Funeral Service Technology EAST MISSISSIPPI
“Preparing Caregivers for the 21st Century”
C O M M U N I T Y
C O L L E G E
Funeral Service Technology
Scooba campus
EMCC selected as one of the
“Ten Top Schools for Funeral
Service Education”
The Southern Funeral Director
- May of 2007 Special Education Issue
Hawkins Career and Technical Complex located on the Scooba Campus.
Established in 1974, the Funeral
Service Technology program at East
Mississippi Community College located
on the Scooba MS campus is dedicated
to providing a quality educational
experience at the lowest possible cost
for those interested in Funeral Service.
EMCC is a state-supported institution
and the FST curriculum is structured
solely to the needs of the student.
Occupying over 3,000 square feet of
space, the Funeral Service Technology
department is located in the Hawkins
Career & Technical Complex on the
Scooba Campus. Included in this space
is a classroom, instructor offices, an
embalming laboratory, a computer
laboratory, a casket selection room with
an arrangement conference room/lounge.
The Funeral Service Technology
program at East Mississippi Community
College is accredited by the American
Board of Funeral Service Education
(ABFSE), 3414 Ashland Avenue,
Suite G, St. Joseph, Missouri 64506,
Telephone (816) 233-3747. (www.abfse.
org) Accreditation allows graduates to
then become nationally certified by the
International Conference of Funeral
Service Examining Boards. Additionally,
EMCC is accredited by the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools,
1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 300334-07. Telephone number (404) 697-4500
to award the Associates Degree.
Accreditation is very important for
those students who want to continue their
education after receiving an Associate
Degree in Funeral Service Technology.
Since EMCC is accredited by the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools,
credit hours are generally transferable
to other institutions of higher education.
For some 37 years, the EMCC Funeral
Service Technology program has grown
and improved with each year of existence.
Beginning with a single classroom and
laboratory, the program now allows
students to receive hands-on experience
and training with simulated funeral
ceremonies, mock merchandising,
counseling sessions, and the handson enhancement of embalming skills
through clinical exercises supervised by
off-campus preceptors made available
by affiliation agreements with area
Mississippi and neighboring states’
funeral home establishments. As a
testimony to the caliber of Funeral
Service education offered at EMCC,
the program currently averages some 35
students reflecting a pattern of steady
enrollment.
Working and counseling with individual
students and assisting them to achieve
their goal are the primary objectives
of the department. The department is
continually in contact with funeral home
establishments throughout Mississippi
as well as the United States. Students are
encouraged to follow-up all employment
opportunities regardless of where they
are located with the acknowledgment
that successful careers in Funeral Service
result from diligence and dedication.
Former graduates are now working
throughout the South as well as other
parts of the United States, which is a
testimony to the success of the Funeral
Service Technology program. Many
of them are prominent leaders of their
communities, which serves as a further
testimonial to their successful careers.
East Mississippi Community College Welcomes You!
Page 1
Welcome To Prospective
Students
On behalf of the
East
Mississippi
Community College
family, I wish to extend
a warm welcome to
prospective students
with an interest in the
field of Funeral Service
Technology.
Established in 1975,
EMCC’s
Funeral
Service Technology program is the oldest and
largest of its kind in the state. The FST program
offers the Associate Degree in Funeral Service
Technology which will allow graduates to
pursue licensure in those states recognizing and
requiring such a degree. It is also recognized
by the International Conference of Funeral
Service Examining Boards and the Mississippi
State Board of Funeral Service.
In May 2007, “The Southern Funeral Director,”
a national trade publication, recognized
EMCC’s Funeral Service Technology program
as one of the ten best funeral service education
programs in the country. This coveted honor
from industry professionals shows the high
quality of EMCC’s instructional staff who work
diligently to ensure that program graduates are
well prepared for their chosen career.
The Thomas L. Davis Administration Building houses the EMCC administration including the
President; the Vice President for the Scooba Campus; and other administrative officers and
support staff for the college.
The F. R. Young Student Union Building accommodates the Dining Hall, the Campus Bookstore,
the Board of Trustees Conference Room and the Commons for student lounging.
The program is offered at EMCC’s home
campus in Scooba located in Kemper County,
Mississippi.
Funeral Service Technology students can opt
for the full college experience by living on
a residential campus and taking part in oncampus activities. Cheering for EMCC’s
nationally and regionally ranked athletic teams
is one of many activities that students enjoy.
Also, the class schedule makes the program
accessible to commuter and non-traditional
students. Two experienced and well qualified
instructors guide and deliver the Funeral
Service Technology program at EMCC. Most
importantly, each instructor understands that
a career in Funeral Service Technology is
not just a profession, but a calling, and they
impart a unique blend of professionalism
and compassion to their students. Program
graduates go on to work in funeral homes
throughout the state of Mississippi and beyond.
Testimonials from former students are included
in this brochure and I invite you to read them.
I also invite you to visit our beautiful campus
and meet our outstanding faculty. They will
answer your questions and show you the
Funeral Service Technology facilities.
