Independent Funeral Directors of Florida (IFDF; Tallahassee) elected P. Cameron Naugle Jr. as its 2024-25 president during its IFDF Annual Conference & Trade Show, which was held at Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Palm Coast, Florida, May 29-June 1. Naugle, a fourth-generation funeral director, is president of Naugle Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Jacksonville. He previously served on the IFDF Board of Directors as president-elect, vice president and Region 2 director.
In addition, IFDF installed two new board members during its annual conference. Quinn Haisley-Wheeler, director of funeral service operations/pet services at her family’s firm, Haisley Funeral & Cremation Service and Treasure Coast Cremations (Fort Pierce), was installed as Region 5 director. Jack Roland, general manager of Roberts Funeral Home (Dunnellon), where he also serves as the funeral director in charge of both Roberts and Florida Cremation (Ocala), was installed as an at-large director.
Other members of the 2024-25 IFDF Board of Directors include Immediate Past President David Rosenbalm, director of operations, Beyers Funeral Home and Crematory (Leesburg) • President-elect Tim Adams, owner, Adams Funeral Home (Blountstown) • Vice President Peter Rene Martin, owner, Bernardo Garcia Funeral Homes (Miami) • Secretary Earline Blumhagen, Robert Bryant Funeral & Cremation Services (Orlando) • Treasurer Brad Zahn, owner, Tillman Funeral Home & Crematory (West Palm Beach) • Region 1 Director Rocky Bevis, owner, Bevis Colonial Funeral Home (Tallahassee) • Region 2 Director J. Garrett Milton, owner, Archer-Milton Funeral Home (Lake Butler) • Region 3 Director Charles E. Davis, owner, Charles E. Davis Funeral Home (Inverness) • Region 4 Director Kayla K. Alexander, Sunrise Funeral Home (Sanford) • Region 6 Director William Schichtel Jr., vice president, Heath Funeral Chapel & Crematory (Lakeland) • At-large Director Mike Lewis, co-owner, Lewis Funeral Homes & Crematory (Milton) • At-large Director Mark Taylor, Hardin-Pauli Funeral Home (Eustis).
IFDF bestowed many awards during its annual conference. Eric McKenna, president of Gables Capital Management (Miami), received the IFDF Exemplary Supplier Award. McKenna has served as the IFDF I-Trust investment manager since the trust’s inception more than 30 years ago and is also IFDF Foundation chair.
In addition, Charles McClellan, IFDF founding member and longtime supporter, and owner of Charles McClellan Funeral Home (Quincy), received the W. Clyde Lankford Distinguished Service Award, which is bestowed on a funeral director who exemplifies the essence of funeral service to families, the community, colleagues and the residents of Florida.
Next, IFDF Executive Director M. Juhan Mixon presented a special recognition award to former Associate Executive Director Michele Hood, who retired from IFDF in 2020 after 25 years. Said Mixon about Hood: “She embodied the association’s values of independence, community service and families serving families. She was a constant and welcome presence within the association and a great source of institutional knowledge. Michele was our foundation for so many years.”
Finally, in recognition of the achievements of its members, IFDF distributed two more special awards. Since 1996, members who perpetuate their businesses by bringing in the next generation of their family to the profession receive a Generation Award. This year, Douglas M. Udell Funeral Home (Live Oak) received the Two Generations Award, and Maspons Funeral Homes (Miami), received the Three Generations Award.
Firms celebrating their 20th or 30th anniversary as IFDF members receive a Milestone Award. This year, three firms received their 30-year Milestone Award: Anthony Allen, Allen-Beyer Funeral Home (Orlando) • Manny Adams, owner, Beth Shalom Memorial Chapel (Orlando) • Henry L. Postell II, Postell’s Mortuary (Orlando). Three firms received their 20-year award: Mandisa Tomlinson, Jude Lherisson, Jose Pedreira and Isabella Pedreira, Grace Funeral Chapels (Lauderhill) • David Rickner, Swilley Funeral Home & Cremation Services (Tampa) • Richard Trahan, Trahan Family Funeral Home (Pensacola). ifdf.org