retired funeral director, Strickland Funeral Home, Hartwell, Georgia, died August 21, 2022, at age 95. Strickland was a former bookkeeper for Chapman Body Shop and a para-pro at Hartwell Elementary. In 1975, she helped husband Joe found and establish Strickland Funeral Home and went on to become a licensed funeral director in 1979.

Strickland was a member of First Baptist Church of Hartwell, where she was a member of the Willing Workers Sunday School class and a choir member for 60 years. She was also a member of Nancy Hart Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star.

She is survived by son Arnold, two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

co-owner, funeral director and preneed sales agent, London and Cornersville Funeral Homes, Lewisburg, Tennessee, died October 11, 2022, at age 43. Perryman served on the advisory committee of the Jefferson State Funeral Service Education Program in Birmingham. He is survived by wife Lee Cathey, daughters Paige and Abigayle, his father, a sister and two brothers.

retired funeral director and past president, Owen Funeral Home and Highlands Funeral Home, Louisville, Kentucky, died September 13, 2022, at age 80.

Miller received a bachelor’s degree in music and voice pedagogy from the University of Louisville and was a former organist and choir director at Aldersgate United Methodist and Audubon Baptist churches, and director of the flag corps with Doss High School Marching Band.

A female pioneer in the funeral service industry, Miller became a licensed funeral director in 1986. She lived her life’s passion following in the footsteps of her parents, Edith and Bird S. Owen Jr., founding owners of Owen Funeral Home.

Miller was awarded “Women of the Year” by Women in Funeral Service in 2000 and received Today’s “Savvy Sister Award” in 2003. Following the deaths of three babies during pregnancy, she created Our Little Angel Company, providing register books, preemie caskets and infant burial clothing.

Miller is survived by brother David; stepdaughters Charlene, Becky, Peggy and Barbara; three step-grandchildren; seven step-great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

funeral director and co-owner, Morris & Hislope Funeral Home, Science Hill, and Pulaski Funeral Home, Somerset, Kentucky, died October 18, 2022, at age 56. Dick was a member of the Citizen National Bank-Science Hill Branch Advisory Board. He is survived by his mother, aunts, an uncle and a host of cousins.

funeral director and owner, Lamiell Funeral Home, Canton, Ohio, died November 11, 2022, at age 61. Lamiell graduated from Xavier University and Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, joining his father in the family funeral home in 1983.

He was a member of the Rotary Club of Canton; Knights of Columbus, fourth degree; Catholic Men’s Luncheon Club; and the JCI Senators. He formerly served on the YMCA of Central Stark County Board of Trustees and as chairman of the Meyers Lake YMCA Board of Directors. He has been active in the Canton Jaycees, for which he was named a Jaycee of the Year; the Pro Football Hall of Fame Festival, for which he was a past chairman of several committees; the Buckeye Council Boy Scouts of America; and the CYC Community Recreation Center, for which he was a past president.

Lamiell is survived by wife Sharon; children Paul, Kelly, Kristine and Andrew; two grandchildren; mother and stepfather Sally and Bob Kitson; and brother Stephen.

of The Woodlands, Texas, passed away on December 22, 2022, at the age of 80. McMillen was born in DuBois, Pennsylvania, to Glenn O. and Rebecca Hartman McMillen and had an incredibly rich and varied life, always ready for the next challenge and adventure.

He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Margaret (Peggy) J. Learn; two children, Heather M. (Kelly) Blevins and Christian L. (Melissa) McMillen; two grandchildren, Alexandra R. and Hayden T. Blevins; two step-grandchildren, Chloe and Sophie Wolf; and sisters Maxine and Jan.

McMillen was a graduate of Punxsutawney High School, Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. During his more than 55 years in funeral service, he served in various senior executive positions with various companies and professional organizations, including as president of the Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association and later as president of NFDA.

McMillen was vice president of Fred F. Groff Funeral Home in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, before joining Service Corporation International and serving as senior vice president of operations and chairman and CEO of SCI Australia. He was also instrumental in the development of the American Funeral Service Museum in Houston and served as its first president.

McMillen never considered himself retired but was constantly thinking of new ventures, leading when he could and mentoring many funeral service personnel who sought out his counsel. His contributions to funeral service are many and varied. He will be remembered and greatly missed.

retired funeral director and founder, Redmon Funeral Home, Stow, Ohio, died November 1, 2022, at age 82. Redmon graduated from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and established Redmon Funeral Home in 1968.

He was a member of Stow Men’s Garden Club, Stow Masonic Lodge, the Summit County Funeral Directors Association (past president), the Ohio Funeral Directors Association, NFDA and Stow Munroe Falls Chamber of Commerce (past president). Redmon was also active as a sponsor/coach in Stow boys’ baseball, as a member of Stow Munroe Falls Rotary Club (Paul Harris Fellow) and was a founding member of the Stow Schools Foundation.

In the 1970s, because of his love for Stow, Redmon was the originator and chairman of “Stow Pride” week, a community celebration held during the week of July 4 and sponsored by the Stow Munroe Falls Chamber of Commerce. He also established the Presidents Club Scholarship Fund through the chamber of commerce to support scholarships for graduating high school seniors of chamber members.

He received many recognitions, including the Distinguished Service Award by the Stow Jaycees, the very first Small-Businessman’s Award by the Stow Sentry and, along with wife Lou-Ann, was elected a grand marshal for the 4th of July Parade.

He is survived by wife Lou-Ann; sons Kevin and Keith, who is also a funeral director at Redmon Funeral Home; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren

funeral director, formerly of Freund Funeral Home, Cuero, Texas, died October 16, 2022, at age 66. Scroggins became a licensed mortician in 1978 and worked for Freund Funeral Home for 27 years. In his later years, he worked all over the Crossroads area and was well known in the community.

He is survived by wife Sandy, daughters Misty and Jessica, sons Daniel and Robert, sister Barbara, nine grandchildren and three great-step-grandchildren.

funeral director and former owner, Diggs Funeral Home, Belleville, Texas, died October 15, 2022, at age 78.

retired funeral director and past owner, W.E. Pegues Funeral Directors, Tupelo, Mississippi, died September 19, 2022, at age 86.

Pegues graduated from John A. Gupton School of Mortuary Science in Nashville, Tennessee. He was a longtime member and served as president of the following boards: Tupelo Rotary Club, Community Development Foundation and the Mississippi Funeral Directors Association. He was a past chairman of Tupelo Airport Authority and also served as chairman of the BancorpSouth Center and the BancorpSouth Community Bank Board and Advisory Board.

Pegues also served on the North Mississippi Medical Center and the North Mississippi Kidney Foundation Board of Directors Executive Committee. In 1999, due to the generosity of a donor, he received a kidney, for which his wife and daughters will be eternally grateful.

Pegues is survived by wife Sylvia; daughters Sherie, Lisia and Kimberly; two granddaughters; two great-grandsons; and a sister-in-law.