Actions Taken by the Georgia State Board of Funeral Service at its April 15 Meeting

Macon, Ga. (April 17, 2008) — The Georgia State Board of Funeral Service held its monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 15, 2008.

   The Board held a public hearing to allow licensed establishments that have requested a hearing to appeal inspection citations issued by the Board.

   The Board voted to issue Final Decisions on each of the following cases:

     Smalley's Funeral Home, Vidalia: The Board issued a $1,900 fine for two separate citations: $700 cited on January 27, 2005 for failing to provide eight adult caskets in display room. The inventory was deficient by seven caskets. An additional $1,200 was cited on November 30, 2007 for a total of five violations: Failing to provide clean and acceptable establishment; failing to provide sanitary instruments and tables; failing to provide eight adult caskets in display room; failing to provide caskets that meet pricing information requirements; and failing to provide one operable hearse.
     Speer & Speer Funeral Home, McDonough: The Board issued a $600 fine cited on August 30, 2005 for failing to provide eight adult caskets in display room. The inventory was deficient by six caskets.
     Dowdell Funeral Home, Cordele: The Board issued a $1,000 fine for two separate citations. $500 cited on August 29, 2005 and $500 cited on April 20, 2006 because the funeral home was not open for inspection.

   The Board approved the following orders to accept fine monies for inspection violations and to settle cases:

     Frank & Solomon Nixon Funeral Home, Tifton: Inspection citation fine of $300 for two violations. The funeral establishment was cited $200 for failing to provide sanitary floors and walls and $100 for failing to provide identification of a deceased body.
     Progressive Funeral Home Inc., Columbus: Inspection citation fine of $100 for failing to provide identification of a deceased body.
     Duane A. Jackson Mortuary, Inc., Carrollton: Inspection citation fine of $300 for failure to provide eight adult caskets in display room. The inventory was deficient by three caskets.
     Charles E. Huffs International Funeral, Columbus: Inspection citation fine of $150 for two violations. The funeral establishment was cited $50 for failing to have a nonporous sanitary sink cover and $100 for failing to provide eight adult caskets in display room. The inventory was deficient by one casket.
Rooks Funeral Home, Fort Valley: Inspection citation fine of $50 for failing to have a nonporous sanitary sink cover.

     The Board also accepted a Consent Order for Licensure for the following:
Bobby L. Berry, II, Albany: The Consent Order places the applicant's license on probation for a period of 4 years for having multiple arrests and three misdemeanor convictions.

   The Board voted to adopt a policy to accept all Voluntary Cease and Desist Orders upon receipt and authorize the chairperson or his or her designee to execute the Order, and to authorize that the Orders be docketed and served. It is the intent of the Board that the Orders will be in effect upon docketing. The Board will ratify the docketed Cease and Desist Orders at its next meeting and include a list of the approved Orders in the Board minutes.

   The Board held the yearly election of officers. The Board voted to nominate and elect the following:
     David Roach of Powder Springs as President.
     Linda Ware of Bremen as Vice-President.
     Thelon Hamby of Lagrange as the Cognizant Member.

   The Georgia State Board of Funeral Service will hold its next meeting Tuesday, May 13, 2008, at 10 a.m. at the Professional Licensing Boards in Macon, Ga.