Virginia Funeral Home Destroyed by Fire, Owners Vow to Rebuild and Continue Serving Community
For many years, they have been a source of comfort to families experiencing loss. Now, the Hix family is the one seeking comfort after a fire destroyed their long-standing family funeral home in Amelia, Virginia, according to a report by 6 News Richmond.
Hillsman-Hix Funeral Home has been serving the local community for almost four decades. Despite the devastating loss, the owners say they are committed to rebuilding and continuing to support families during difficult times.
The fire broke out while Jim Hix’s wife and son were inside the building. After spotting flames at the rear of the structure, his son attempted to extinguish the fire using a fire extinguisher. However, high winds caused the flames to spread quickly, according to the report.
Jim Hix was away at McDonald’s when he received word of the fire and rushed back immediately. During his absence, his son and a friend ensured that the sole body inside the funeral home—scheduled for a New Year’s Eve service—was safely removed.
The funeral home is made up of several buildings. The structure that was lost housed both the chapel and the family’s flower shop. A crematorium located across the street was not affected by the fire.
Fire crews from Amelia and Chesterfield responded to the blaze and successfully prevented it from spreading to nearby structures, despite challenging wind conditions. No injuries or fatalities were reported.
Although shaken and emotional, the Hix family said funeral services for their clients will continue at alternate locations while plans to rebuild are underway.
Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the fire.
Danny Jefferson and Alan Creedy Announce New Advisory Platform Focused on the 21st Century Funeral Home
Alan Creedy and Danny Jefferson have announced the formal launch of J & C Advisors, a newly organized advisory platform created to support independent funeral home owners and successors as they navigate a period of profound change within the profession.
The launch coincides with a new website and the consolidation of prior initiatives, including the integration of Two Guys and a Question into the J & C Advisors platform.
According to Creedy and Jefferson, the reorganization reflects a natural evolution — one shaped by several years of close work with funeral professionals confronting shifting consumer expectations, leadership transitions, and the growing complexity of operating a sustainable business.
“Over time, it became clear that what we were really doing was helping people prepare — not just financially, but mentally and culturally — for the future of funeral service,” said Creedy. “This new platform allows us to describe that work more clearly and deliver it with greater intention.”
Former Funeral Home Employee Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Charity Using Identities of Deceased Children
A former employee of a Lexington, Kentucky funeral home has admitted guilt in a federal case involving the misuse of deceased children’s identities to steal nearly $12,000 from a nonprofit organization that assists grieving families, Lex 18 reported.
Ronald Jerome Woolfolk Jr. pleaded guilty after being charged with five counts of wire fraud and seven counts of aggravated identity theft. The charges stem from an April 17 indictment filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.
Federal prosecutors allege that while employed at a Fayette County funeral home, Woolfolk submitted 23 fraudulent requests for financial assistance to a Georgetown-based nonprofit between August 2022 and October 2023. Identified in court filings only as “Charity 1,” the organization is a 501(c)(3) that pays funeral, cremation, and burial expenses for children who die unexpectedly.
According to court records, Woolfolk generated falsified invoices, cremation certificates, and letters on the funeral home’s letterhead and sent them using the business’s email accounts without authorization. Prosecutors say he later deleted the emails to hide the scheme.
The indictment states that Woolfolk had access to victims’ personal information because the funeral home had provided free services to the families as part of its community outreach. In one instance, prosecutors allege he invented funeral expenses for an infant who lived only 23 minutes.
In total, Woolfolk is accused of stealing $11,929.49, directing the funds into a Square account registered under the name “Heavens Headstones.” Authorities say neither the funeral home nor the affected families received any of the money.
Learn more about the scheme in the full report.
9,500-Year-Old Cremation Site in Malawi Redefines Early African Burial Practices
A recent scientific study has identified the earliest known instance of human cremation in Africa, pushing the continent’s cremation timeline back by several millennia and challenging long-standing assumptions about the cultural and ritual lives of ancient hunter-gatherers, according to a report by Archaeology News Online Magazine.
The discovery involves a 9,500-year-old funerary pyre located at the base of Mount Hora in northern Malawi, a prominent natural feature that appears to have held deep symbolic importance for prehistoric populations.
