Founded in 1819, Memphis was dubbed Bluff City because of its geographic location. Recently, a group of area morticians opened Bluff City Mortuary Services to assist funeral providers in the Memphis metro area, the Mississippi Delta and elsewhere.

Jason Johnston, CFSP, co-founder of the business, notes that the new firm can provide professional removal services using properly dressed and professionally spoken staff, along with embalming services for textbook to difficult cases. In addition to sheltering remains onsite, the firm can also supply any needs for domestic and international receiving and/or forwarding of remains.

The company operates four professionally fitted mortuary transfer vehicles for institutional or residential removals, as well as vehicles for overland cross-country (per loaded mile) forwarding. Cremation services are available using a local family-owned crematory that operates two Matthews PowerPak II units. The company also employs two additional drivers and two additional licensed practitioners.

Initially, the other co-founders, Brian Freeman and Bria Hammond, felt the area needed a stand-alone mortuary service that only works with funeral professionals and does not compete with them by selling mortuary services to the public. After considering some changing avenues in managing funeral homes and cemeteries in the area, Johnston assisted in naming the mortuary service and soon became its general manager.

Johnston invites area funeral directors to contact the firm for pricing and to learn how it can assist their operations at time of need. Johnston is a longtime Rotarian, an active certified crematory operator, a member in good standing with the North American Division of the British Institute of Embalmers and involved with many industry associations. bluffcityms.com