FFDA Foster Child Funeral Program
By Leigh Ann Bradley, FFDA Executive Director

Recognizing a need in our state, the FFDA entered into an agreement with the Florida Department of Children and Families to provide funeral arrangements for foster children.  The plight of a foster child is tragic enough without the additional burden of funding for a funeral of one of these children.  Foster children often have no permanent family involved and no resources to help, especially with financial matters.

In 2000, a Senator approached FFDA with concerns about the lack of funding for funeral for foster children after a foster child died in his district.  Shortly thereafter, the agreement between FFDA and DCF was negotiated.  Since the Foster Child Funeral Program began, FFDA members have provided dignified, compassionate funerals to over 100 children.

Many people in the community have expressed their appreciation, including Governor Jeb Bush, who said “I would like to take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt appreciation for the services provided by the Florida Funeral Directors Association’s Foster Child Funeral Program. FFDA saw a need to serve the most vulnerable members in our society and came forward to meet that need.”  Mr John McCarthy, Executive Director of Child and Family Connections (the lead agency for community based care in Palm Beach County) has expressed his thanks and gratitude for this "important and critical service which is desperately needed during times of family tragedy that cause such an overwhelming sense of grief and loss.”

To participate in the FFDA Foster Child Funeral Program, the DCF District Administrator should contact FFDA Executive Director Leigh Ann Bradley for a Foster Child Funeral Program Form.  After completing the information requested and returning the form the Ms. Bradley, she will contact the FFDA District Director in the area where the death has occurred. The District Director either handles the funeral or calls around the district seeking assistance from FFDA members. In some cases race, religion or culture determines who is called upon for assistance.

Below is a list of those who have provided this priceless service to these precious children:

A HEARTFELT THANKS TO:

• Thomas H. Ralph, T.M. Ralph Plantation Funeral Home in Plantation, FL
• Kevin Farris, McLaughlin Mortuary, Ft. Walton Beach, FL
• David Chapman, Gulf Coast Wilbert, Inc, Crestview
• Lavonne Vasquez, Hurlburt Officers Spouses Club, Hurlburt Air Force Base, Hurlburt
• Keenan Knopke, Stewart Enterprises, Winter Park
• Brian Gargis, Florida Mortuary, Allapattah Chapel, Miami
• Bart Way, Southerland Family Funeral Home, Panama City
• John Lynch, City Manager of Lynnhaven which administers Lynnhaven Cemetery
• Designs by Carmen, Florist, Panama City
• Greg Mason, Greg Mason Funeral Home, Miami
• Daniel Hicks, Hicks Industries, Inc., Miami
• Graceland Memorial Park Cemetery, Miami
• Marion Graham, Marion Graham Mortuary, Jacksonville
• Bill Maddox, Florida Wilbert, Inc, Jacksonville
• Louis Schwartz, Edgewood Cemetery, Jacksonville
• Robert Feury, Young & Prill Funeral Home, Port St. Lucie
• Piney Grove Cemetery, Ft. Pierce
• Al Gilstad, Lee Memorial Park Funeral Home, Ft. Myers
• Steve Schwinghamer, Phil Kiser Funeral Home, Ft. Myers
• Kenneth Peele, Jr., Carthage Chapel Funeral Home, Jacksonville
• Roy Weimert, Arlington Memorial Park Cemetery, Jacksonville
• Dave Lowery, Panciera Memorial Homes, Hollywood
• ABCO Crematory (T.M. Ralph Funeral Home), Ft. Lauderdale
• Thomas H. Ralph, T.M. Ralph Plantation Funeral Home, Plantation
• Robert Hernandez, Southern Memorial Cemetery, Miami
• Fernando Pimentel, Sunset Memorial Park, Miami
• Richard Macon, Freeman Funeral Home, Pompano Beach
• Lakeland Funeral Home, Lakeland
• Tracy Huggins, Baldwin-Fairchild Cemeteries & Funeral Homes, Orlando
• Rick Perry, Baldwin-Fairchild Cemeteries & Funeral Homes, Apopka
• Sorrento Cemetery, Sorrento
• Portier Funeral Home, Miami
• Richard “Gene” Williams, Williams-Thomas Funeral Home, Gainesville
• Gary Quattlebaum, Quattlebaum-Holleman-Burse Funeral Home, West Palm Beach
• Royal Palm Memorial Gardens, West Palm Beach
• Paul Taylor, Aaron Funeral Services, Miramar
• Eric Maspons, Maspons Funeral Home, Miami
• Our Lady of Mercy Cemetery, Miami
• Cephus Granberry, Peoples Funeral Home, Marianna
• Don McLean, Whidden-McLean Funeral Home, Bartow
• Alligood-Carroll Funeral Home, Perrine
• Tom Corn, Roberts Funeral Home, Ocala
• William “Billy” Beggs, Beggs Funeral Home, Madison
• C.E. Henry, Ellenton Funeral Home, Ellenton
• Dwight Johnson, Koontz Little Chapel Funeral Home, Ft. Walton Beach
• Sandra Ramirez, E.Earl Smith Funeral Home, Lake Worth
• Gerald Richardson, Baldwin-Fairchild Funeral Home, Sanford
• Oaklawn Memorial Park, Sanford
• Dan McGivern, Cofer-Kolski-Combs Funeral Home, Miami Shores
• Sylvia Perkins, Southern Memorial Park, Miami
• Herb Popple, Hillsboro Memorial Gardens, Brandon
• Jay’s Funeral Home, Perrine
• Yvette McPhilips, Graceland South Memorial Park, Miami
• Karl Flagg, Karl N. Flagg Memorial Chapel, Palatka
• Roger Slater, Kraeer Funeral Home, Margate
• John Bannus, Forestlawn North Cemetery, Pompano Beach
• A.B. Coleman, A.B. Coleman Mortuary, Jacksonville
• Jody Brandenburg, Edgewood Cemetery, Jacksonville
• Maru Suarez, Graceland Memorial Park, Miami
• Devin Russo, Restlawn Memorial Park, Jacksonville
• Steve James, Sylvan Abbey Funeral Home, Clearwater
• Gary Smith, Hardage-Giddens Funeral Homes, Jacksonville
• Nancy Lohman, Ormond Memorial Funeral Home, Ormond Beach
• Paul Mitchell, Bass Okeechobee Funeral Home and Crematory
• Dan Perrin, Dorsey & Earl Smith Funeral Home, Lake Worth