Published in Science Advances, the research was conducted by an international team of scholars from Africa, Europe, and the United States. The findings document the oldest known in situ cremation pyre on the continent that still contains the remains of an adult individual. While human remains from much earlier periods have been found elsewhere—such as at Lake Mungo in Australia, dating to roughly 40,000 years ago—this Malawi site represents the earliest confirmed example of a deliberately built and carefully managed pyre used to cremate a body. Prior to this, no such practice had been documented among African hunter-gatherers of this era.
The cremation was uncovered at an archaeological site known as Hora 1, located beneath a rock shelter at the foot of a towering granitic inselberg. Excavations show that people occupied this area as early as 21,000 years ago, and it functioned as a burial ground between approximately 16,000 and 8,000 years ago. Throughout that long span, burials involved full-body inhumation, making this single cremation event around 9,500 years ago a striking departure from established customs.
Read more in the full report.
Read additional coverage in The Independent.
Michigan City to Pay $3.25 Million After Woman Wrongly Declared Dead by Paramedics
A Michigan municipality has agreed to pay millions of dollars to resolve a lawsuit brought by the family of a young woman who was mistakenly pronounced dead by paramedics, only to be discovered alive later at a funeral home, according to a report by Law & Crime.
Southfield, a suburb of Detroit, will pay $3.25 million to the family of Timesha Beauchamp to settle claims alleging gross negligence, according to reporting by The Associated Press.
Beauchamp, who was 20 years old and lived with cerebral palsy, relied largely on her mother for care. On Aug. 23, 2020, her mother found her unresponsive and called 911. Four emergency medical technicians responded, attempted resuscitation measures including CPR and assisted breathing, and ultimately concluded those efforts had failed. The EMTs declared Beauchamp dead and transported her to a funeral home.
However, when an embalmer opened the body bag, Beauchamp was found to still be alive. She was rushed to a nearby hospital and placed on a ventilator, where she survived for another six weeks before dying from a brain injury.
In a statement to The Associated Press, the city of Southfield acknowledged the gravity of the incident but noted the broader context in which it occurred. “We recognize that no resolution can undo the profound tragedy that occurred on August 23, 2020, or ease the pain experienced by Ms. Beauchamp’s family,” the city said. “This case involved extraordinarily difficult circumstances that arose in the complex world of a global pandemic.”
Family members said the settlement represents a step toward accountability.
Central to the dispute is the issue of proximate cause. The estate argued that Beauchamp’s injuries and eventual death were the result of the first responders’ actions. According to the plaintiffs, if the EMTs had not incorrectly declared her dead, her family could have pursued further medical treatment and avoided her transport in a body bag.
The appellate court did, however, uphold the dismissal of claims against two police officers who were also called to the scene, concluding that their actions could not have caused Beauchamp’s injuries because they were not responsible for providing her medical care.
Read the report in Law & Crime.
Read additional coverage by the New York Post.
ICCFA to Honor Darin Drabing with 2026 ICCFA Hall of Fame Award
The International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association recently announced that Darin Drabing, president and chief executive officer of Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks & Mortuaries, has been selected as a recipient of the ICCFA Hall of Fame Award, the association’s highest honor. Drabing will be formally recognized during the 2026 ICCFA Experience, taking place in Fort Worth, Texas.
The ICCFA Hall of Fame Award honors individuals whose careers have profoundly shaped the cemetery, cremation, and funeral profession through visionary leadership, service, and enduring impact. Drabing’s more than 40-year career reflects a lifetime commitment to caring service, professional excellence, and the advancement of the profession.
Drabing began his career at Forest Lawn in 1984 as an apprentice embalmer, steadily advancing through nearly every level of the organization. His career path includes roles as supervisor of mortuary services, memorial counselor, manager of funeral service, vice president–Cypress, senior vice president–operations, and executive vice president and chief operations officer, before being named president and CEO in 2011. This progression has given Drabing a deep, firsthand understanding of every facet of funeral, cemetery, and cremation service, shaping his reputation as an approachable, ethical, and highly respected leader.
Under Drabing’s leadership, Forest Lawn has continued to evolve as a best-in-class organization. He guided Forest Lawn through the unprecedented challenges of the global pandemic, ensuring families received compassionate care while prioritizing employee safety, stability, and well-being. His tenure has been marked by strategic cemetery development, significant investments in technology and enterprise systems, expanded service culture training, and a steadfast focus on employee experience, innovation, and long-term sustainability.
A strong advocate for education and the future workforce, Drabing championed the creation of the Forest Lawn Academy of Mortuary Science in partnership with Cypress College, helping open pathways for individuals entering the profession.