In closing, please remember that we are here to
serve you to the best of our ability.
Sincerely,
Dr. Rick Young
EMCC President
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Women’s Honors Residence Hall is one five residence halls for EMCC students – three
residence halls for male students and two residence halls for female students.
Residence Halls Available For Funeral Service
Technology Students
In addition to providing quality Funeral
Service Education, EMCC provides oncampus housing for full-time students
at the Scooba campus. There are 5
residence halls that range from renovated,
semi-private, air conditioned suites, to
completely new facilities. All residence
halls are equipped with cable television
outlets, telephone service, internet
hookup, and some rooms have Wi-Fi.
Laundromat facilities are provided for
each residence hall. The 3 residence
halls for men can house a total of 263
students and each have a supervisor who
lives in a separate apartment in the hall.
The two residence halls for women are
supervised 24 hours a day and can house
a total of 220 students. EMCC offers a
modern cafeteria dining hall serving three
quality meals daily in a comfortable setting
with a food court atmosphere. Students
also have the option of dining at The Grill,
which offers an alternative to the cafeteria
meal. The student center, which is housed
in the same building as the cafeteria
and bookstore, is equipped with several
wall-mounted televisions and seating.
The campus has a police department that
is on-call 24 hours seven days a week.
For additional information contact Tony
Montgomery, Dean of Student Affairs, at
(662) 476-5062 or (662) 476-5000. Send
request for Housing Application to EMCC,
P.O. Box 158, Scooba, MS 39358.
So You Want To Be A
Funeral Director?
“ If caring were enough, anyone could
be a Funeral Director.” But since caring
alone is not enough, a Funeral Service
professional must be skilled in a wide range
of abilities. The following adaptation is from
the National Funeral Directors Association’s
condensed listing of the attitudes and tasks
that a successful Funeral Director will
manifest at some point during his or her
career.
Works with the bereaved, exhibits
sensitivity, and compassion for those
whom you contact.
Is a professional caregiver who
enables families and communities to
express their concern for life and the
living.
Is a motivated man or woman who
practices a unique vocation and who
is legally required to posses certain
professional qualifications.
Is involved in a variety of activities
within the community.
Carries out administrative and
logistical tasks required by law,
custom, and accepted practice.
Provides support to the bereaved
during initial stages of the grief.
Arranges and directs funeral
ceremonies while being tolerant of
different faiths and cultures.
Arranges for removal of the deceased
from the place of death and prepares
the body according to the wishes of
the survivors and requirements of the
law.
Secures information for legal
documents, files deaths certificates
and other legal papers.
Assists survivors with details for
filing claims for death benefits.
Helps individuals adapt to changes in
their lives following a death through
post-death counseling and support
group activities.
Is a caregiver who desires to serve
others.
Believes that the ceremony is an
effective means of expressing
feelings and meeting needs.
Do You Have What It
Takes?
Many people have a distorted conception
of Funeral Directors. Usually, the public
has contact with a practitioner under
circumstances where the Funeral Director is
at his or her best. Often this results in the false
concept that a Funeral Director is someone
who always wears business attire and drives
around in an expensive automobile.
Hopefully, this article will dispel
such misconceptions and enlighten one to
the negatives and positives of the life of
a Funeral Director. This should assist the
prospective student in making a decision as
to the appropriateness of a career in Funeral
Service.
Funeral Directors do not have regular
working hours. Death takes no holiday. The
Funeral Director must be prepared to work
seven days a week and remain at the funeral
home late into the evening hours, when most
others are at home with their families. Of
course, many funeral homes’ work schedules
are adapted whereby an employee’s days
off could fall during the week or weekend.
Usually, larger firms are able to establish
a more guaranteed schedule than can the
family operated establishment.
Funeral Directors also get their hands
dirty. While on duty at the funeral home, the
average Funeral Service practictioner may
find himself or herself assigned to a number
of laborious tasks ranging from vacuuming
the carpet, washing automobiles, mowing
the lawn, and even opening and closing
a grave at a cemetery. In the larger firms,
someone (who is usually not a Funeral
Director) may be employed to handle these
duties. However, this doesn’t guarantee
that the multi-operation employee still will
not encounter other undesirable job-related
requirements such as working outside in
inclement weather.
Funeral Directors are constantly at risk
of contracting contagious diseases. While
Funeral Directors do take precautions when
handling human remains, they cannot always
be given prior warning when the deceased
dies from a particular illness which may
be associated with tuberculosis, hepatitis,
or even AIDS. Funeral Directors often are
called upon to handle the arrangements for
someone who has died as a result of a traffic
accident or some other sudden undesirable
conditions.
Despite the negatives of a Funeral
Director’s daily routine, there is a positive
side. Funeral Directors are held in high
esteem by the general public. They are
among the most prominent members of a
community. Often, they are chosen by fellow
citizens to serve in positions of community
and government leadership. The most
positive aspect of being a Funeral Director
is the satisfaction of serving the community
during a time of bereavement or tragedy. The
satisfaction of helping ease the pain of grief
and bring closure to a lost relationship is a
fulfillment which outweighs any negatives of
the profession.
