Jacob "Jay" Hunn

Hunn, Black & Merritt Funeral Home & Crematory
401 N Main
Eufaula, OK 74432
jhunn1989@gmail.com
918-689-2553

Campaign Statement

I come before you as a candidate for the Member At Large position, not just as a professional in the funeral industry, but also as someone who has dedicated their life to the solemn service of guiding families through their most difficult moments. My journey in funeral home leadership has not only been a career but a calling, one that has taught me the profound importance of empathy, excellence, and ethics in our profession.

As an owner of a funeral home, I have navigated the intricate balance between honoring timeless traditions and embracing necessary innovations in our field. This experience has endowed me with a deep understanding of the business's operational, financial, and legal aspects. I have been in the trenches, transforming challenges into opportunities for growth and learning, ensuring that our services not only meet but exceed the expectations of the families we serve.

Managing a funeral home staff has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my career. Leadership, to me, means fostering a team environment where respect, integrity, and dedication are paramount. I have worked diligently to create a culture where every staff member feels valued, where their contributions are recognized, and where continuous learning and improvement are part of our daily routine.

If elected as Member at Large, I pledge to bring this wealth of experience, my unwavering commitment to excellence, and my genuine compassion for the bereaved. Together, we can continue to elevate our noble profession, ensuring that we not only meet the needs to the families we serve today, but also anticipate and adapt to the challenges of tomorrow.

Campaign Bio

With a strong foundation rooted in Hobart, Oklahoma, my journey from the humble beginnings of washing cars and assisting with funerals in Buffalo, Oklahoma, to achieving a Bachelor of Science degree in Funeral Service from the University of Central Oklahoma is a testament to my dedication and hard work. My marriage to Kathy in 1994 and the joy of raising two sons, Jake and Josh, adds a deeply personal layer to my narrative, showcasing my commitment not only to my profession but also to my family. This blend of professional growth and family values resonates with a sense of community and dedication, qualities that are invaluable in the funeral service industry.

Carlton Maye Jr.

Hill's Mortuary
58 Packinghouse Rd
Statesboro, GA 30458
carltonmayejr@gmail.com
912-764-7134

Campaign Statement

When I reflect upon serving in the role as NFDA Member at Large, I think of this as my next most pivotal opportunity to serve those whom I am fortunate to work alongside in a career that I am most passionate about. To me, funeral service is a ministry to provide closure for the survivors and loved ones of the deceased. It is a ministry that I take seriously and hold near and dear to my heart.

As a licensed funeral professional, I have worked consistently demonstrating my commitment to the death care industry and serving families with an unwavering dedication to remain compassionate and empathetic.

The immediate contributions that I bring to the NFDA Board of Directors include over 20 years of experience, an astute leadership acumen, and a passion to serve others through education and professional development.

My priorities consist of the following:

-Education and dissemination of information

-To evolve with the current times and maintain an open mindset to relevancy in industry trends

-Commitment to serving the living with passion and provide support to those who need our death care services

Some of my professional organization affiliations include member of Georgia Funeral Service Practitioners Association where I serve as Chairman of Sixth District and Education and Research Director. I am also a member of the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association, National Funeral Directors Association, International Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Association and the Academy of Graduate Embalmers of Georgia.

My most recent accomplishments are being awarded the destination of Certified Funeral Service Practitioner and nomination and acceptance into the Leadership Warner Robins Class of 2024 through the local Chamber of Commerce.

Service is one of my main purposes in life. I enjoy sharing my knowledge to help others achieve their goals, especially my pathology and embalming students. My motto is “Quitting is Not an Option”.

I strongly believe that my background in funeral services, leadership ability, and tenacity to serve others in the community qualify me as a viable candidate for this role.

It is my hope that I can gain your support to join alongside the NFDA Board members in doing the important work to meet our mission to provide our members with critical information, innovative tools, resources and the professional community they need to serve families, run sustainable businesses and become pillars in their communities.

