If you missed it, then you really missed something big!
The 2024 Joint Convention, with a theme of “Focus on the Family,” hosted by Southern Cemetery Cremation & Funeral Association (also known as The Southern, with some of its attendees pictured at top), Georgia Cemetery Association, South Carolina Cemetery Association, North Carolina Cemetery Association, Cemetery Association of Tennessee, and Kentucky Cemetery Association was a success.
All six of these associations gathered at The Westin Resort and Spa on Hilton Head Island, July 15-17 for their annual conventions. The convention drew over 350 attendees, including 75 exhibitors – the largest gathering in decades for the SCCFA.
The convention was kicked off with the annual golf tournament on the first morning sponsored by C&J Financial, followed that evening by the opening reception with the exhibitors sponsored by Matthews International and Park Lawn Corp., and the highly anticipated cornhole tournament sponsored by Salem Stones, which included matches for adults and kids. The next two days featured business sessions with nine speakers presenting some great topics on better serving our customers and their families, as well as our own families.
Robbie Pape, Jim Cortner, Kevin Armistead, Jodie Dupree, Fred Berry, Misti Drew, Pierce Dempsey, Tim Smith and Lee Longino all made very informative and challenging presentations during their time at the podium. Their willingness to share their knowledge with the attendees was greatly appreciated by all.
Each day featured more networking time with exhibitors. There was lots of free time for families to enjoy the beach, pools and several children’s activities. Those included a miniature golf and arcade outing, dolphin cruises, painting, and a firepit gathering with s’mores. With 50 children and grandchildren present, the convention brought back memories of when these meetings were truly a family reunion atmosphere.
The last day also saw more time with the exhibitors, and all associations elected and installed their new officers and directors for the upcoming term. (See the photos of those elected to serve for the 2024-2025 term.)
Remarks by outgoing association presidents and newly elected ones highlighted the last evening’s closing banquet. It also included two special “Lifetime Achievement Awards.” Georgia Cemetery Association’s 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Tim Smith, a 42-year veteran of the cemetery profession, who was completing his term as the SCCFA President, and is a three-time GCA past president, as well as a past recipient of the SCCFA Lifetime Achievement Award.
Southern Cemetery Cremation & Funeral Association present its 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award to Clift Dempsey, a third-generation professional who is a two-time GCA past president, a SCCFA past president, and a dean for the ICCFA University.
Both Tim and Clift were humbled and grateful for this recognition by their peers. They both are dedicated to “giving back” to others, by making themselves available for mentoring and coaching when asked. They are both frequent speakers at seminars and conventions, and believe they owe a debt of gratitude for all the knowledge shared with them as they grew their careers. The evening concluded with an awesome band and a crowded dance floor.
Feedback from attendees and exhibitors has all been very positive, with many saying it was the best convention they had attended … ever! One exhibitor says the SCCFA conventions, which always partners with other state associations within their region, is “the Goldilocks of conventions, not too big, not too small, but just right.”
The associations extend their combined thanks to all the convention sponsors and convention committee members who helped make this such a tremendous event. Special thanks are due to executive directors of the associations Cindy Foree, Susan Mena, Tammy Chandler, Megan Anderson, and Nick Startup for months of planning and hard work to ensure the convention was a success. Convention co-chairs Tim Smith and Jodie Dupree, along with their sergeant at arms, Michael Higgs, not only put together a great lineup of topics and speakers but kept things running right on time.
Make plans to join The Southern next year at Hilton Myrtle Beach at Kingston Plantation on the fun-filled South Carolina coast! Five associations will be gathered there July 13-15, 2025. The SCCFA, SCCA, NCCA, CAT and WVCFA are committed to another great event. Learning is a lifelong experience that makes meetings like these so rewarding. “Life’s Short, Be Southern!”
View more photos from the convention.
About the Southern
The Southern is one of the largest region associations in the death-care profession whose mission is to meet the needs of its members through service and education focused on industry issues and legislation in the region, to promote ethical practices, and to provide leadership in the memorialization industry.
The Southern territory of membership includes the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.
The Southern hosts a convention in partnership with state associations each summer, traditionally in a resort area to encourage family participation. Their 2025 convention will be held at Hilton Myrtle Beach at Kingston Plantation, in Myrtle Beach, SC along with the Cemetery Association of Tennessee, North Carolina Cemetery Association, South Carolina Cemetery Association, and West Virginia Cemetery Funeral Association. To learn more about The Southern, visit their website at SCCFA.info.
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