Preparing For
Funeral Service
Technology
The prospective Funeral Service
Technology student is well advised to
take high school courses that will provide
an adequate foundation in preparation
for enrollment at EMCC. While it is not
mandatory for one to take these courses,
the students who avail themselves of these
courses will find they are better prepared for
entry into the program.
The Funeral Director, as a communicator,
must have good communications skills. It is
essential that a Funeral Director takes courses
in English Composition and Speech in order
to deal with families and the general public
effectively.
The Funeral Director, as an embalmer,
has an obligation to protect himself or herself
as well as the general public. A defensive
knowledge of diseases can be obtained
through courses such as anatomy, biology,
chemistry, and other health-related courses.
The Funeral Director, as a funeral
home manager or operator, will benefit
from a thorough knowledge of business
administration. Courses such as business
management, business law, accounting and
computer concepts will provide the necessary
foundation.
The Funeral Director, as a counselor,
must be able to help families deal with
grief as well as to assist them in choosing
an appropriate funeral ritual. Courses taken
in psychology and sociology will prove
beneficial toward meeting these tasks.
The Funeral Director, as a restorative
artist, must have skills to meet the aesthetic
expectations of the survivors. A foundation
for this can be gained by taking courses in the
physical and biological sciences in addition
to courses in art appreciation.
Again, it must be emphasized, a Funeral
Director must be a caring and compassionate
individual. Without these internal traits,
preparatory courses for a career in Funeral
Service will be of little value for one’s longterm success.
Page 3
Funeral Service Instructors Qualified and Experienced
EMCC is fortunate to have two
Funeral Service Technology instructors
who have a combined total of over
45 years of mortuary and education
experience and who far exceed the
minimum qualifications necessary for
these positions. Additionally, both faculty
members maintain a positive rapport with
the funeral service board of Mississippi
and that of neighboring states, as well
as of state and national funeral service
professional organizations.
Don Webb, the Director and FST Arts
Instructor, is a Funeral Service veteran
with some 25 years of experience.
A Florida native, he has worked in
the funeral profession
there as well as in
Alabama. A graduate
o f J e ff e r s o n S t a t e
Community College in
Birmingham, AL, he
received his Bachelor
of Science Degree from
Troy State University
at Dothan, AL. He received a Master of
Science Degree from the University of
West Alabama. He received a Certificate
on Police Office Standards and Training
from the State of Florida, served four years
as a Deputy Coroner in Houston County,
AL, and worked as an Investigator for
the Alabama Department of Forensic
Sciences. Mr. Webb holds the National
Board Certificate from the International
Conference of Funeral Service Examining
Boards, is licensed as an Embalmer/
Funeral Director in Alabama and holds the
Funeral Service License in Mississippi.
Octavia E. Dickerson, the FST
Science Instructor, has over 20 years of
academic and practical experience in
the death care profession. A Mississippi
native, Ms. Dickerson received both a
BS Degree in Business Administration
with a concentration
in Accounting and
a Master of Science
in Instructional
Te c h n o l o g y f r o m
Mississippi State
University. She returned
to school at EMCC and
completed an Associate
in Applied Science Degree in Funeral
Service Technology. She served as a
Deputy Medical Examiner Investigator
for the state of MS. When Hurricane
Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, she
volunteered her expertise by assisting
in the retrieval of casketed human
remains displaced by the storm. She has
helped coordinate in the facilitating of
seminars on embalming and restorative art
treatment for current students as well as
funeral service graduates. Ms. Dickerson
holds a National Board Certificate from
the International Conference of Funeral
Service Examining Boards and is licensed
as an Embalmer and Funeral Director by
the Mississippi State Board of Funeral
Service. In addition, Ms. Dickerson holds
a Secondary Teaching License in the area
of Business Education from the State of
Mississippi. Ms. Dickerson currently
serves Chair of the ABFSE Constitution
& By-Laws Committee and is Secretary
of the ABFSE College and University
Council. Contact information for the
ABFSE is 3414 Ashland Avenue, Suite
G, St. Joseph, Missouri 64506, telephone
816-233-3747. (www.abfse.org)
IN MEMORY
Ethridge Bilbo Hampton, Jr.
Born December 4, 1956
Died October 1, 2012
Adjunct Instructor
Funeral Service Technology
Advisory-Craft Committee Membership Reflects Diversity
of the Funeral Service Profession
The Funeral Service Technology program
at EMCC recognizes that clearly identifiable
input from all segments of the funeral
service profession is imperative if the
caliber of education and training received
by the Funeral Service student is adequate
to meet the demands of a growing profession
and changing societal attitudes toward
death care. To meet this objective, the
current membership of the Advisory-Craft
Committee for the Funeral Service Program
at EMCC reflects a diverse representation of
the profession.
Representing the Mississippi Funeral
Directors Association is David M.
