Awards & Recognition
Kilpatrick Funeral Homes Receives Top National Awards
Kilpatrick Funeral Homes' commitment to serving families has been recognized on a national level.
Each year, the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) recognizes a select number of funeral homes across the country for their commitment and dedication to excellence. This year, Kilpatrick Funeral Homes received the Pursuit of Excellence Award from NFDA for Kilpatrick's outstanding service to families, commitment to the community, and professional standards.
"The Pursuit of Excellence Award is specifically designed to recognize and commemorate funeral homes that go above and beyond the standard level of service to families. In addition, these firms show their commitment to leadership in the funeral profession at-large by providing continuing education and professional development opportunities for their staff members and other key personnel," said NFDA Chief Executive Officer Christine Pepper.
Achieving the Pursuit of Excellence Award required Kilpatrick Funeral Homes to meet strict quality service criterion in the following six categories of achievement:
- Basic Requirements,
- Continuing Education and Staff Development,
- Family Outreach and Support,
- Community Service and Education,
- Professional Association Service & Participation,
- Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations.
In addition to the Pursuit of Excellence Award, Kilpatrick Funeral Homes received the Best of the Best Award from NFDA. This new NFDA recognition was designed to highlight the innovative and creative ideas and programs developed and carried out by the Pursuit of Excellence Award winners. No more than ten firms from across the country are chosen from the Pursuit of Excellence Award recipients as the outstanding programs of the year. Pepper adds that the Best of the Best Award winners have developed "unique, quality programming that goes the extra mile for the families and communities they serve."
NFDA honored Kilpatrick for its program entitled Healing Activities for Children and Teens, a hands-on approach to grief recovery through the medium of art. Kathy Reeg, Director of Family Support for Kilpatrick Funeral Homes, organized the three week program for children and teens between the ages of 5 and 18. The program consisted of art projects where children and teens were encouraged to express their loss through the medium of art. Professional local counselors were available to work with the children and teens through any grief issues or questions that arose.
NFDA is the leading funeral service association, serving more than 19,000 individual members who represent 10,000 funeral homes in the United States and other countries. Kilpatrick Funeral Homes is a family owned and operated company, with locations in Monroe, West Monroe, Ruston, Farmerville, and Bernice.
For more information about our grief and community support programs, please contact Kathy Reeg, Director of Family Support at Kilpatrick Funeral Homes at 318-323-9611 or 318-255-2832.
Kilpatrick Funeral Homes Receives Award For Workplace Safety
Kilpatrick Funeral Homes has been recognized as a 2005 Workplace Safety Award Winner by the Golden Shield TOP Safety Award Panel, a safety recognition award program co-sponsored by the International Order of the Golden Rule (OGR), a professional association of locally owned Golden Rule funeral homes, Compliance Plus, a safety and OSHA consultant firm, and FCS Worldwide, publisher of the American Funeral Director and Funeral Service Insider funeral service trade publications.
Kilpatrick Funeral Homes was honored on April 8, 2006, during special ceremonies at OGR's annual conference in Toronto. The Golden Shield TOP Safety Award panel is part of OGR's Quality Standards Council. The judging panel evaluated how effectively the funeral home's safety plan was implemented in order to maintain a safe workplace environment for all of its employees. "Funeral homes must consistently demonstrate stringent standards of workplace safety policies and practices to receive the Golden Shield TOP Safety Award, "commented Mark B. Allen, co-facilitator of the judging panel.
"It is extremely rewarding to have been chosen from among so many of our colleagues who work hard to provide a safe workplace for employees," said Tex Kilpatrick, owner of Kilpatrick Funeral Homes.
"Members chosen for this prestigious award represent the very best in service excellence," said John W. Wenig, president of the OGR board of directors. "We are proud to pay tribute to Kilpatrick Funeral Homes as a 2005 Workplace Safety Award recipient."