Willie B. Ross

The board conducted its second quarterly meeting, which included the administration of the oath of office to newly appointed members and the election of board officers for chair, vice-chair, secretary, and treasurer. Discussions focused on upcoming legislative funding bills, including proposed increases to license fee caps, and the selection of an information technology vendor for the board's licensure system. The board reviewed and accepted the financial report for the first quarter of the fiscal year and addressed personnel matters, including a resignation and the approval of merit increases for staff. Additionally, the board approved travel expenses for members attending the upcoming International Conference Annual Meeting and set dates for future quarterly meetings.

The meeting addressed a range of regulatory business for the board, including the approval of new licenses for funeral directors, embalmers, and cremationists, as well as the reactivation of apprentice, permanent, and establishment licenses. The board reviewed and approved various changes of ownership and acknowledged voluntary establishment closures. Licensure examination statistics for the final quarter of the fiscal year were presented. Disciplinary actions were taken, including the acceptance of a consent agreement and the subsequent revocation of a permanent license. Additionally, the board approved continuing education providers and courses, and held an executive session to discuss an applicant, ultimately deciding to deny the application for apprentice funeral director and apprentice embalmer.

The board meeting focused on the licensing of preneed sales agents, which included both approvals and denials. It addressed applications for Certificates of Authority, including new applications, reactivations, and denials, as well as the approval of preneed funding agreements and surrender of licenses. Additionally, the board considered transfers of ownership, registration for an endowment care cemetery, and a request to withdraw funds from an endowment care trust fund to reimburse an operating account. The meeting also included discussion regarding a branch registration surrender and the distribution of information regarding a completed preneed education class.

The joint business meeting commenced after establishing a quorum and setting the agenda. Key business included the approval of the amended minutes from the October 08, 2024, joint business meeting. Old business involved the introduction of two newly hired Licensing/Regulatory Compliance Field Officers and one new Accounting Technician. The Executive Director presented comprehensive financial reports for the 4th quarter of fiscal year 2025 and the entirety of fiscal year 2025, alongside preliminary fiscal year 2026 totals, license counts, inspection data, and preneed report metrics. Following the financial review, the board unanimously voted to deposit 7% of the previous fiscal year's total revenue into the property acquisition fund, amounting to $48,932.99. The meeting concluded with an executive session to discuss pending and imminent litigation, after which the business meeting adjourned.

The meeting began with a pre-meeting session accepting nominations for the Funeral Division (Districts 3, 4, 6, and 7) and Preneed Division (Seats 1 and 2) board positions, whose terms expire on December 31, 2025. Following the Pledge of Allegiance and invocation, the board set the agenda. Key business included the approval of the July 16, 2025, board meeting minutes. The board unanimously approved the licensing of numerous new funeral directors, embalmers, or cremationists, and also approved the reactivation of apprenticeship and permanent licenses for specified individuals. An establishment license was approved for Decatur Brown Service Funeral Home, LLC. The board accepted the voluntary closure of Corbitt Funeral Home, contingent upon the preneed division's approval for the change of ownership of the preneed license. Statistics regarding licensure exams for July through September 2025 were reviewed. The board approved amended consent agreements detailing payment schedules for fines related to two violation cases. Finally, the board approved 42.5 hours of continuing education courses.