Aimsworth, funeral director/embalmer at
Memory Chapel Funeral Home in Laurel,
MS. Representing the Mississippi Funeral
Directors & Morticians Association is Greg
Owens, owner/mortician at International
Mortuary Service, Jackson, MS. Representing
allied funeral service industries is Jack
Thomas, sales representative for Wilbert
Vault of Jackson, MS. Representing a crosssection of funeral home establishments and
the funeral profession in general are Cynthia
Norris, trade funeral director/embalmer,
Page 4
Columbus, MS; Angela Salisbury, funeral
director/embalmer at James F. Webb Funeral
Homes in Meridian, MS, Johnnie West,
funeral director/embalmer at Enterprise
Funeral Home, Meridian, MS. Benji Scott,
owner/operator of Scott Memorial Funeral
Home, Yazhoo City, MS. Randy Graham,
Coroner of Jasper County, Mississippi
and funeral director/embalmer/manager
of Colonial Chapel Funeral Home in Bay
Springs, MS and Raleigh, MS. Hollis Peel,
funeral director/embalmer at Gunter-Peel
Funeral Home, Columbus, MS; Gene
Vance, manager of Stephens Funeral Homes,
Meridian, MS, Union, MS, and Dekalb,
MS; Chris Scott, owner/director at ScottLarkin Funeral Home in Demopolis, AL;
Dexter Ritter, licensed funeral director/
embalmer of Canton, MS; Bruce Lynd,
funeral director/embalmer of Heritage
Funeral Home in Moss Point, MS. Danny
Shoemaker, Coroner of Newton County,
Mississippi &funeral director/embalmer at
Newton County Funeral Home in Newton,
MS.; Keith Dean, owner/mortician of
Dean Memorial Funeral Home, Brandon,
MS. Erica Peters-Jones, funeral director/
embalmer/business manager of People’s
Undertaking Company, McComb, MS.
Providing a voice for funeral service
education in the Mississippi Legislature are
the Honorable Earle Banks, funeral director
at Peoples Funeral Home, Jackson, MS
and the Honorable Steve Holland, owner/
operator of Holland-Harris Funeral Home,
Tupelo, MS. To provide a voice for the
student body, the current President of the
Mu Chapter of Sigma Phi Sigma funeral
service fraternity, Caleb Pounders, who is
a funeral director with Lowndes Funeral
Home in Columbus, MS, along with one
or more FST students chosen at large are
invited to participate in the Advisory-Craft
Committee meetings.
With such a caliber of funeral service and
related industry professionals, the quality
and future of the program at EMCC is
certainly to be enhanced in a positive manner
over the coming years. We are most grateful
and appreciative for these individuals to
be willing to take time form their busy
schedules and to advise and suggest how
the program may be continually improved.
Financial Assistance
Federal Pell Grants
A Federal Pell Grant is gift aid that is
awarded to students who have financial need
as determined by Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA). For an application
contact the financial aid office or go online
at www.FAFSA.ed.gov to complete the
application electronically. Federal Pell Grants
do not have to be repaid and for many students
these grants provide a foundation for financial
aid to which other aid may be added.
Federal Supplemental
Educational Opportunity
Grant (FSEOG)
The FSEOG is gift aid that is awarded to
students with exceptional financial need as
determined by completing the FAFSA. Priority
will be given to students with the lowest
Expected Family Contributions. These grants
do not have to be repaid.
Federal Work Study
The Federal Work Study program provides,
when available, jobs for undergraduate
students with financial need, as determined
by completing the FAFSA, allowing them to
earn money to help pay education expenses.
Students are allowed to work a number of
hours by the financial aid administrator based
on class schedule and academic progress.
Federal Work Study applications can be
obtained from the Financial Aid Office.
Federal Direct Loan
Program
The Federal Direct Loan Program allows the
student to borrow directly from the Federal
Government. Additional information can be
obtained at www.studentloans.gov or contact
the Financial Aid office at EMCC. These loans
must be repaid.
Mississippi Tuition Assistant
Grant (MTAG)
Funeral Service Technology Block Class Schedule
Students who are employed with a funeral home establishment or work at another job may be
able to utilize the Block Class Schedule in order to permit them to attend classes and continue
working. The Block Class Schedule requires a full-time student to attend classes only two (2)
consecutive days per week. Students who prefer to remain on campus all week may take the
Funeral Service Technology classes under the Block Class Schedule while taking their academic
classes under a traditional class schedule in a classroom setting when and where available, or
through an online class. The following example demonstrates the two (2) day Block Schedule
for the student who enrolls for a Fall Semester. NOTE: All Courses, days and times of classes,
including that of any clinical embalming exercises are subject to change without prior notice.
SEMESTER 1 (FALL)
MONDAY
8:00-12:00 FST 2423 Business Law
12:00-4:00 FST 1314 Funeral Directing
TBA
MAT 1313 *** College Algebra or
TBA
Natural Science
TUESDAY
FST 1113 Mortuary Anatomy I
FST 1523 Rest. Art/Color & Cosmetics
FST 1231 *Clinical Embalming I
ENG 1113 *** English Comp I
SEMESTER 2 (SPRING)
MONDAY
8:00-12:00 FST 1413 Ethics and Law
12:00-4:00 FST 2324 Merch/Mgt.
