CHARLES T. GHOLSON
Jul 26, 2026
CHARLES T. GHOLSON of Haughton, LA died July 26, 2026 at the age of 79. A dual-licensed funeral director with 55 years of experience, he began as location and general manager of Hill Crest before advancing to area general manager and later market manager, overseeing operations throughout North Louisiana and Northwest Arkansas. Gholson eventually returned to Hill Crest as general...
WILLIE W.G. BETHEA
Jul 23, 2026
WILLIE W.G. BETHEA of Bronx, NY died July 23, 2026 at the age of 85. A funeral director for over 50 years, he owned and operated Amsterdam Memorial Chapel in Harlem, NY and had served as a senior director at Benta’s Funeral Home in Harlem. He graduated from the American Academy of McAllister Institute of Funeral Service.
WALTER LEE CROX
Jul 14, 2026
WALTER LEE CROX of Chattanooga, TN died July 14, 2026 at the age of 82. A licensed embalmer in Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee, Crox was a fourth-generation funeral director at Covenant Funeral & Crematory. He also dedicated many years to funeral service education, serving as program chair at Milwaukee Area Technical College, associate dean at Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary...
JIMMIE D. BOLDIEN JR
Jul 14, 2026
JIMMIE D. BOLDIEN JR of Oklahoma City, OK died July 14, 2026 at the age of 69. A funeral director and embalmer, he served as CEO of Rolfe Funeral Home and as the 53rd president of the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association.
JOSEPH THOMAS “JOE” CLYBURN, SR
Jul 13, 2026
JOSEPH THOMAS “JOE” CLYBURN, SR of Statesville, NC died July 13, 2026 at the age of 92. A licensed funeral director since 1972, he served as general manager and co-owner of Clyburn and Bigham Mortuary, Inc in Mooresville, NC and Rutledge and Bigham Mortuary in Statesville, NC. Joe was also a licensed insurance agent since 1990 and a licensed pre-need...
L. RUPLE HARLEY, JR
Jul 13, 2026
L. RUPLE HARLEY, JR of Greenwood, SC died July 13, 2026 at the age of 82. A funeral director for more than 60 years, Harley joined his father, the late Lamar Ruple Harley Sr., at Harley Funeral Home and Crematory. Harley earned the Certified Funeral Service Practitioner designation from the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice and served as president...
CONSTANCE SUE “CONNIE” STRAWSER
Jul 13, 2026
CONSTANCE SUE “CONNIE” STRAWSER of Loveland, OH died July 13, 2026 at the age of 74. She was a funeral director at Strawser Funeral Home and was a member of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association.
C. KEITH EDISON
Jul 8, 2026
C. KEITH EDISON of Independence, WI died July 8, 2026 at the age of 78. A graduate of the Wisconsin Institute of Mortuary Science, he dedicated more than 58 years to the funeral profession.
KATHLEEN “KAY” BOYD MCREAVY
Jul 1, 2026
KATHLEEN “KAY” BOYD MCREAVY of Minneapolis, MN died July 1, 2026 at the age of 95. She worked alongside her husband, William L. “Bill” McReavy, as the vice president of Washburn-McReavy Funeral Chapels & Creation Services.
J. BIRD HODGES, JR
Jul 1, 2026
J. BIRD HODGES, JR of Statesboro, GA died July 1, 2026 at the age of 74. A licensed funeral director since 1974, he owned and operated Barnes-Hodges, Hodges-Turner, Hodges-Turner-Anderson, Hodges-Moore, Smith-Tillman Mortuary, and Bulloch Memorial Gardens from 1974 until 1994. Following the acquisition of his funeral homes by the Loewen Group, he became a partner with the company. Hodges went...