TFDA-Tennessee Funeral Directors Association

05/26/2026

TFDA extends deepest condolences to the family of Patsy Ann Gray. Patsy is the mother of Hope DeJarnatt, the aftercare and grief counselor at TFDA member firm Higgins Funeral Home in Fayetteville. Please keep the Gray family in your thoughts and prayers in the days ahead.

Patsy Ann Gray, a beloved mother, grandmother, and dedicated educator, passed away on May 24, 2026, at the Lynchburg Nursing Center at the age of 88. Services to honor her life will be held at 1 PM Friday, May 29, 2026, at Higgins Funeral Home with Bro. Greg Wiser officiating. Burial will follow in Stewart Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be on Friday from 11 AM until the time of the service.

Patsy was born on August 10, 1937, in Lincoln County, TN, to the late William Earl Sisk and Nannie Sue Richardson Sisk. She was a proud graduate of the Central High School Class of 1955. Passionate about learning, she went on to earn her degree in education from Berry College and later obtained her Master’s Degree from Middle Tennessee State University.

Patsy dedicated her professional life to shaping future generations. She began her teaching career at Vanntown School, followed by Flintville School, and finally Eighth District School. She truly loved molding young minds and treasured the joy, energy, and laughter of the classroom.

After her retirement, Patsy remained deeply connected to her community. She enjoyed traveling, playing cards with friends, and regularly meeting her high school classmates for lunch. She and her husband, Billy, stayed active for many years, thoroughly enjoying their daily “breakfast club” at the Patrick Rehab and Wellness Center, where the socializing was just as important as the exercise.

A woman of deep faith, Patsy was a lifelong member of the Molino Church of Christ until its closure, after which she became a faithful member of the Liberty Church of Christ. Above all else, Patsy loved her community, her lifelong friends, and her family.

Survivors include her daughters, Hope (Dan) DeJarnatt and Allison (Cory) Holder; grandchildren, Laura (Johnny) Stevens, Drew (Kathryn) Ivey, Austin Bagby, and Malachi Holder; great-grandchildren, Cooper Stevens, Hayden Ivey, Charlie Ivey, Rhett Ivey, Drew (Lexi) Stevens; and great-great-grandchildren, Bonnie and Teddy Stevens; as well as many extended family members.

In addition to her parents, Patsy was preceded in death by her husband, Billy Gene Gray; sisters, Jean Brooks, Louise Pitts Casey; and brothers, Allen, Robbie, and Tommy Sisk.

Memorial donations may be made to the Washington Street Church of Christ, Youth Camp Fund, PO Box 324, Fayetteville, TN 37334.

We at Higgins Funeral Home are privileged to offer comfort, care, and support to the family of Patsy Ann Gray.

05/23/2026

🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨REMINDER!!!!!🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨
The deadline for the early bird discount for Convention Registration is May 24th, 2026. The TFDA office will be closed until Tuesday, May 26th but you can still email registrations to office@tnfda.org

05/22/2026

TFDA extends deepest condolences to the family of Mrs. Marilyn Berry. Mrs. Berry is the mother of Fred Berry, a longtime member and supporter of TFDA. Please keep the Berry family in your thoughts and prayers in the days ahead.

Marilyn “Gee” Brooks Berry, age 90, of Knoxville, passed away on Thursday morning, May 21, 2026.
Born in Tazewell, Tennessee on a farm that had been in her family since the 1700's, Marilyn was a high achiever in school, graduating Claiborne County High School at the age of 16. After her graduation she continued her education at Ft. Sanders School of Nursing. Education was extremely important to Marilyn and after she attained her Nursing degree from Ft. Sanders School of Nursing, she later obtained her Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Tennessee. She began her career at Ft. Sanders Hospital in 1955 as a staff nurse. She met the love of her life, Fred Berry Jr, at Ft. Sanders Hospital and they married in 1955. Soon after they were married, she became a charge nurse in Labor and Delivery at St. Mary’s. In 1958 Fred and Marilyn moved to LaFollette, TN where she was the Director of Nurses at the LaFollette Community Hospital from 1958-1960. It was in LaFollette where their daughter Kim was born. After moving back to Knoxville, Marilyn began working at St. Mary’s Hospital as an instructor in the School of Nursing and became the Assistant Director of the School of Nursing in 1969, where she taught cardiology to nursing students for years all while being a mom and having their son, Fred. After the nursing school closed in 1988, Marilyn ended her career at the Ft. Sanders School of Nursing instructing Leadership Management. She loved her students, she loved nursing and always felt that it was her honor to serve others.

