Anthem Partners Announces Strategic Partnership with Family Shield
Anthem Partners has announced a strategic partnership with Family Shield Credit, the innovative fintech platform designed by funeral professionals to provide families with flexible, budget-friendly payment options while helping funeral homes improve cash flow and operational efficiency.
Family Shield was recently the subject of an in-depth profile published on FuneralVision.
Through the partnership, Anthem Partners will make Family Shield Credit available to the funeral homes it serves, providing clients with an innovative financing solution that allows families to make funeral decisions based on what they truly want for their loved one — not simply what they can afford at the time of need.
“At Anthem Partners, we’re continually looking for innovative solutions that help funeral professionals better serve families while strengthening their businesses,” said Chad Jackson, executive vice president of operations at Anthem Partners. “Family Shield addresses one of the most common challenges funeral directors face by giving families greater financial flexibility while ensuring funeral homes receive prompt payment. It’s a win for both the families we serve and the funeral homes we support.”
Developed by funeral directors who experienced firsthand the challenges of traditional funeral financing, Family Shield Credit combines funeral service expertise with modern financial technology to create a lending platform designed specifically for funeral service.
Qualified families can apply through a streamlined digital portal and receive prompt underwriting decisions. Funeral homes typically receive payment directly from Family Shield within 48 hours, eliminating many of the delays associated with insurance assignments, estate settlements, or informal payment arrangements while significantly reducing accounts receivable.
Beyond improving cash flow, Family Shield also helps families make more meaningful decisions during the arrangement conference. By introducing affordable monthly payment options early in the planning process, funeral directors can focus conversations on how families wish to honor their loved one rather than on immediate financial limitations.
“Our mission has always been to provide funeral directors with a financing solution built specifically for funeral service,” said Daniel Solecki Sr., co-founder and president of Family Shield Credit. “Partnering with Anthem Partners allows us to extend that mission to even more funeral homes by giving them a simple, secure way to offer families greater financial flexibility while improving their own operational efficiency.”
Funeral homes using Family Shield have experienced meaningful operational benefits, including improved cash flow, dramatically lower accounts receivable, and increased purchasing flexibility for families. According to Family Shield, participating funeral homes also report an average 30% increase in total spend per family, as financing allows families to focus on creating the tribute they truly desire rather than limiting decisions based solely on available cash.
The partnership reflects Anthem Partners’ ongoing commitment to identifying innovative products and services that help funeral professionals strengthen profitability, improve operational efficiency, and deliver exceptional experiences for the families they serve.
Minnesota Cremation Services Becomes Minnesota’s Only CERT Certified Woman-Owned Cremation Provider
Minnesota Cremation Services has been certified as a Women Business Enterprise, Small Business Enterprise and Emerging Small Business Enterprise through the Central Certification Program, becoming the only CERT Certified Woman-Owned Cremation Provider in Minnesota.
For founder Amber Kramer, the certification represents more than a business milestone. It reflects the changing face of an industry.
Less than 40 years ago, only about 5% of funeral directors in the United States were women. Today, women account for approximately 42% to 43% of licensed funeral directors, and the next generation is reshaping the profession. Women now make up the majority of students entering mortuary science programs, increasing from 40% of enrolled students in 2007 to 72% by 2019.
While the profession is evolving, the ownership of funeral homes has changed as well.
Over the past two decades, many funeral homes and cremation providers have become part of larger regional and national organizations through acquisitions. In many cases, the familiar local name remains on the building, even though ownership has changed.
Minnesota Cremation Services was founded to offer families another choice: a local, woman owned cremation provider committed to transparency, affordability, and compassionate care.
“Families deserve to know who they’re trusting with one of the most important moments of their lives,” said Amber Kramer, founder of Minnesota Cremation Services. “We built Minnesota Cremation Services to be different. We’re locally owned, independently operated, transparent with our pricing, and committed to treating every family with the compassion and dignity they deserve.”
