About us
Welcome to the Tennessee State Funeral Directors and Morticians Association, Inc.
Our Mission is to assist our members in furthering their funeral service knowledge through continuing education, to provide a professional environment for networking with other members of the funeral service industry, to provide a dignified ethical service when loved ones have been entrusted to our care, and to insure the safety and protection of our communities by caring for the living.
In 1922, various African-American funeral directors across the State of Tennessee formed an organization, The Tennessee Colored Funeral Directors’ Association. Between the 12th and 36th Annual Convention, the organization was renamed the Tennessee Negro Funeral Directors’ Association.
As conditions changed another evolution was taking place. The Tennessee State Funeral Directors and Morticians Association, Inc. was organized on May 27, 1969, in Nashville, Tennessee. The first meeting of the TSFDMA, Inc. was held in Nashville, Tennessee on November 26,1969. It was call to order at 1:43 p.m. by the Chairman of the Board, Mr. J. D. Martin.
The First President and General Officers were:
- President | Mr. J. D. Martin
- Executive Secretary | Mr. R. C. Kennedy
- Assistant Recording Secretary | Mr. Samuel Trammell, Jr.
- Treasurer | Mrs. J. E. Morton
- Chaplain | Mr. N. J. Ford
- Publicity Director | Mr. H. V. Curry
- Chairman, Board of Directors | Mr. R. Strickland
- Board Secretary | Mr. E. F. Hayes, Jr.
The constituent association consists of four (4) districts:
- East Tennessee District 1 | Knoxville, Maryville, Kingsport, Morristown, Johnson City, Bristol, Greenville, Rogersville, Chattanooga, South Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Athens, Sweetwater, Charleston, Dayton, Rockwood, Pikeville, Spring City and any other town in this general area.
- Middle Tennessee District 2 | Nashville, Gallatin, Lebanon, Murfreesboro, Tullahoma, Winchester, Shelbyville, Columbia, Pulaski, Clarksville, Springfield, Mt. Pleasant, Ashland City, and any other town in this general area.
- Middle-West Tennessee District 3 | Humboldt, Bolivar, Brownsville, Dyersburg, Jackson, Huntingdon, Paris, Whiteville, and any other town in this general area.
- West Tennessee District 4 | Covington, Barlett, Mason, Memphis, Millington, Somerville, and any other town in this general area.
Current Officers:
- President | Mr. Brandon Nelson
- Vice President | Ms. Vera Johnson
- Executive Secretary | Mrs. Judith Mooney Hill
- Recording Secretary | Ms. Ann Sharfner
- Treasurer | Mrs. Anastasia Davis
- Chairman of the Board | Ms. Charian Harrison
- Chaplain | Mr. Laron Jackson
- Palematerian | Mr. William Jenkins
- Sargent at Arms | Mrs. Mary Katherine Newman
Board of Directors:
- East Tennessee District 1
Mr. Robert Davis
Mr. Mooreland Wilson - Middle Tennessee District 2
Ms. Wendy Hellum
Mr. Christopher Jefferson - Middle-West Tennessee District 3
Mr. Cecil Giles
Mr. Michael Miller - West Tennessee District 4
Mr. Robert Marshall
Mr. Laron Jackson