Dorthea Jones was born in Texas City, TX. In November of 1973, she began working for Richard Taylor, Sr., at Mainland Funeral Home. With the help of her family and friends, she was able to enroll in Commonwealth Institute of Mortuary Science, graduating with honors in 2001. Upon graduation, she was offered a position at Augustus Funeral Home as an apprentice, working under the direction of Dr. Michael Augustus. She obtained her licenses as a funeral director and embalmer. On her 50th birthday, Jay and Lori Carnes selected her as an at will funeral director for Carnes Funeral Home. Ten years later they are still in a profitable working relationship that has been a benefit to all concerned. Dorthea has been afforded the privilege of subsisting as the liaison funeral director. Dorthea not only serves the private client families but also has held the FDIC position at the newly acquired Bay Area Funeral Parlor, where her daughter, Delece has worked as the office manager and provisional licensee; assisted with the opening of Cremate Texas; managed the Indigent Service Contracts for counties of Harris, Fort Bend, Brazoria and Harris County Guardianship; assisted with the service and transportation contracts for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and the Anatomical Donation Services. Dorthea served as president of the Houston Funeral Directors and Morticians Association, is a member of the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association, Texas Funeral Directors Association, National Funeral Directors Association, and the 100 Black Women of Funeral Service.

  Dorthea chooses to give God, thru her life and her profession, her time, her talent and her treasury. “Honor the Lord with thy substance and with the first fruits of all thy increase; so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and your presses shall burst with new wine.”

Patricia Ann “Patsy” Tamayo Moreno, Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service, Houston, TX

  Patricia Ann “Patsy” Tamayo Moreno was born in Brownsville, TX. She began working in the funeral industry at a young age of 16. Her funeral service career began with Darling Mouser Funeral Home in Brownsville, TX and continued on with Heights Funeral Home after relocating to Houston, TX. Patsy graduated from Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service in 1980. Following graduation, she became employed with Commonwealth, where she has enjoyed a fulfilling and rewarding career as a college registrar for the past 33 years. Patsy is the current president of the Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service Alumni Association, past president and member of the Houston Metropolitan Funeral Directors Association. She is also a member of the Iota Phi-Sigma National Funeral Service Fraternity, Texas Funeral Directors Association, South East Texas Funeral Directors Association, South Texas Funeral Directors Association, 100 Black Women of Funeral Service Association and was named the Funeral Director of the Year for 2011-2012 for the South East Texas Funeral Directors Association.

  Patsy has enjoyed assisting and teaching students throughout the years and she takes a great deal of pride in knowing that as they graduate and become licensed, they are providing caring and professional services to individuals and families throughout Texas as well as throughout the United States.