The company’s CERT certification further distinguishes Minnesota Cremation Services as the only CERT certified Woman Owned cremation provider in Minnesota.
Online Reviews: How to Earn Trust, Avoid Risk and Turn Feedback into Growth
A funeral home or cemetery’s reputation is no longer defined solely by word-of-mouth. It is quantified, scored and publicly displayed — often before a family ever picks up the phone.
That was the central message of a recent webinar led by Welton Hong, CEO of Ring Ring Marketing, titled Online Reviews: How to Get Good Ones and Fix the Bad Ones. His guidance was direct: Reviews are no longer a passive byproduct of service — they are an operational priority.
For funeral professionals and cemeterians, the implications are significant. Families are making emotionally charged decisions, often under time pressure. Before they call you, they are evaluating you — and your reviews may determine whether that call happens at all.
Get More Eyes on Your Obituaries and Stay Visible in Your Community
Funeral homes throughout the country are discovering the power of Ring Ring Marketing’s Obituary Promotion Service.
You post obituaries to inform families and your community, but most of them are only seen by a small group of people. That means your funeral home is missing consistent visibility where it matters most.
The Obituary Promotion Service helps extend the reach of every obituary so more local people see it.
Ring Ring Marketing handles the promotion for you, so each obituary reaches the right local audience. This brings more people to your website, keeps your funeral home name in front of the community and builds familiarity over time. The result is stronger awareness, greater trust and more first calls when families need to choose.
Former Alabama Funeral Director Charged in Alleged Headstone Fraud Scheme
A former funeral director in Baldwin County, Alabama, has been charged after authorities allege he accepted payments from families for headstones and grave markers that were never provided, Fox 10 WALA reported.
Tim Street, who served as funeral director at Pine Rest Funeral Home in Foley, has been charged with first-degree financial exploitation of the elderly, according to the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators indicated that additional charges could be filed as the case progresses.
The investigation began in March 2026 after a Baldwin County resident reported that, despite repeated delays and explanations, a headstone purchased for a recently deceased family member had not been delivered. The family also submitted a complaint to the Alabama Funeral Home Board.
As detectives examined the allegations, they identified several other families who reported similar experiences. Investigators say these individuals paid Street for headstones or grave markers but waited months—and in some cases years—without receiving the memorials they had purchased.
Olson Funeral & Cremation Services Expands in Illinois
Olson Funeral & Cremation Services is expanding its presence in Rockford, Illinois, with the opening of Three Oaks Chapel and Legacy Life Celebration Center on July 1, WIFR reported.
Located at 1100 N. Lyford Road in a former church building, the new facility is designed to provide families with a wider range of options for funerals, memorial services, celebrations of life, receptions and community gatherings.
The property features two distinct venues: Three Oaks Chapel for traditional funeral and memorial services, and the Legacy Life Celebration Center, a flexible event space for receptions and life celebrations. It also includes the Renewal & Transformation Gardens, an outdoor area with walking paths, native landscaping and quiet spaces for reflection.
The new location becomes Olson Funeral & Cremation Services’ seventh facility overall and its third in Rockford.
Brothers Face Charges After Human Remains Allegedly Mishandled at Colorado Funeral Home
Two Colorado brothers, including a former county coroner, have been arrested following an investigation into the alleged mishandling of human remains at a funeral home in Pueblo, the New York Post reported.
According to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, former Pueblo County Coroner Brian Lee Cotter, 65, and his brother, Christopher Aaron Cotter, 60, each face 125 counts of abuse of a corpse. Authorities allege the charges stem from the discovery of at least two dozen decomposing bodies and other human remains concealed behind a hidden door inside Davis Mortuary.
The brothers were taken into custody in Pueblo and booked into jail, where each was held on a $1 million bond.
The investigation began last summer after state inspectors conducted an inspection of Davis Mortuary, located about 110 miles south of Denver. Upon entering the facility, inspectors reported detecting a strong odor of decomposition before uncovering human remains hidden within the building.