Marilyn or Gee, as her grandchildren affectionately call her, loved growing flowers and plants and for years put out a huge garden that all of her children and grandchildren helped her plant and harvest, sometimes grudgingly, but now remembered with much fondness. She passed on her love for growing flowers and food to her children and some of her grandchildren. A favorite memory among our entire family was an every Sunday after church lunch that she lovingly prepared. She watched her family expand and grow around that table and all of us have a favorite memory of those lunches. Not one of us ever left her house without her asking "Now, what can I do for you?" She was kind, generous, frugal, brilliant, hardworking and patient. She loved each of us unconditionally and we loved her the same.

Our family wishes to extend gratitude to many people who journeyed with us throughout her battle with Parkinson’s and Lewy Body Dementia: Ann Walker and her beloved St. Mary’s and Ft. Sanders retired faculty; her much loved Sunday School teacher, Debbie White and her Faith/Rebekah Sunday school class; sweet Gary and Elaine Wolfe for their unwavering support and attention and love; the kindness of the South High Senior Living 1ˢᵗ floor Memory Care; special neighbor, Keith Patterson, for all of his many kindnesses over the years; Chris Phillips for his kindness, lawn care and consistently checking in on her and in her final days; UT Palliative Care and Sacred Ground Hospice for their incredible care and kindness.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Fred O. Berry, Jr; son-in-law, Jim Buchanan; parents, Vernon and Nora Brooks; brothers, Bill (Nancy) Brooks, Frank Brooks; sisters, Mildred (Allen) Wolfe, Polly (Marvin) Mize; brothers and sisters in law; G. Edward (Shirley) Berry, Nancy (Ed) Lee and David Berry. Survived by daughter, Kim Buchanan (late husband, Jim Buchanan); son and daughter-in-law, Fred and Kelly Berry; grandchildren, Jonathan and Amanda Buchanan, Katie and Hunter Beal, Dr. Lucas and Dee Buchanan, Zack and Morgan Berry, Bryce and Taylor Berry and Jesse and Allie Berry; great grandchildren, Remy, Cash, Elias, Mathis, Ashe, Maisie, Miller, Arlo, Brooks, Whit, Maeve and a new Buchanan baby on the way; sisters-in-law, Carolyn Brooks and Cheryl Berry; and many wonderful nephews and nieces.

Family and friends will receive friends Saturday, May 23, 2026, from 10:00 AM until 12:00 PM at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 2500 Maryville Pike, Knoxville TN 37920. A Celebration of Marilyn’s life will be held at 12:00 PM following the visitation, Pastor Bryce Berry (grandson of Gee) and Rev. Cesar Correa will be officiating the service. The service will be live-streamed on the Mt. Olive Baptist Church page. Memorials may be made to Mt. Olive Baptist Church. The family encourages you to share fond memories of Marilyn on www.berryfuneralhome.com.

05/21/2026

The TFDA office asks that everyone keep Mike Blair and his family in your thoughts and prayers. Mike's wife, Reda is recovering from complications she is having from a recent fall. Mike is the Senior Sales Advisor for Matthews Aurora Funeral Solutions and a longtime friend and supporter of TFDA.

05/20/2026

We hope to see you at this seminar during our 123rd Annual TFDA Convention!!

05/16/2026

Reminder!!!! TFDA Convention starts Sunday May 31st. Be sure to get your registration in by May 24th to receive the discounted price. Please call the office at 615-321-8792 if you have any questions.

05/11/2026

TFDA extends deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Charles Neal, a longtime member and supporter of TFDA. Please keep the Neal family in your thoughts and prayers in the days ahead.

Charles R. Neal, age 88, of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, was born on December 17, 1937, in Lebanon, Tennessee, and passed away on May 10, 2026, at his residence.

Charles was a Christian and a devoted member of Immanuel Baptist Church, where his faith was an important part of his daily life.

