Donor: Emmanuel Johnson Funeral Home

  Cynthia Johnson Reid graduated cum laude from the Hampton University with a Bachelors degree and later from the American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service. Reid is a member of the 100 Black Women of Funeral Service Inc and knows her rich heritage and legacy created by her parents, the late Emmanuel and Lenora Johnson giving service and compassion with excellence that was the foundation of the business built by her parents. Under her watchful and creative eye, in 2002 the Emmanuel Johnson Funeral Home entered the Pursuit of Excellence Program sponsored by the National Funeral Directors Association and received the prestigious Eagle Award. The hard work continued and they received the Eagle award in 2003 and in 2004. The funeral home was recognized by the 100 BWFS in 2007 and in 2009 with the Academy Award of Excellence and has been involved with organizational programs since 2007. Like her parents, Reid, CFSP-CPC has led by example with educational offerings and designations in the field of funeral service.

  To honor her parents legacy, Cynthia has set up the Emmanuel and Lenora Johnson Memorial Scholarship to aid mortuary students in their quest for education and licensure in the field and with two daughters working on their mortuary science degree, Reid is building her business to a high standard everyday and is ready for the Johnson women of Philadelphia and the third generation to become licensed and take over the helm of a great funeral service profession that welcomes a new generation of licensees and owners.

Donor: Strong & Jones Funeral Home Inc

  A mother of three sons, Linn Ann Jones Griffin has been a licensed funeral director since 1983 and works alongside her son Thomas J. “TJ” Griffin, who is a licensed funeral director and embalmer and her cousin Darrell Lawrence and his wife Brenetta Lawrence as co-owner of the Strong & Jones Funeral Home Inc. She has been a member of the 100 Black Women of Funeral Service for almost two decades and has been a supporter of the goals and objectives of the organization.

  Being highly educated with an Associate, Bachelor and Masters degree in Education, Griffin knows the importance of having a great education. Griffin established the Elbert and Inez Jones Memorial Scholarship in memory of her parents as means of helping hard working and financially strapped students who need assistance along the way. She serves as a role model and professional mentor to many of her students. She was recently selected by the FMA District as 2016 Mortician of the Year and was recognized by the 100 BWFS in 2011 in Atlanta and 2016 in Richmond, VA during the NFDMA Convention.

  Griffin always has a kind and uplifting word to say, loving arms to give a hug, and words to lift everyone’s heart with a charming smile.