August 2018

Page A40 AUGUST 2018 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS S ec t i on A F AMILY O WNED & O PERATED S INCE 1893 HELPING YOU MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE https://shop.dodgeco.com / www.dodgeco.com tel 800 443 6343 / fax 800 443 4034 News Association ContinueD OGR Member Firm to Host Young Professionals Study in Buffalo, New York AUSTIN,TX— The International Order of the Golden Rule (OGR) is teaming up with member firm Lakeside Memo- rial Funeral Home, Inc. to gather some of the most driven professionals in the funeral industry together this fall. “OGR is excited to offer its young professional (YP) members the opportunity to learn new service ideas from one another and brainstorm innovative ways to meet chal- lenges head on. The study group format allows for more collaboration, discus- sion, and connection, so we’re excited to organize the first ever study group, exclu- sively for YPs,” said Jessica Smith, assis- tant executive director for OGR. Members are invited to meet Septem- ber 23-25 in the Buffalo area, just south of Niagara Falls, to discuss the challenges they are facing as the new generation of funeral professionals. Attendees will meet to explore ways to fulfill families’ increas- ingly diverse requests for services, achieve profit goals, and attract new customers. Founded in 1928, OGR is affiliated with independent funeral homes that share common goals of exemplary ser- vice, uncompromising care and compas- sion to families in their time of need. OGR’s Young Professionals group has no age limit. Those interested in partici- pating should contact Smith at jsmith@ ogr.org or visit www.ogr.org for more information. Felicia Robinson Smith-Charles selected South Carolina Morticians Association Professional of the Year Felicia Robinson Smith-Charles GREENWOOD,SC— Felicia Robinson Smith-Charles was named the 2018 Pro- fessional of the Year by the South Caro- lina Morticians Association, Incorporation (SCMA) on May 16, 2018 at the Embas- sy Suites Hotel Airport Convention Cen- ter in North Charleston, SC. Smith-Charles, a licensed funeral direc- tor and owner of Smith Funeral Home of Florence, LLC in Flor- ence, was thrust into the role of funeral director upon the accidental death of her former husband, the late James Lawrence Smith. She has spent her life liv- ing as a Christian, a wife, a mother, serving the work force as a social worker and as a funeral director. A member of Trinity Baptist Church in Florence, she serves as a Housing Au- thority of Florence Board Member and a proud Dia- mond Life Member of Delta Sigma The- ta, Incorporation. Smith-Charles professional experience has enhanced in her son, James Law- rence “Chipper” Smith II the ability to move into the role as the third generation of this family owned and operated busi- ness meticulously. Smith-Charles reminded her col- leagues “it’s not the big things that im- pact our lives, but the small things”. She went on to thank the SCMA for this distinguished honor and the Sixth District Mortician’s Association, where Reverend Dr. Ralph W. Canty, Sr. is the president and Mary Bowman is the Sixth Dis- trict Governor. The South Carolina Mor- tician Association, Incor- poration is the largest gath- ering of licensed directors, morticians, embalmers, apprentices and mortuary students. Smith-Charles is presently married to Com- modore Charles. Smith-Charles is re- minded of a saying Pastor Emeritus Reverend Dr. William P. Diggs of Trini- ty Baptist Church quotes, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of the heavenly lights. James 1:17 and further states…“to be acknowledged by one’s peers is a declaration of commit- ment and leadership.” Perfect Gift for any occasion! Order Your Favorite Animal Today! Order Online www.nomispublications.com or call 1-800-321-7479 “I Love My Funeral Director” “I Love My Cemeterian” ONLY $ 11 95