TBA
FST 1241 *Clinical Embalming II
TBA
CSC 1113 *** Intro to Computers
TUESDAY
FST 1123 Mortuary Anatomy II
FST 2623 Microbiology
TBA SPT 1113 *** Oral Communications
SEMESTER 3 (FALL)
WEDNESDAY
8:00-12:00 FST 2713 Psychosocial Counseling
TBA
FST 2251 *Clinical Embalming III
TBA
ACC 1213*** Accounting
TBA*** Social/Behavioral Science Elective
THURSDAY
FST 2633 Pathology
FST 1213 Embalming I
SEMESTER 4 (SPRING)
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
8:00 -11:00FST 2813 **Comprehensive Review FST 2273 Thanatochemistry
12:00-4:00
FST 1223 Embalming II
TBA
FST 2261 *Clinical Embalming IV
TBA
*** Humanities/Fine Arts Elective
*Students must have active, hands-on participation in a minimum of ten (10) clinical embalming cases. Such
cases may be performed by the student at an approved funeral home or mortuary service establishment having
an Affiliation Agreement with the FST department and under the supervision of a licensed embalmer who is
an approved off-campus preceptor. For the “10th case clinical” the student must perform such case under the
supervision of an FST instructor at an approved off-campus clinical site during the school week or on a weekend clinical exercise.
**In conjunction with taking FST 2813 Comprehensive Review, students must take the National Board
Examination (NBE) within a 45 day period prior to the official date of graduation.
*** All academic courses are recommended to be taken during the semester where listed on the Block Schedule
in a classroom setting when and where available, or through an online class.
MTAG awards are available to Mississippi
residents (at least 1 year prior to enrollment).
To be eligible, a student must be receiving
less than a full Federal Pell Grant and have a
minimum cumulative high school GPA of 2.5
on a 4.0 scale and a minimum ACT of 15. To
make application go online at www.ihl.state.
ms.us and click the Financial Aid link.
time for the first time in the Fall Semester.
Contact the Financial Aid Office for an
application or go online at www.emcc.edu for
complete scholarship criteria.
EMCC Scholarships
Students at EMCC have the opportunity to
apply for several funeral service scholarships.
These scholarships are provided through the
generosity of national organizations affiliated
with the funeral service profession. Some of
the more prominent organizations offering
scholarships include the American Board of
East Mississippi Community College awards
a number of scholarships in recognition of
demonstrated scholastic merit as determined
by the ACT score of the student. The applicant
must be a Mississippi resident enrolling full-
Diversified Funeral Service
Scholarships
Funeral Service Education (ABFSE) 3414
Ashland Avenue, Suite G, St. Joseph, Missouri
64506, telephone 816-233-3747. (www.
abfse.org), the National Funeral Directors
& Morticians Associations, the Joseph
E. Hogan Memorial Scholarship, the 100
Black Women in Funeral Service, the Key
Memories Scholarships Program, the OGR
Awards of Excellence Scholarships, the
SCI Scholarships, the Mississippi Funeral
Directors Scholarship and the Alabama
Funeral Directors Scholarship. Additional
information on these and other scholarships
can be obtained through the Funeral Service
Technology Department.
Page 5
Walter Bennett and Nakyda Osborne demonstrate the correct
procedure of removal of deceased human remains whether at an
institutional setting or at a residence removal.
Simulation of a funeral ceremony enables students to enhance their
professionalism and ability to handle unexpected problems.
FST students Jay Crane, Rachel Schultz, Carmen Phillips, and
Jessica Romanowski join Louis Charbonnet of Charbonett-Labat
Funeral Home in New Orleans for a “Jazz Funeral” procession.
Father Elvin Sunds of St. Patrick Catholic Church assists the student
in their understanding of the Catholic funeral rites and of the proper
protocol for carrying them out.
Page 6
Octavia Dickerson (center) FST Science Instructor shares a photo opt
with members of the Advisory-Craft Committee following a semesterly
meeting allowing input into strengthening the program’s commitment
to professionalism.
The Columbus Air Force Base Burial Detail demonstrates for FST
students the proper procedures for performing military funeral
exercises.
Lenee Campbell and Ron Waterman (2nd &3rd from left) of the
Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency present a check to SPS President
Sidney Burrell to assist the Sigma Phi Sigma fraternity for a class trip
to New Orleans. Joining the students in receiving the donation is Dr.
Thomas Ware (left) Vice-President for Instruction at EMCC.
The late Ethridge Hampton, FST Adjunct Instructor, explains to FST
students the appropriate use of religious items at a Catholic Prayer
Service.
Michael Huling discusses the FST Funeral Rule with fellow students,
Bruce Lynd, Jr., and Mitchell Croxton.