Court records did not list an attorney representing either brother. Attempts by The Associated Press to reach Brian Cotter and members of the Cotter family for comment were unsuccessful.
Investigators allege that Brian Cotter acknowledged to inspectors that some families who requested cremation services may have received ashes that were not authentic. He resigned from his position as Pueblo County coroner in September.
Authorities said they have identified 19 of the 24 bodies recovered from the funeral home, along with the remains of two additional individuals whose tissue was found in containers at the property.
South Carolina Suspends Crematory Operator’s License Following Investigation
The South Carolina Funeral Board has suspended the crematory operator license of Robert Nelms, the former chief executive officer of an Upstate funeral home, after questions arose regarding his background. The suspension will remain in effect until the board issues a subsequent order, Fox Carolina reported.
According to the board’s order, officials determined that Nelms’ conduct presents a significant risk to public safety and welfare.
Nelms was arrested in Spartanburg County in May and extradited to Michigan, where he is facing a pending charge of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. Following his arrest, he resigned from his position with the Cremation Society of South Carolina – Westville Funerals.
Authorities note that Nelms, who also uses the name Ian, has a criminal history dating back to 2008. At that time, he was indicted in Michigan and Indiana in connection with the embezzlement of approximately $22 million from cemetery trust funds. He later entered plea agreements and received a sentence that included four years of work release followed by four years of home detention.
Public records indicate Nelms later relocated to Greer, South Carolina. In 2020, Michigan regulators issued a cease-and-desist order alleging that he sold securities without informing investors that he had previously been convicted of a felony.
The Funeral Board’s order also alleges that Nelms failed to disclose his prior criminal history when applying for his South Carolina crematory operator license. His application reportedly indicated that he had not been convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, any undisclosed criminal offenses.
Pinnacle Funeral Service Acquires Gent Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Illinois
Pinnacle Funeral Service has acquired Gent Funeral Home & Cremation Services, a trusted name in the greater Alton, Illinois community for more than 90 years.
The funeral home, which serves over 300 families a year, will keep its name and its current staff, so the families it serves can expect the same familiar, personal care they have always known.
Gent Funeral Home & Cremation Services was founded in 1935 by Ralph A. Gent. In 1970, his sons-in-law, Lester Bowles and Robert Scoggins, purchased the business. After Scoggins passed away in 1985, Lester and Joanne (Gent) Bowles became sole owners. Their son, Ralph Bowles, joined the firm in 1988 and later led it alongside his wife, Dawn. Three of Ralph’s sisters, Lynn, Laura, and Louise, also served the family business over the years. With no one in the next generation looking to take over, the Bowles family set out to find the right partner to carry the business forward.
“It has been an honor to serve so many families over the years, and the bonds I’ve formed with them are what I’ll miss most,” said Ralph Bowles, former owner. “I wanted a partner who would treat our community like extended family and keep our entire staff. There was never any pressure to make a deal. They simply wanted the transition to be seamless and our family legacy to continue. I’m confident Pinnacle’s professionalism and resources will let them serve this community well for years to come.”
“We’re honored that Ralph and Dawn trusted us to carry on what their family built,” said Tony Kumming, president of Pinnacle Funeral Service. “Our promise is simple: keep the name, keep the team, and serve every family with respect and dignity.”
Chptr Names Funeral Industry Veteran J.B. Showalter as Senior VP of Partnerships
Chptr is celebrating a big hire: J.B. Showalter has joined its team as senior vice president of partnerships, strengthening the company’s leadership team as it continues its rapid expansion across the funeral profession.
Showalter joins Chptr after more than 27 years with Batesville, where he held a series of executive sales leadership and strategy roles and helped guide strategic growth initiatives across the organization. Throughout his career, he has earned a reputation for developing high-performing teams, cultivating trusted industry relationships, and helping funeral home owners and operators stay ahead of their evolving profession.
His appointment comes during a period of significant momentum for Chptr. Over the past several months, the company has expanded to more than 400 funeral home locations nationwide, announced strategic partnerships with leading funeral home groups and media companies, and closed its Series A financing to accelerate growth.