Thank you for your consideration

Campaign Bio

Carlton Maye is a pragmatic leader in the funeral service industry with an extensive background in banking and contracting. He is a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner and is a Licensed Embalmer, Funeral Director, and the Managing Partner with Richard R. Robinson Funeral Home of Warner Robins Georgia. Carlton is the Funeral Director in Continuous Charge at Hill’s Mortuary of Statesboro, Georgia. He is currently employed with the United States Department of Defense as a Civilian Contract Specialist. Carlton has proven experience in sales, management, human resources and marketing. Carlton’s educational background includes an Associate Degree in Mortuary Science; a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, as well as a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. Understanding the value and power of education in one's profession, Carlton embraces being a lifelong learner as well as sharing his knowledge to teach and enhance the well-being of others. As such, he is a Distance Learning Adjunct Faculty Member at Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service. Carlton maintains an active involvement in various professional associations and unselfishly volunteers his time to contribute to achieving each of their missions and goals. Service is one of Carlton’s main purposes in life.

Ladd Pulliam

Jones and Son Funeral Home
P.O. Box 449
Richton, MS 39476
ladd.pulliam@hotmail.com
601-788-6000

Campaign Statement

As a funeral director and embalmer for over 20 years, I have seen our professional go through some pretty drastic changes, with what I believe to be more and more to come. We as members of NFDA need leaders on the board of directors that will face these changes head on and not be afraid to take the actions necessary to continue to grow our organization. As a member of our state association board for almost 20 years, I have helped to guide our association through good times and bad, all while striving to promote our profession in a more positive manner. A successful board is not one person, it is a group working together to make great things happen and build on the foundations laid before us.

We have to continue to promote the recruitment and retention of good employees and work to show them the value of funeral service so that can be passed along to the families we serve. In a world of steadily climbing cremation rates, we need to work harder on promoting the importance of body present services to offer closer and being the healing process. Working with mortuary colleges and member funeral homes to continue to offer more ways for young people to be involved is, I believe, a key to keeping them involved for years to come.

Campaign Bio

For the last twenty-four years, I have had the honor of being a small town funeral director serving my friends and neighbors in their time of need. I, like many of you, have always thought of this profession more as a calling than a job, and I have always made it my goal to serve every family to the very best of my ability. I have carried this same desire for service with me through my years of service on the board of directors of the Mississippi Funeral Directors Association, and would love the opportunity to continue that service as your next At-Large member of the NFDA Board of Directors. We all want to see our association grow and continue as the standard of excellence in funeral service, and with strong leaders, we can make that happen together.

Bill Vallie

Sunset Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home
6801 E. Business 20
Odessa, TX 79762
vallie@sunsetodessa.com
432-559-4252

Campaign Statement

Being a good listener and acting on the needs of others. This is something my mentors taught me early in my career. This advise has served me well in my personal and business life. I have been fortunate to have worked under the leadership of a family owned firm as well as a major funeral corporation. These work experience has provided me with successful tools to better serve families as well as staff under my management. I saw the need to be active in my profession and became a board member of the regional funeral directors association and later a board member of the state association. Serving on several committees and later as the association president. I have been active in legislative affairs in Texas as a committee member and chairperson. I have found that I enjoy working with legislators to introduce bills to better our profession and to help defeat bills that do the opposite. I was honored to serve Texas as the policy board representive up until it was dissolved. In the role of police board I was able to hear about all the different needs across the United States. In the end we funeral professionals all want to do the same thing, serve each family with the highest dignity and respect.

Campaign Bio

Born and raised in West Texas. Earned my funeral directors license in 1976 have worked for private independent operators and major corporation. I still carry the mindset that was demonstrated to me early in my career of serving each family with the highest form or dignity and respect.

Began working with the state association on the regional level and later as a board member of Texas Funeral Directors Association and president 2006 - 2007, policy board representive to NFDA for 7 years. While serving on the TFDA board I have been able to work to change, add, and defeat laws in Texas to better serve the funeral profession. I work closely with the Texas Funeral Commission on current and proposed laws effecting the funeral profession.

Early in my life I served on school committees in Midland, served on several booster for 4-H and served as president of the Girls softball booster club. Served on the United Girls Softball Association where I helped to develop tournaments that had teams from all 50 states participate in. Past active member of the Lions & Rotary Club.

Married to Tammy Martin and have three children Penny, Billy, and Megan, five grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.