FST students were honored to meet former EMCC Funeral Service
Technology Director, Dr. Tom Taggard, while attending the NFDA
Convention in Orlando, Florida
Students share a moment with Bobby Herring of Pierce Chemicals at
the M.F.D. & M.A. Spring Conference and Funeral Service Exhibits in
Jackson.
Tim Pounders of Lowndes Funeral Home in Columbus, MS explains
the operation of a crematory retort and of processing of cremains.
The late Tommy Hurt of Wilbert Vault in Jackson always welcomed
FST students on a vault plant tour where they could have a better
understanding of Outer Burial Container construction.
Wayne McKickell (l) President and Damien Murrell (r) Vice-President of the
MFD&MA join FST Instructor Octavia Dickerson in presenting the “MFDMA Student
Of The Year” award to Kelvin Alvis at the MFD&MA Spring Conference in Tunica.
FST Students from EMCC were privileged to have participated in the
70th anniversary ceremonies commemorating the Bombing of Pearl
Harbor, held on December 7, 2011 at the WWII Museum in New Orleans.
FST student share a moment with alumni Jason Green (front,3rd from
right) at the National Funeral Directors Association Convention in
New Orleans, LA in October, 2010.
Page 7
Jerry Schoen of Lake Lawn Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens of
Metairie, Louisiana explains to visiting FST students the unique concept
of above ground crypt burial that is common to the New Orleans area.
FST students Jeremy Madison, Staci Rosenbaum, and Sy Runnels
meet National Funeral Director Association President Patrick Lynch
and staff at the MFD&MA National Convention in Atlanta, Georgia.
FST students, Jeremy Madison, Sy Runnels, and Staci Rosenbaum, join the
100 Black Women of Funeral Service Sec/Trea. Marylyn Burton; President
Dottie Hector; and Executive Secretary Elleanor Starks at the National
Funeral Directors & Morticians Association Convention in Atlanta, Georgia.
FST Students join with Albert lynn, Shawn Linton, Justin O’Brian,
Keith Rogers, Chris Meredith, and Kristin Meridian of Security
National Life who made it financially possible for the students to
attend the MFD&MA Spring Conference in Tunica, MS.
Bruce Lynd, Jr., (center) of Moss Point, MS is joined by his parents, his
wife, and by the MFDA President after he has been selected for the “2011
Gayle Galloway Student Of The Year” by the Mississippi Funeral Directors
Association.
FST Students join with alumni, Carmen Phillips (2nd from left) at the
NFDA Convention in New Orleans in October, 2010.
FST students visit the officers of the National Funeral Directors &
Morticians Association at their convention booth in New Orleans in
October, 2010.
Page 8
After two years of lecture, clinical, field trips, and the burning of the
mid-night oil with cramming for exams, it all pays off. Graduation
Day!
Admissions
Requirements
Admission to the Funeral Service
Technology Program at East Mississippi
Community College requires applicants to
have either a GED or high school diploma.
The program further requires applicants to
have achieved either a score of 17 or higher
on the ACT. To get the COMPASS equivalent
of a 17 composite ACT, a student must score
a particular score on the COMPASS test.
EMCC does not discriminate against the
disabled, on the grounds of age, race, religion,
sex, color, or national origin.
Remember, admission policies, class
schedules and graduation requirements are
subject to change without prior notice.
East Mississippi
Community College:
A Brief History
East Mississippi Community College
was initially established as an extension of
Kemper County Agricultural High School
in 1927. It has evolved through the decades
and continues to change to meet the needs
and demands of a changing society.
Beginning with twenty students in 1927,
when first accredited, it was originally
called East Mississippi Junior College,
and shared facilities with the Kemper
County Agricultural High School. Today,
the EMCC Scooba Campus consists of 287
total acres with approximately 160 acres
developed and approximately 127 acres
undeveloped. Twenty conveniently located
and modern buildings provide facilities for
administration, academic, and vocational
classrooms, laboratories and student housing
needs. Current enrollment at the Scooba
Campus is approximately 1000 students
reflecting a stable growth.
What Does EMCC
Offer The Community?
East Mississippi Community College seeks
to provide quality instruction in general
education and vocational-technical programs.
The College is committed to an education
program that combines senior-college
parallel, career and technical business, and
continuing education in a context that is
flexible enough to meet the range of needs
and abilities represented in the College
Community. The College intends that its
program shall function to meet seniorcollege parallel, education needs of students
intending to seek baccalaureate training as
well as to provide the technical or skills
training needs of those citizens seeking
retraining and/or employment. EMCC is
accredited by the Commission on College
of the Southern Association of Colleges and
Schools, 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA
30033-4097, Telephone Number 404-6794500 to award the Associate Degree.
EMCC desires to make higher education
available by offering quality education at the
lowest possible cost to every high school
graduate or GED qualified individual.
