South Carolina H 4829: Morticians Association, Inc.- A Living Monument to the Black Morticians in SC

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4829 Text of Previous Version (Jan. 14, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4829

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A house RESOLUTION

TO CONGRATULATE 
THE SOUTH CAROLINA MORTICIANS ASSOCIATION FOR THE OUTSTANDING SERVICE THESE 
DEDICATED MORTUARY PROFESSIONALS PERFORM FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE PALMETTO STATE 
AND UPON THE ONE HUNDRETH ANNIVERSARY OF THEIR SIGNIFICANT WORK THROUGH THE 
ASSOCIATION.

Whereas, the South 
Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that the South Carolina 
Morticians Association will celebrate ten decades of meaningful service and 
compassionate assistance to families throughout our great State; and

Whereas, in 1924, E.N. 
Isom of Chester conceived the idea of an association of funeral homes owned by Black 
directors and shared his vision about possible benefits until a consensus grew; 
and

Whereas, the first 
meeting was held in 1925 at Zion Baptist Church in Columbia, and undertakers 
continued to meet under the direction of the Independent National Funeral 
Directors Association; and

Whereas, from these 
meetings grew what was initially called the Colored Funeral Directors and 
Embalmers Association of South Carolina with Columbia's Willis C. Johnson the 
first president; and

Whereas, the first 
meeting attendees included Eugene Gadsden, Julius P.L. Fielding, Eddie C. Mickel, 
and Jacob G. Moultrie, all of Charleston; T.A. Williams and Pearl Williams of 
Newberry; E.A. Bythewood of Orangeburg; J.E. Spann of Chester; T.H. Pinckney of 
Columbia; A.A. Alston of Georgetown; and Edmund Perry Palmer of Sumter; and

Whereas, from the 1900s 
to the 1940s, the State Board of Embalmers allowed anyone to open a funeral 
home, provided they had a licensed embalmer, paving the way for Black 
entrepreneurs to become funeral home directors; and

Whereas, the number of Black 
embalmers grew, and many more funeral homes were established through the 1940s 
and 1950s. From the 1950s to the 1970s, funeral directors served as business 
leaders in the community, state, and nation, and the association became a 
catalyst for social justice on the state and national levels; and

Whereas, under the 
leadership of Charles Mason, the association was renamed the South Carolina 
Morticians Association, Inc. (SCMA) during the 1960s and was divided into 
districts to allow closer contact among its members; and

Whereas, South Carolina 
gained prominence when Richard Haile Jr. of Camden was elected president of the 
National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association (NFDMA) in 1960, of which 
the SCMA is a member; and

Whereas, each year the 
SCMA hosts an annual convention, beginning the week after Mother's Day, to 
elect state officers. A governor and secretary from each district serve on the 
state board of directors, and district officers manage their district's affairs; 
and

Whereas, the 
association's legislative committee studies legislative matters affecting the 
profession, and the association holds frequent workshops and seminars to keep 
members informed about state funeral laws and regulations that help them remain 
compliant; and

Whereas, the South 
Carolina House of Representatives appreciates the distinguished and highly regarded 
contributions that the South Carolina Morticians Association and its members 
have made to this State and join with them in celebrating one hundred years of 
service to their communities. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House 
of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, congratulate 
the South Carolina Morticians Association for the outstanding service these 
dedicated mortuary professionals perform for the citizens of the Palmetto State 
and upon the one hundredth anniversary of their significant work through the 
association.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution 
be presented to the president of the South Carolina Morticians Association.

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This web page was last updated on January 14, 2026 at 02:45 PM