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Meet the 2023 Mentors!

Annette March-Grier, RN CFSP

Annette_March-GrierAnnette R. March-Grier, RN, CFSP, is a native of Baltimore and vice president of a family business, March Funeral Homes, located in Maryland, Washington, DC and Virginia. She is an RN, a mortician and the visionary of Roberta’s House Inc., a non-profit Family Grief Support Center founded in 2007 by the March family. Annette is the president and has led the way for grief education and support for grieving children and families in Baltimore for more than 37 years. She was selected by CNN, the world leader in news, as one of the Top Ten CNN heroes, 2014 for changing the world.

David Hernández, Jr.

Hernandez-DavidDavid Hernández, Jr is a first generation funeral director, founder and operator of Jersey Memorial Group with funeral homes and cemeteries in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia with 13 locations serving 2000 families each year. Many of his firms are consistent with NFDA Pursuit of excellence award recipients and as well as having the honor of Best of the Best in 2017. He is currently a Funeral Service Foundation Board Trustee.

Duane Hills

Hils-DuaneDuane E. Hills is President of Joseph Gawler’s Son Funeral Home in Washington, DC. Originally from rural Pennsylvania he moved to New York State before attending Simmons School of Mortuary Science in Syracuse, New York. In 2008, Duane transferred to SCI to manage a group of funeral homes and a cemetery in Lufkin, TX.

In 2012, he transferred to Washington, DC where he became the Assistant Manager at Joseph Gawler's Sons. Today, he holds the position of President.

Over the years he has held memberships with Rotary International, local fire departments, historical societies, churches, various Lincoln Groups as well as numerous volunteer opportunities to serve his community. He has also served on the DC Board of Funeral Directors and is licensed in DC, Virginia and New York State.

In 2022 Duane self-published a book on the history of Joseph Gawler's Sons entitled, "One Block West of the White House." His book has made it into the Presidential Library at the White House, the Law Library at the United States Supreme Court and the Scottish Rite Temple Library in Washington, DC.

Guest Speakers

Lynda Cheldelin Fell

Bryant-Hightower-appLynda Cheldelin Fell is founding partner of the International Grief Institute and international bestselling author of over 35 books including the award winning Grief Diaries series. A retired firefighter/EMT and bereaved mother, Cheldelin Fell has a background in trauma, grief, and holds a national certification in critical incident stress management. A popular keynote speaker and educator, she is a member of the continuing education faculty at Whatcom Community College teaching classes on resilience, managing grief in the workplace, and compassion fatigue. To research grief’s impact on society, she has interviewed people around the world including societal figures such as Martin Luther King’s daughter, and Heaven is For Real’s Pastor Todd Burpo. She has earned six national literary awards and five national advocacy award nominations for her work.

R. Bryant Hightower

Immediate past president of the National Funeral Directors Association

Bryant-Hightower-appBryant, of Martin & Hightower Funeral Home in Carrollton, Georgia, is part of a funeral service family that goes back three generations. He has served the state of Georgia in many ways, including terms as president of both the Georgia Funeral Directors Association and the Academy of Graduate Embalmers of Georgia. He has served as a deputy coroner for Haralson County and as a member of the Georgia State Board of Funeral Service.

On a national level, Bryant has served NFDA in many ways, including as a member of the Advocacy Committee, Budget Task Force, Governance Committee, Professional Conduct Committee, and Spokesperson Team. His national service also included representing Georgia on the NFDA Policy Board and serving on the NFDA Board of Directors as an at-large representative, secretary and treasurer.Committed to his community, Bryant has volunteered his time and talents with many organizations, such as the Carrollton Noon Rotary, Carroll Relay for Life, and the Tanner Medical Center Foundation. His local service also includes terms as president of the Carrollton Mainstreet Board of Directors, Carrollton Jaycees, Carrollton Evening Sertoma Club, Carroll County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited and Carrollton Blue Fins Board of Directors.

Hightower_Ruby_appRuby is a Certified Therapy Dog and Grief Counselor at Hightower Family Funeral Homes. She is a 5-year-old Australian Labradoodle and when she was just a pup she completed her certification with Ultimate Canine in Westfield, Indiana. Now, Ruby provides care and comfort to all ages during their time of grief. Ruby spends her days visiting with families during arrangement conferences, visitations and/or funeral services. Ruby is also certified to visit retirement homes, nursing homes & schools!