March 2018

Page A15 MARCH 2018 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS S ec t i on A Funeral Directors Research,Inc. AMRA INSTRUMENT, LLC 623 N. Tower (P.O. Box 359) Centralia, WA 98531 “the shorter the supply line the better off you are” WEB DIRECT GIFT & PRICING TM ® www.amrainstruments.com www.preproomdirect.com www.messengerstationery.com Promo Code: 8972 Creating the WOW for your families just got a whole lot easier. We design , print and ship . • Professional design team at your service • Quick turnaround • Same day shipping available • Convenient online ordering 50% OFF your first order! Use promo 50FIRST Call today to get started! 800.827.5151 Ornate Register Book featuring Marigold Theme. Leevy’s Funeral Home, Columbia, SC African American Funeral Home Hall of Fame Legacies, Trailblazers and Inductees “If you have respect for all the people as they are, you can be more effective in helping them to become better than they are. The heart that accepts is a heart at Peace.” The 100 Black Women of Funeral Service Organization Founded in 1993 in Kissimmee, FL the 100BWFS membership celebrates 25 years of excellence as they continue to showcase the dedication, com- passion, integrity and strong work ethic of this industry while providing scholarships for deserving mortuary students. During the 80th Annual Convention of NFDMA in Myrtle Beach, SC, the 100BWFS focused on passing the torch to the phenomenal next generation while honoring the funeral service greatness of 150 plus years. In the next few months we will feature some of the great South Carolina family legacies, trailblazers in education from the historic Atlanta College of Mortuary Science – the institution of Master Morticians – and the 2018 African American Funeral Service Hall of Fame Museum inductees. We are honored to share these stories about funeral service and its heroes. To donate historic pictures, articles, magazines, etc. to the AAFSHFM email Hundredbwfs@aol.com . Elleanor Davis Starks, CFSP Founder Willie Stewart Pamela Stewart Charles C. Carson Charles C. Carson, Charles C. Carson Center of Mortuary Affairs, Dover, DE Atlanta College of Mortuary Science Alumni Charles C. Carson is a legend in the funeral/mortu- ary industry. Born in 1925 in Montgomery, AL, Carson graduated from the Atlanta College of Mortuary Science in 1950. After receiving his mortuary science licenses, he became manager of the Smith and Gaston Funeral Home in Montgomery, which set the course for his dis- tinguished and long career in the mortuary field. Carson’s federal career started as a civilian mortician with the Department of the United States Air Force in 1958. He was deputy mortuary officer at Ton Son Nhut Repub- lic in Vietnam and the Clark Air Force Base in the Phil- ippines from 1964–1970. Carson was promoted to chief mortuary officer and prepared remains from virtually ev- ery major disaster involving Military or civilian personnel since 1971. This includes the Vietnam and Gulf Wars, the Mass Murder and Suicide at Jonestown in Guyana, the NASA Challenger Mission, and the airplane disaster that claimed the life of then Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown . The street of the Port Mortuary at Dover Air Force Base bears his name and the mortuary it- self is named the Charles C. Carson Center of Mortuary Affairs in Dover, DE. The 100 Black Women of Funeral Service salutes the outstanding career of the late Charles C. Carson, a great mortuary leader dedicated to the funeral service profession. Willie and Pamela Stewart Leadership and Family Legacy Pamela “Pam” Stewart recognized at an early age that she wanted to pursue a career in the funeral in- dustry. She began helping her father, the late Willie L. Stewart with miscellaneous jobs at Stewart Funer- al Home in Pageland, SC, which he founded in 1977. Upon graduating from the American Academy McAllis- ter Institute of Mortuary Sci- ence in 1986, Pam served her apprenticeship under her father and became the first female mor- tician in the Lancaster, Kershaw and Chester County area. During that time, Pamworked closely with her dad at the funeral home and became the manager of the business after his demise. She works closely with her brother, Ricardo and her sister, Sheila to improve the business with innovative ideas. Pam is a member of the South Carolina Morticians Association, Inc, South Caroli- na Funeral Directors Association, National Funeral Directors and Morticians Associa- tion, Inc. and the Epsilon Nu Delta Mor- tuary Fraternity, Inc. She has received var- ious awards which include Fifth District Funeral Professional of the year. Leevy’s Funeral Home was founded in 1932 by Mary and I. S. Leevy. The found- ers were both born in Kershaw County, SC. After completing Hampton Institute, Leevy returned to Columbia and opened the Leevy Department Store on Washing- ton Street, where he specialized in custom clothing and dry goods. In 1930, he and his wife Mary opened an Esso Gas Station, the first black owned gas station in the state. In 1995, I.S. Leevy Johnson, the grandson of the founders, became the sole owner of the family business and the late Ben Piper was named manager under his ownership. The funeral home was remolded: Lincoln Cem- etery was refurbished; and a modern fleet was purchased to enhance the quality of ser- Continued on Page A16 PO Box 5159 Youngstown, OH 44514 Fax 1-800-321-9040 press_releases@nomispublications.com www.nomispublications.com Send Us Your News!