“Throughout my career, I’ve always believed that the best innovations are the ones that promote the value of the funeral to the end consumer, by strengthening the relationship between funeral directors and the families they serve,” Showalter said. “What drew me to Chptr is that we are doing exactly that. This team has built something that genuinely helps funeral professionals better tell their story of what makes this profession so special, while serving families in a more meaningful way. Joining Chptr at this stage, with the momentum the company has built and the opportunity that’s ahead, was simply too exciting to pass up. I’m looking forward to helping even more funeral homes discover how to better tell their story.”
Radio Program Examines Emerging Alternatives to Traditional Burial
As funeral expenses continue to climb, more Americans are exploring alternatives to traditional burial and cremation. Those changing preferences were the focus of a recent episode of The Sound of Ideas podcast.
The program examined how the cost of funeral services has increased over the past several decades, driven by inflation, higher labor and material costs, and evolving consumer expectations. Although cremation has become the nation’s most common form of disposition—selected by more than 60% of Americans—it can still involve significant expenses when combined with memorial services and other arrangements.
The discussion explored a growing range of alternatives, including green burial, natural organic reduction (also known as human composting), and whole-body donation for medical education and research. Panelists examined the financial, environmental and personal considerations behind these options, as well as how families can create meaningful ways to honor loved ones regardless of the method chosen.
Featured guests included Chad McGreevey, funeral director at McGreevey Funeral Homes; Danielle Davis, director of anatomical services for the Body Donation Program at Ohio State University; Tom Harries, chief executive officer and co-founder of Earth Funeral; and Geoffrey Gompf, president-elect of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association.
SCCFA Celebrates Success of 2026 Convention & Family Reunion
The Southern Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Association announced the successful conclusion of its 2026 Convention & Family Reunion, held June 14–16 at the San Antonio Marriott Riverwalk in partnership with the Texas Cemeteries & Crematories Association and the South Carolina Cemetery Association.
The convention brought together cemetery, cremation, funeral, and supplier professionals from across the region for three days of education, exhibits, networking, and industry connection. Well-attended sessions, a strong vendor presence, and an active exhibit hall reflected the continued strength of SCCFA and the value of bringing the profession together in person.
Attendees heard from a leading lineup of industry executives, operators, educators, and advocates, including Carlos R. Quezada, Chris Cruger, Ben R. Upton, Dan Ford, John Bolton, Sam James, and Wendy Wiener. Programming addressed key issues shaping the future of deathcare, including service excellence, consumer change, cemetery growth, workforce trends, advocacy, leadership, compliance, and the family experience.
Vendors, exhibitors, and sponsors also reported strong engagement throughout the event, connecting directly with operators, decision-makers, and professionals from across the cemetery, cremation, and funeral sectors.
“This year’s Convention & Family Reunion was an extraordinary success and a true reflection of what makes The Southern so special,” said Michael Higgs, president of SCCFA. “The attendance, education, exhibitor participation, and fellowship all exceeded expectations. More importantly, the convention personified our values: Southern hospitality, family, togetherness, and a genuine commitment to helping one another succeed. We have something very special in SCCFA, and San Antonio reminded us how strong this association and this profession can be when we come together.”
The San Antonio convention continued SCCFA’s tradition of pairing practical education with the hospitality and sense of community that have long defined the association. For many attendees, the event offered not only professional development, but also an opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, build new relationships, and reaffirm the shared purpose of serving families and communities with dignity.
Building on that momentum, SCCFA also announced that its 2027 Convention & Family Reunion will take place in Franklin, Tennessee.
Next year’s event will bring together six state associations: the Cemetery Association of Tennessee, Georgia Cemetery Association, Kentucky Cemetery Association, North Carolina Cemetery Association, South Carolina Cemetery Association, and West Virginia Cemetery & Funeral Association.
Additional details regarding the 2027 convention will be announced in the months ahead.
