Georgia Funeral Directors Association

09/03/2025

We regret to inform you Craig Anthony Burnett passed on August 30, 2025. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, September 6th, 2025 at 11:00 am at Salem Baptist Church in McDonough, GA. A private burial will be held at Poplar Springs Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends prior to the service at the church. For Mr. Burnett’s full obituary and online condolences visit

View Craig Anthony Burnett's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

08/19/2025

One week from today, GFDA will be hosting National Funeral Directors Association's Arrangement Skills Masterclass! This seminar introduces a creative five-step process to help you effectively convey the value of funerals and collaborate with families to design meaningful life tributes. This session will be led by Lanae Strovers, a seasoned funeral director with extensive experience in funeral service education and arrangement strategy. Lanae brings a dynamic teaching approach, blending real-world insights with practical techniques to help you enhance your conference skills and better serve the needs of modern families.

Learn more and register by visiting

Take your arrangement conference skills to the next level with our highly engaging and interactive National Funeral Directors Association's Arrangement Skills Masterclass. This seminar introduces a creative five-step process to help you effectively convey the value of funerals and collaborate with f...

08/18/2025

We regret to inform you Betty D. NeSmith Edwards, Mother of J. Mellie NeSmith, passed away on Saturday, August 16, 2025. Visitation will be held Tuesday, August 19, 2025, 4:00 p.m., until, at Mellie NeSmith Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, 11:00 a.m., at Mellie NeSmith Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in the Brewton Cemetery in Hagan, GA. For Ms. Edwards’ full obituary and online condolences visit

View Betty D. NeSmith Edwards's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

08/14/2025

We regret to inform you Deacon Roy Wilcher, Uncle of Lee Mack Pierce, Jr. and Reginald L. Pierce, Sr., passed away Saturday, August 9, 2025. Funeral services will be held on Friday, August 15, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. at Buckeye Baptist Church in East Dublin with interment in the Westview Cemetery in Wrightsville, Georgia. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 12:00 - 7:00 pm on Thursday, August 14, 2025 at L.M. Pierce Funeral Home in Sandersville, GA. For Deacon Wilcher’s full obituary and online condolences visit

View Deacon Roy Wilcher's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

08/14/2025

Discover the right questions to ask with the National Funeral Directors Association's Arrangement Skills Masterclass with Lanae Strovers.

Where: Macon Marriott City Center in Macon, GA
When: August 26, 2025 from 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Who: Funeral Directors, Office Administrators, Pre-need Counselors, Location Managers, Students, Faculty, Funeral Service Attendants, End-of-Life Professionals, Suppliers

When families walk into an arrangement conference, they are often unsure of what they want. This is your cue to encourage open conversation. You ask questions, and not just questions that help you fill out the death certificate. This masterclass teaches you the right questions to ask so you can discover what a family really needs and wants which leads to a more meaningful service.

Whether you are a new or seasoned professional, you’ll benefit from this interactive experience. Learn more and register by visiting https://www.gfda.org/arranger-training

08/05/2025

We regret to inform you Bill Willis, Grandfather of Robby Willis, passed away Friday, August 1, 2025. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, August 6, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Willis-Jamerson-Braswell Funeral Home Chapel and services will conclude in the chapel. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 from 6:00-8:00PM. The family will be meeting at 168 Hand Ave Pelham. For Mr. Willis’ full obituary and online condolences visit

View Clower Eugene (Bill) Willis's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

07/17/2025

We regret to inform you Dr. Ellis Wayne Evans, Sr., Father-in-Law of GFDA Past President Nathan Stanley, passed away on July 16, 2025. A Celebration of his Life will be held at New Providence Baptist Church, Smarr, GA at 10 AM on Saturday, July 19, 2025. Burial will be private for family only at Sunnyside Cemetery in Cordele. A visitation will be held Friday, July 18, 2025 from 5-7 PM at Snow’s Memorial Chapel on Bass Road. For Mr. Evans’ full obituary and online condolences visit

Celebrate the life of Ellis Evans, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of Snow's Memorial Chapel.

07/09/2025

We regret to inform you Mildred D. Wages, Mother of GFDA Past President Valerie J. Wages, CFSP, passed away on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. The Service to Honor the Life of Mildred “Mimi” Dodosh Wages will be held on Monday, July 14, 2025, at 11:00 am at Tom M. Wages Lawrenceville Chapel. Interment will follow at Shadowlawn Cemetery in Lawrenceville, GA. The family will receive friends on Sunday, July 13, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm and on Monday after 12:00 pm at Tom M. Wages Lawrenceville Chapel. For Mrs. Wages’ full obituary and online condolences visit

View Mildred D. "Mimi" Wages's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

07/03/2025

We regret to inform you Wallace Howell Shinkle, Sr., Grandfather of Troy Chaney, passed away on Thursday, July 3, 2025. In accordance with his wishes to have a night funeral, a Celebration of Life for Wallace will be held Sunday, July 6, at 7:00 PM, at Fletcher Day Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM until 7:00 PM, at Fletcher-Day Funeral Home on Sunday. A private interment will take place at Westminster Memorial Gardens in Peachtree City. For Mr. Shinkle’s full obituary and online condolences visit

View Mr. Wallace Howell Shinkle, Sr.'s obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

07/03/2025

Let us all pause to remember and thank the men and women who fought for the freedom we will be able to enjoy!

The GFDA office will be closed Friday, July 4.

07/03/2025

Congratulations to all; Georgia is well represented!
Ellen Wynn McBrayer, CFSP, CPC, CCO, CCSP was elected as NFDA Secretary.
Carlton Maye Jr., MBA, CFSP, CCO will continue his service as 2024-26 At-large Representative.
Read National Funeral Directors Association's full announcement by visiting https://nfda.org/news/media-center/nfda-news-releases/id/9656/nfda-members-elect-new-leaders-to-guide-professions-future

🚨 News Flash - NFDA Members Elect New Leaders to Guide Profession’s Future

Just released: https://nfda.org/news/media-center/nfda-news-releases/id/9656

06/26/2025

How creative can a funeral be? Funeral director Lanae Strovers would tell you there's really no limit. Lanae has worked with families to curate funerals and memorial services that uniquely honor loved ones, bringing comfort and meaning to even the youngest mourners. From transforming a visitation room into a baseball field to honor a Little League coach to creating a runway featuring clothing designed by a glamorous 1940s model, Lanae's personal touches help family and friends begin their grief journeys in beautifully meaningful ways. Listen to this Remembering A Life podcast episode by visiting

How creative can a funeral be? Funeral director Lanae Strovers would tell you there's really no limit. Lanae has worked with families to curate funerals and memorial services that uniquely honor loved ones, bringing comfort and meaning to even the youngest mourners. From transforming a visitation ro...