Keith Ridley IV is a fifth-generation funeral director and his family has run a mortuary since the mid-1870s. While his peers were playing hide-and-seek, Ridley was getting steeped in the family business, Ridley Funeral Estab. Inc. “My great uncles, who aided in my rearing as an adolescent, gave me my calling to this ministry of funeral care when I was an 8-year-old old boy. As I grew up in the funeral home, I saw firsthand the dedication and respect they provided the people of my community, and as I matured, I wanted to be a part of that legacy,” he says.
Read on for what else Ridley had to say about the business he loves.
What is the role of a funeral director?
The role of the funeral director is to provide care, support and comfort to the family of the bereaved as well as to settle the final disposition of the mortal earthly remains of a life that has come to it’s close in a manner of decency, respect and in accordance to the customs of faith and the applicable laws of that state and community.
How would you describe your brand?
We are boutique African American undertakers. We are completely exclusive to the families that call upon us for care when their loved one has transitioned [into] their eternal rest, [and we provide] dedication to all details, desires and wishes 24 hours a day. It is the hallmark of our ministry of distinction.
What three things should a family consider when selecting a funeral director?
When selecting an undertaker, you should consider the quality of the firm, the reputation of the firm as well the comfort you feel when knowing the principals of that firm. In the African American community since the days of American slavery, the undertaker is as revered as the Black church.
What is the most important paperwork every family should be prepared to bring to their funeral consultation?
When making funeral arrangements for a loved one who did not pre-arrange their final arrangements, you would want to have all vital records pertaining to them, i.e., Social Security number, if divorced bring decree, if retired you have burial insurance, military DD-214 documents. The list is endless and varied, [according] to the individual.
How can families benefit from planning in advance with a local funeral home?
Pre-arranging your final life tribute and directing the disposition of your mortal remains brings closure and peace of sound mind to your family at a very difficult time. It can also reduce greatly the amount of stress and tension that often comes forth between loved ones. Yet because these are the last official known wishes of what you would like, [it helps] to have a framework given to govern within parameters.
What are your three top goals when meeting with a family?
My three top goals to accomplish when I am called to meet with a family is to set the tone of emotional security in allowing the ample time to mourn and they be mindful I have their best interest at heart with trust, to ensure they will have all rites, honors and benefits available to them in arranging the funeral.
But my deepest goal is to remind them whatever their state of affairs may be, with sincerity, confidence and dedication [that] I will accommodate and exceed their expectations.
What are the top two mistakes families make when planning a funeral for a family member?
There are really no mistakes in making arrangements, just the miss information that people may have been given over the years in regard to what we do as morticians and undertakers, which causes them to create issues that are not issues for their loved one when arranging a funeral. Being correctly and fully informed allows everyone to be on accord and at ease [during] the arrangement conference.
However, the biggest financial mistake is spending more out of remorseful guilt [when you] don’t have the ability to settle the balance incurred.
How has the funeral business changed over the last decade?
The [biggest] change in this ministry of bereavement care is the abundance of cremation [requests] as the final disposition as opposed to earth interments … but that varies [based on] who is planning with consideration to faith and customs.
Visit Ridley Funeral Estab. Inc. on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ridleyfuneral.estab
