Our Board Leadership
Committed. Engaged. Moving Us Forward.
The Board of Trustees is made up of men and women from across the profession whose participation is based solely upon a belief in – and a commitment to – the Foundation’s mission of lifting up grieving communities by investing in people and programs that strengthen funeral service.
Each member of our board leadership team may serve up to two three-year terms. In accordance with Foundation bylaws, at least 60% of the Board of Trustees must be licensed funeral directors and maintain membership with the National Funeral Directors Association.
2025-26 Funeral Service Foundation Executive Committee
L-R: Treasurer John Faulk, Chair Jeff Smith, NFDA Liaison Ellen Wynn McBrayer, Immediate Past Chair John Heald, Chair-elect Bryant Hightower
“It is with gratitude and appreciation that I step into the role of Chair to the Foundation. I’m honored to follow in the footsteps of those who have helped shape this Foundation into what it is today and whose leadership and vision have laid a strong foundation for the work ahead.”
JEFF SMITH
2025-26 Foundation Chair
Smith Family Funeral Homes | President
2025-26 Funeral Service Foundation Board of Trustees
Bottom Row L-R: Leili McMurrough, NFDA CEO Christine Pepper, Chair-elect Bryant Hightower, Immediate Past Chair John Heald, Chair Jeff Smith, Treasurer John Faulk, NFDA Liaison Ellen Wynn McBrayer, Kathy Kelley.
Top Row L-R: Carmalita March-Harris, Tim Schramm, Will Bischoff, Matt Outcalt, Tyler Anderson, Jimmy Lucas, Lisa Baue, Ashley Cozine, Jenn Parvin, Thomas Pontone, David Hernandez.
Not Pictured: Jimmy Altmeyer, Michael Soper.
2024-2025 BOARD OF TRUSTEES
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
JEFF SMITH*
Chair
Smith Family Funeral Homes
North Little Rock, AR
BRYANT HIGHTOWER*
Chair-elect
Hightower Family Funeral Homes
Carrollton, GA
JOHN FAULK
Treasurer
Service Corporation International
Houston, TX
JOHN HEALD*
Immediate Past Chair
Legacy.com
Chicago, IL
ELLEN WYNN MCBRAYER*
NFDA Liaison
Jones Wynn Funeral Homes & Crematory
Villa Rica, GA
JIMMY ALTMEYER*
Altmeyer Funeral Homes
Virginia Beach, VA
TYLER ANDERSON
Precoa
Portland, OR
LISA BAUE*
Baue Funeral Homes
St. Charles, MO
WILL BISCHOFF
Homesteaders Life Company
West Des Moines, IA
ASHLEY COZINE*
Cozine Memorial Group
Wichita, KS
DAVID HERNÁNDEZ*
Jersey Memorial Group
Old Bridge, NJ
KATHY KELLEY
ASD
Media, PA
JIMMY LUCAS*
Lucas Funeral Homes
Hurst, TX
CARMALITA MARCH-HARRIS*
March Family Funeral Homes
Baltimore, MD
LEILI MCMURROUGH*
Worsham College of Mortuary Science
Chicago, IL
MATT OUTCALT
Global Atlantic Financial Group
Batesville, IN
JENN PARVIN*
Batesville
Batesville, IN
THOMAS PONTONE
Matthews Aurora Funeral Solutions
Kearny, NJ
TIMOTHY SCHRAMM*
Howe-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services
Dearborn, MI
MICHAEL SOPER
Legacy Funeral Group
Houston, TX
CHRISTINE PEPPER
NFDA CEO
NFDA
Brookfield, WI