EMCC Enhances The
Quality of Funeral
Service Education
The Funeral Service Technology program
at EMCC is in complete compliance with
all published standards of accreditation
required by the American Board of Funeral
Service Education, (ABFSE) 3414 Ashland
Avenue, Suite G, St. Joseph, Missouri 64506,
telephone 816-233-3747. (www.abfse.
org). It has implemented new admission,
preparatory, and graduation requirements
which will better prepare students for the
National Board Examination (NBE) and
service to their community. The Block
Class Schedule requires class attendance of
only two (2) back to back days each week,
making educational pursuits for working
students a reality.
Statement of Aims and
Objectives
The program in Funeral Service
Technology has as its central aim
recognition of the importance of Funeral
Service personnel as (1) members of a
human service profession, (2) members
of the community in which they serve, (3)
participants in the relationship between
bereaved families and those engaged in the
Funeral Service profession, (4) professionals
knowledgeable of an compliant with
federal, state, provincial/territorial, and
local regulatory guidelines, as well as (5)
professionals sensitive to the responsibility
for public health, safety, and welfare in
caring for human remains. The Funeral
Service Program has the objectives of (1)
to enlarge the background and knowledge
of students about the funeral service
profession, (2) to educate students in every
phase of funeral service and to help enable
them to develop proficiency and skills
necessary for the profession, (3) to educate
students concerning the responsibilities
of the funeral service profession to the
community at large, (4) to emphasize high
standards of ethical conduct, (5) to provide
a curriculum at the post- secondary level of
instruction, and (6) to encourage student and
faculty research in the field of funeral service.
Employment
Opportunities
While most funeral homes are family
owned and operated, a large precentage are
owned by conglomerates such as SCI and
Stewart Enterprises. All funeral homes,
whether family-owned or corporate owned,
do employ graduates and successful passers
of the National Board Examination who may
not have funeral service backgrounds. The
key for employment opportunities at any
funeral service establishment is to be willing
to re-locate to another town or state where the
job opportunity is located.
Additionally, students should also look
into careers with funeral service or allied
mortuary careers such as pre-need burial
insurance, casket sales representatives, burial
vault, and other funeral related merchandise
and equipment manufacturing companies.
There are also positions such as autopsy
assistants, pathology assistants, forensic
field investigators, as well as licensed
entities which deal with tissue and organ
procurement. For these jobs, the degree
received through the FST program often is
sufficient for entry-level employment with
some of these allied entities.
Lastly, many entrepreneurial-minded
graduates may chose to utilize entities
such as florists, perpetual care cemeteries,
monument companies, cremation care,
removal, and embalming services as an initial
business activity before expanding such
into a traditional full-service funeral home
operation. And for some who have access to
capital, there is the opportunity to purchase a
funeral home from a current owner desiring
to sell or who does not have family interested
in continuing the business.
Contact the Funeral Service Technology
program at EMCC for further information
regarding such employment and career
opportunities.
Applying for
Admission to EMCC
and the FST Program
Here is the link to the admissions application:
https://www.applyweb.com/apply/emcc/
Students may also go to the website at www.
eastms.edu, and scroll to the bottom of the
screen and click on Apply Now.
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2013 - 2014 fees*
All fees due in advance or fee payment arrangements must be made in advance.
Full-time student fees for MS residents (12 continuous months other than educational):
Fees Fall Spring
Tuition
Registration Fee - Non Refundable
Housing
Health Clinic Fee (Mandatory for all Resident Hall students)
Parking Decal
Meals (5 days only ) 800.00 plus 125. flex dollars
(7 days only) 1000.00 plus 100. flex dollars
(Lunch only)
325.00 plus 50. flex dollars
1100.00
1100.00
120.00120.00
1000.00
1000.00
30.00
30.00
15.00
15.00
OTHER FEES Dormitory room deposit***
$100.00 per school year
Part-Time Registration Fee 65.00 per semester hour
Part-Time Registration Tuition 135.00 per semester hour
Books and Supplies
Est. 400.00 - 800.00 per semester
Course and Program Fee
Est. 30.00 - 200.00 as required
On-Line Course Fee 30.00 per 3-hour course
Dorm Key Replacement 35.00
Graduation Fee50.00
Late Registration 10.00 after 1st Class Meeting
Schedule Change, ID replacement 5.00 each
Transcript Fee5.00
Out of state Tuition - Full Time
1100.00 per semester
Out of state Tuition - Part Time 4.00 per semester credit hour
Returned Check Fee 15.00 each
Out-of-State Tuition: $1100.00 out of state tuition plus $1100.00 regular tuition ($2200.00 total) per
semester for full-time and $4.00 per semester hour for part-time residents of states other than Mississippi.
(Legal residency is determined by State regulations).
International Student Tuition: $139.00 per semester hour, part-time, in addition to regular tuition, or
$2200.00 for 12 hours or more.
NOTE: Funeral Services students who elect to attend classes on the two-days per week “Block Class”
schedule, may avail themselves to Residence Hall facilities and to Cafeteria Meal Tickets.
*ALL FEES AND
OTHER EXPENSES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE!
