TGIF From TIFG
Thank goodness it’s Friday! You’ve had a busy week, and you may be preparing for an even busier weekend, whether that’s Week 1 of college football or four funeral services. Hopefully, this weekly feature will help you get caught up on some of the week’s happenings and what’s coming up next in for The Group and within the world of deathcare — plus a little good news, because who doesn’t need that?
Highlights and headlines
↪ The South Chicago Chapel saga is growing more sordid and, sadly, more complicated for families. Since the initial discovery of 56 bodies in various stages of decomposition in early August, various news outlets have revealed that:
1) The city of Chicago is suing the funeral home’s owners, Clark and Johanna Morgan, for “building code violations” and asking a judge to fine them $11,500 per day until the violations are corrected;
2) Impacted families are calling for criminal charges against the Morgans, while also trying to keep trespassers from wandering through the building;
3) Police found two decomposing bodies in Clark Morgan’s minivan at the Morgan home in 2024, but the Morgans talked their way out of charges; and
4) Just months before that incident, Clark Morgan was fined $10,000 for using an expired funeral director's and embalmer's intern license (which he had altered by changing the expiration dates) after he was caught transporting bodies at a hospital. Read more about these last two points here.
↪ “Red flags” are popping up for folks in Newark, New Jersey, who are questioning why a funeral director who has handled services for Whitney Houston and Queen Latifah’s brother was just awarded a $700,000 contract to teach … hotel and food-service business leadership. Read the full story here.
↪ Specially-trained dogs are helping archaeologists sniff out cremated remains lost to families in the August 1 Old Trails wildfire in Washington. Read the full story here.
Practitioner spotlight
A.S. Turner & Sons Funeral Home & Crematory in Decatur, Georgia is having the Best. Summer. Ever. First, the firm announced plans to partner with The Natural Funeral to become the first licensed natural organic reduction operator in the Southeast. Then, we learn that A.S. Turner & Sons had acquired Ford-Stewart Funeral Home in Jonesboro, Georgia — two independently-owned and -operated funeral homes with rich histories joining forces to better serve their communities. Congratulations to A.S. Turner President/CEO Cy Hume and the team on your accomplishments. We can’t wait to see what you do next!
For the Good of the Group (and Others!)
COMING SOON: Check your mailbox and your inbox: Group health insurance benefits booklets have been sent to all members.
WELCOME: It was an awesome August for The Group, which now encompasses 20 states… Welcome to all of our new members!
EVENT: We hope to see you at the 2026 TIFG Fall Conference, September 22-24 … It’s FREE for member firms and partners, and we plan to share lots of great news and helpful services launching soon.
CONTINUING EDUCATION: Decoding the Death Certificate: Reading Between the Lines of Life's Final Paperwork on October 14 … registration is open, so be sure to secure your spot.
In Case You Missed It
Here’s what The Group has published this week in The Practitioners’ Post:
One Question for You
Do USPS delays impact your business? Click here to answer!
We’ll share the results in next week’s TGIF along with a new question.