A lifelong professional in the funeral service industry, Charles was a 1956 graduate of Lawrence County High School and a 1958 graduate of John A. Gupton College of Mortuary Science. He served his country in the Tennessee Army National Guard and later devoted his career to helping families during some of their most difficult moments. He was the retired owner of Neal Funeral Home, Inc. and Lawrence County Memorial Gardens. Charles served as a licensed funeral director and embalmer for 68 years. His long and faithful service to the profession earned him the respect of colleagues and the gratitude of countless families. He was a member of the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association (TFDA), the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), Selected Independent Funeral Homes (SIFH), and The Independent Funeral Group (TIFG).

Charles was preceded in death by his parents, Oliver Marvin and Cornelia Louise "Connie" Stone Neal, one brother, Don Neal; and one great-granddaughter, Cameron Jo Neal.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Vickie Neal of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee; one daughter, Debbie McAfee and her husband Darren of Leoma, Tennessee; one son, David Neal and his wife Amy of Leoma, Tennessee; four grandchildren, Monica Burnett and her husband John of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, Matt McAfee and his wife Maycie of Hazel Green, Alabama, Hannah Neal of Leoma, Tennessee, and Braden Neal of Leoma, Tennessee; and two great-grandchildren, Braxton Burnett and Andi Burnett of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee.

The family wishes to express special thanks to the caregivers with GoodWorks at Home and to Caris Healthcare for their compassionate care and support.

Arrangements are being handled by Neal Funeral Home, 231 N. Military Avenue, Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Neal Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted at Neal Funeral Home at 2:00 PM Thursday, May 14, 2026, with Reggie Coleman officiating. Interment will follow at Lawrence County Memorial Gardens in Lawrenceburg, TN. Condolences may be sent by way of our website at www.nealfuneralhome.net.

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Neal Funeral Home
231 North Military Avenue
Lawrenceburg, TN 38464

Phone: 931-762-9447
Fax: 931-762-9885
www.nealfuneralhome.net

04/27/2026

Recently members of the TFDA Board, TFDA Staff, and several Past Presidents had the honor of representing Tennessee at the National Funeral Directors Association 2026 Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C. It was a great few days advocating for funeral service and representing our great state!

04/18/2026

We extend our sincerest condolences to the family and friends of longtime Pierce Chemical sales representative, TFSSC member, and inductee of the TFDA/TFSSC Hall of Fame, Bobby Dale Herring.

Bobby was a legend in funeral service in the Southeast and will be missed dearly.

View Bobby Dale Herring's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

12/16/2025

After 35 years of dedicated service to the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association, Bob Batson has announced his intent to retire. Bob's tireless efforts in leading our state association has made this task a tall order. He is the longest tenured state executive in the nation and has become one of the most recognizable figures in our industry. As we begin this process, we announce that the application process is now open to all those interested. Please see all pertinent information pertaining to applying for the executive director position listed below.

The Tennessee Funeral Directors Association is seeking applications for the position of Executive Director. The TFDA is the state association for funeral professionals and funeral establishments in the state of Tennessee headquartered in downtown Nashville, TN. Qualifying applicants are asked to hold a current/active funeral director license, have no less than 5 years experience in the funeral industry, and live in or relocate to the Metro Nashville area. The position is a full time position with a competitive salary and benefits. The executive director will be charged with communicating and developing relationships with all involved in the funeral industry at both a state and national levels. While office hours are expected, the executive director will be expected to spend a considerable amount of time on the road visiting funeral establishments and attending all major NFDA events and most major regional and/or national meetings, seminars, and conventions. The executive director will be responsible for:

• Communicating with and visiting all member firms
• Growing the association by communicating with and visiting non member firms
• Promoting and growing the TFDA Master Trust
• Staying informed with all legislation and rule making affecting the funeral industry
• Coordinating and planning all district meetings
• Coordinating and planning the annual Tennessee state convention
• Creating continuing education opportunities for members
• Distributing all newsletters and pertinent information to TFDA members
• Finances, bookkeeping, and member dues
• Maintaining an online and social media presence for the association

Any interested applicant may submit an application and resume to mailto: tfdajob@gmail.com. Any application should be submitted prior to December 31, 2025.