Page A32
SEPTEMBER 2015
FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS
S ec t i on A
Sweetness
On My
Mind
He was the only man I ever loved.
Just the other day I was talking about Henry with my
best friend. I was telling her how he would ask this
silly little question whenever we were on the phone.
“Do you still love me, Sweetness?” It was like he
needed to be reassured when I wasn’t there.
As the word ‘Sweetness’ left my lips, the tears
came. Without thinking, I reached up and rubbed his
print. Now it was me who needed the reassuring.
But somehow, by just touching my Thumbie, he was
there. Everything was better.
Every family member needs your help.
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877.848.6243
The Funeral Directors Association of
Kentucky Elects New Officers
(L to R) Front Row: Central District Director, Grant Bolt from Georgetown; Southern District
Director, Gerald M. “Marty” Jones II, Morgantown; South Central District Director, Brandy
Harwood, Tompkinsville; President, Robbie Brantley, Brownsville; Immediate Past-President, Doug
Stanley, Williamstown; Eastern District Director, Rusty Preston, Paintsville; and Sergeant-at-Arms,
Rob Riley, Carrollton. Back Row: NFDA President, Rob Moore IV, NJ; Secretary/Treasurer, Jim Davis,
Berea; President-Elect, David West, Nicholasville; NFDA Policy Board Member, Shannon Combs,
Richmond; Vice President, John Jones, Harlan; Southeastern District Director, Wesley Rominger,
Manchester; Western District Director, Chad Townsend, Dixon; and Northern District Director, Bill
Mullins, Covington. Not Pictured: Chairman of the Board, Marcia Caniff Davis, Ashland
Robbie Brantley (L) was sworn in as the new president of The
Funeral Directors of KY by his father-in-law, Jerry Patton, of the
Patton Funeral Home in Brownsville, KY.
Robbie Brantley (L) was presented his gavel as the new President
of The Funeral Directors Association of KY by Immediate Past
President Doug Stanley.
NEWS
Association
CONTINUED
FRANKFORT,KY—
The Fu-
neral Directors Associa-
tion of Kentucky (FDAK)
celebrated their 133nd An-
nual Convention at the Hy-
att Regency Hotel and the
Kentucky
International
Convention Center in Lou-
isville on June 17-19, 2015.
The convention was well at-
tended by funeral directors,
suppliers, and their families. As the attendees viewed all
the new and improved merchandise, they were able to visit
with old friends and vendors.
The Exhibit Hall was filled with 88 exhibiting compa-
nies. During this three-day meeting, Kentucky funeral
homes were honored for 75, 100, 150, and 190 years of
service; fourteen 50 year Kentucky licensed funeral direc-
tors were also honored; and continuing education awards
were presented to 19 Kentucky funeral directors.
Six hours of continuing education credits were offered each
day. The speakers from across the country were outstanding
and included the following:
Dr. Jacquie Taylor,
and senior
scholar of the
New England Institute at Mount Ida College
in Newton, MA., presented “It’s Time to Get Real about
Funeral Service Education & Licensing;”
Dr. AlanWolfelt,
internationally noted author, educator and grief counselor,
presented “TheWhy of Meaningful Funerals: Helping Fam-
ilies Make Transformations;”
Vernie Fountain,
owner and
operator of
Fountain Embalming Services, Fountain Na-
tional Academy of Professional Embalming Skills
and
Fo-
rensic Investigative Resources of the Midwest,
presented
“Embalming & Reconstructive Techniques and Tips;”
Poul
Lemaster,
with a unique background in both death care