He has also emphasized the importance of professional engagement, encouraging involvement in industry associations to ensure Forest Lawn — and the profession at large — remains informed, innovative, and forward-looking.
Drabing currently serves on the Forest Lawn Mortuary Board of Directors, a role he has held since 2006, and the Forest Lawn Memorial-Park Association Board of Directors since 2015. His leadership extends beyond his organization through long-standing service and involvement with ICCFA, where he served as President from 2015-16, and remains actively involved as a long-standing member of the ICCFA Executive Committee, Finance Committee, and Board of Directors. Darin is also an active member of the Cemetery and Mortuary Association of California, where he has helped shape dialogue around governance, innovation, and service excellence.
“Darin Drabing exemplifies what the ICCFA Hall of Fame represents,” said ICCFA Immediate Past President Lee Longino and chair of the Hall of Fame Committee.
He continued, “Throughout his career, he has elevated standards across our profession through principled leadership, strategic vision, and an unwavering focus on people. His influence has strengthened Forest Lawn and left a lasting mark on colleagues and organizations across North America.”
“Darin is someone I trust deeply for his thoughtful guidance and perspective,” said ICCFA Executive Director Nadira Baddeliyanage. “He has been a mentor to me and a leader I greatly admire—someone I can always turn to for honest, actionable advice. Darin is unwavering in his commitment to doing what is right, and his counsel has made a meaningful impact on me and on ICCFA.”
The 2026 ICCFA Experience will bring together cemetery, cremation, and funeral professionals from around the world for education, networking, and celebration of excellence, along with a robust trade show showcasing the latest products, services, and innovations supporting the profession. Drabing’s induction into the ICCFA Hall of Fame will be part of the President’s Banquet on Wednesday, April 29th. For more information on the event and to register, visit www.iccfa.com/annual.
Batesville Enhances Executive Team to Elevate Customer Experience and Drive Innovation
Batesville, a leading provider of burial, cremation, and technology solutions in North America, announced two key executive updates: the appointment of Jenn Parvin as the company’s first senior vice president and chief customer officer and Ajay Kapoor as the new senior vice president and chief marketing and digital officer. These moves reinforce Batesville’s commitment to elevating the customer experience and helping families commemorate their loved ones in more meaningful ways.
“Batesville has a proud legacy of innovation and excellence in the deathcare industry,” said Chris Trainor, CEO. “Our continued success depends on our ability to deliver products, digital solutions, and services that meet the evolving preferences of families, while ensuring Batesville continues to set the standard for how customers and families are supported.”
In a service-driven industry, trust is built through every interaction, from the first conversation to the delivery of products and services. In her new role as chief customer officer, Parvin will champion the needs of families and funeral professionals, ensuring their voices shape Batesville’s strategy, priorities, and decisions. She will lead the sales, customer experience, and customer service teams, working closely with Batesville’s logistics team to create a more connected, end-to-end customer journey. With nearly two decades of leadership at Batesville, her comprehensive understanding of customers, field teams, products, and operations equips her to deliver clarity, consistency, and confidence at every stage.
Complementing this focus on the customer experience, Ajay Kapoor has joined Batesville as chief marketing and digital officer to lead the company’s digital strategy and drive innovation across marketing, products, and customer touchpoints. Combining data, creativity, and brand purpose, he will help develop next-generation offerings to meet the evolving needs of families.
Kapoor brings extensive leadership experience from prominent consumer companies, including Helen of Troy, SharkNinja, and Procter & Gamble. Most recently, he served as global executive director of performance driven marketing at General Motors, overseeing large-scale brand and digital transformations. His leadership and impact have been widely recognized with honors such as Ad Age’s 40 Under 40 award, Adobe Executive of the Year, and selection as a Global Shaper by the World Economic Forum.
Strong customer relationships remain critical to delivering on this strategy. John Parliapiano will continue to serve as senior vice president, sales, leading engagement with Batesville’s largest national accounts and region consolidators to deepen customer partnerships and expand impact across burial, cremation, and technology.
“These leadership changes demonstrate how deeply Batesville is investing in enhancing the customer experience and shaping the future of deathcare,” said Trainor. “With a chief customer officer and a chief marketing and digital officer, we are combining deep industry knowledge with modern digital capabilities to create a more seamless, personalized experience. This move allows us to better align our teams, respond more quickly, and enhance the value we provide with every interaction.”
