MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Fox Meadows funeral director is in trouble after a former employee went to the state.
The state said Rodney Williams of Signature Funeral Services has been reusing caskets.
Williams doesn’t deny it, but said he only put unclaimed veterans in the caskets instead of using shipping trays.
“We have always reused caskets. I had no idea that was a violation of law. I feel like the Funeral Board should have looked deeper into that,” he said.
The state also said Williams was embalming bodies in his break room.
“This facility has never had a break room,” said Williams.
Williams did admit, however, he did some minor embalming at the place, even though it wasn’t allowed.
“After the body was embalmed, if I transported a body back here to complete the process or if I had a body that need to be treated for additional fluids,” he told WREG.
The Funeral Board agreed to a penalty.
Williams now has to pay nearly $3,000 in fines, serve a two months suspension and attend ten hours of classes.
“I am not the only funeral director ignorant of the law. The Tennessee law is very antiquated and needs to be updated,” said Williams
He said other funeral directors in Memphis have done worse and had less of a punishment.
He believes he’s being targeted, because his business has only been open three years and has so much success.
“To me it’s political in nature. You know, I’m a newcomer,” said Williams.
Williams would not show us the “break room” on tv, but the state said the building is up to code.
The funeral home will be open while Williams is serving his suspension.