National Board Examination Results
The annual pass rate of first time takers of the National Board Examination (NBE) for the FST program at
EMCC, including the most recent three-year period for this institution, is posted on the East Mississippi
Community College website www.eastms.edu/students/classes/ct-programs/funeral-services/national
board examination results. All ABFSE accredited Funeral Service Education programs including EMCC
are posted on the ABFSE web site (www.abfse.org). The ABFSE may also be contacted at 3414 Ashland
Avenue, Suite G, St. Joseph, Missouri 64506, telephone 816-233-3747.
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What EMCC Graduates Are Saying
About Funeral Service Technology
“The FST program has opened doors that would
not have been possible otherwise. Currently I am
employed by a well respected and established
funeral home in Utah. I am performing every
aspect of the profession from meeting with
families to embalming. The FST program has
made this dream come true. The program works
if you work it.”
KIM PIERCE
Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer
Myers Mortuary
Odgen, Utah
“As a graduate of the Funeral Service
Technology program at EMCC, I have been
afforded the opportunity to work in the Autopsy
Department of the University of Alabama at
Birmingham, one of the largest hospitals in the
state of Alabama as a Pathologist Specialist II/
Embalmer. The FST Degree can open doors to
other careers.”
COURTNEY BYRD
Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer
Pathologist Specialist II/Embalmer
University of Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
“I choose EMCC in Scooba because of its
Block Class Schedule. Going to class 2 days
a week allowed me the flexibility to continue
employment while I furthered my education.
The EMCC Funeral Service Technology
program gave me the educational skills
I needed in order to enhance my family
business. The instructors made the lectures
interesting. They taught and presented
explanations that were easy to comprehend. I have recommended
EMCC to students who were interested in the field of Mortuary
Science.”
DEBRA SANDERS
Coroner, Leflore County, Mississippi
Licensed Funeral Director & Embalmer
Owner, Sanders & Sanders Funeral Home
Greenwood, Mississippi
“The small class sizes and caring,
knowledgeable and experienced staff
prepared me to not only score highly on my
NBE, but to land an excellent job I am proud
of. EMCC’s Funeral Service Technology
program prepared me not just for a job, but
for a career. “
BENJAMIN SIMPSON
Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer in
Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi.
Funeral Director/Embalmer
Kilpatrick Funeral Home
West Monroe, Louisiana
“For as long as I can remember, my goal was
to become a licensed mortician and operate
my own funeral home. East Mississippi
Community College was the only institution
capable of making my dreams become a
reality. The attention and dedication of the
instructors matched my need for lifelong
success. Because of their value system and
respect for their students, I am a licensed
director and mortician and the owner of Scott
Memorial Funeral Home in Yazoo City, Mississippi.”
BENJI SCOTT
Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer
Owner, Scott Memorial Funeral Home
Yazoo City, Mississippi
“The acknowledgement of the development
of my hands-on skills, resulted in my
professors’ bestowing on me the annual
Restorative Art Award. I passed the National
Board Examination and currently hold an
Embalmers and Funeral Directors license in
both Mississippi and Alabama. Importance
was placed on funeral professionalism.
Nothing is more rewarding to hear a family speak of you going
over and beyond their expectation. I just see it as taking what I
was taught and putting it into practice.”
Sandi Terrell
Licensed Funeral Director & Embalmer
Magnolia Chapel Funeral Homes & Mausoleum
Tuscaloosa & Northport, Alabama
“Being at EMCC was a great experience.
They staff had a very good knowledge of
what it took to be a modern day funeral
professional. They were attentive to student
needs and making sure the education you
received would be useful in the real world.
I would recommend to anyone the program
at EMCC. Just because it’s in a small town
doesn’t mean it’s a small program. Best
wishes to all future graduates. Professionally
Randy C. Sharpe.”
RANDY C. SHARPE
Manager, Arkansas Central Mortuary Service & Crematory
Licensed Funeral Director & Embalmer
Little Rock, Arkansas
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From the fundamentals…
To the finished product…
The objective of the EMCC Funeral Service Technology Program is to produce a well-rounded,
appropriately educated, caring, and compassionate Funeral Service practitioner who will serve his
or her community with professionalism and distinction.
If you feel the Funeral Service Technology program is for you, we invite you to visit the EMCC
Scooba campus and let us give you a personal tour of our facilities. Or, you may telephone, email,
or write to the address below, for additional information.
EAST MISSISSIPPI
C O M M U N I T Y
C O L L E G E
Funeral Service Technology
Post Office Box 158
Scooba, MS. 39358
(662) 476-5100 Don Webb
(662) 476-5101 Octavia Dickerson
(662) 476-5086 (Fax Machine)
Email: dwebb@eastms.edu Email: odickerson@eastms.edu
Web site: www.eastms.edu
East Mississippi Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs or activities. The following person has
been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Dr. Andrea Scott Mayfield, Vice-President of the Scooba Campus, Davis Administration Building,
Post Office Box 158, Scooba, MS 39358, (662) 476-5000 amayfield@eastms.eud
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