumes and cover letters, building strong professional presence, preparing for interviews, evaluating job offers, and following up with prospective employers.

Created specifically for the funeral service profession, the course incorporates the unique skills, values and expectations associated with serving families. Participants learn how to convey their qualifications, professionalism, empathy and commitment throughout the hiring process. SelectedTrust.org