Georgia Secretary of State Press Office

Actions Taken by the Georgia State Board of Funeral Service at its February 12 Meeting

Macon, Ga.�The Georgia State Board of Funeral Service held its monthly meeting Tuesday, February 12, 2008.

The Board approved the following orders to accept fine monies for inspection violations and settling cases:

Dowdell Funeral Home, Cordele: Inspection citation of $50 for failure to maintain one operable hearse or combination hearse/ambulance.
Taylor Family Funeral Service, Tifton: Inspection citation of $800 for six violations: $50 for failure to maintain all outside ventilation openings screened; $200 for failure to maintain sanitary floors and walls; $50 for failure to maintain a separate sink for disinfecting hands and instruments; $200 for failure to maintain a clean and acceptable establishment; $200 for failure to maintain sanitary and clean instruments and tables; and $100 for failure to maintain one operable hearse.
Southeast Funeral Service, Inc., College Park: Inspection citation of $300 for failure to maintain the required minimum inventory of eight adult caskets. The inventory was deficient by three caskets.
Horis A. Ward Funeral Home, Olde Town Chapel, Conyers: Inspection citation of $100 for failure to maintain the required minimum inventory of eight adult caskets. The inventory was deficient by one casket.

The Board accepted the following Public Consent Order:

John Howell Dixon, Jr., Vidalia: The consent order places the licensee�s funeral director license on probation for a period of 3 years for permitting Murchison Funeral Home, Inc. to operate as a funeral establishment from August 1, 2007 through February 11, 2008 on an expired license. The consent order also imposes a $4,000 fine.

The Board accepted the following Public Consent Order for Reinstatement of License:

Murchison Funeral Home, Inc., Vidalia: The consent order reinstates the license of the funeral establishment placing the license on probation for a period of 3 years for operating as a funeral establishment from August 1, 2007 through February 11, 2008 on an expired license. The consent order also imposes a $4,000 fine.

Public board orders are available on the Professional Licensing Board�s Division website at www.sos.ga.gov/plb/PublicOrders.

The Georgia State Board of Funeral Service will hold their next meeting Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at the Professional Licensing Boards Division in Macon, Georgia.

For Immediate Release February 15, 2008	FFI Contact: Matt Carrothers Director of Media Relations 404-656-4269

Actions Taken by the Georgia State Board of Funeral Service at its February 12 Meeting Macon, Ga.�The Georgia State Board of Funeral Service held its monthly meeting Tuesday, February 12, 2008. The Board approved the following orders to accept fine monies for inspection violations and settling cases: Dowdell Funeral Home, Cordele: Inspection citation of $50 for failure to maintain one operable hearse or combination hearse/ambulance. Taylor Family Funeral Service, Tifton: Inspection citation of $800 for six violations: $50 for failure to maintain all outside ventilation openings screened; $200 for failure to maintain sanitary floors and walls; $50 for failure to maintain a separate sink for disinfecting hands and instruments; $200 for failure to maintain a clean and acceptable establishment; $200 for failure to maintain sanitary and clean instruments and tables; and $100 for failure to maintain one operable hearse. Southeast Funeral Service, Inc., College Park: Inspection citation of $300 for failure to maintain the required minimum inventory of eight adult caskets. The inventory was deficient by three caskets. Horis A. Ward Funeral Home, Olde Town Chapel, Conyers: Inspection citation of $100 for failure to maintain the required minimum inventory of eight adult caskets. The inventory was deficient by one casket. The Board accepted the following Public Consent Order: John Howell Dixon, Jr., Vidalia: The consent order places the licensee�s funeral director license on probation for a period of 3 years for permitting Murchison Funeral Home, Inc. to operate as a funeral establishment from August 1, 2007 through February 11, 2008 on an expired license. The consent order also imposes a $4,000 fine. The Board accepted the following Public Consent Order for Reinstatement of License: Murchison Funeral Home, Inc., Vidalia: The consent order reinstates the license of the funeral establishment placing the license on probation for a period of 3 years for operating as a funeral establishment from August 1, 2007 through February 11, 2008 on an expired license. The consent order also imposes a $4,000 fine. Public board orders are available on the Professional Licensing Board�s Division website at www.sos.ga.gov/plb/PublicOrders. The Georgia State Board of Funeral Service will hold their next meeting Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at the Professional Licensing Boards Division in Macon, Georgia.