Grenada, Miss.— Representatives from the Secretary of State’s Office met with approximately 100 clients of National Funeral Home who have pre-purchased funeral goods and services from the funeral home over the past 15 years.
These meetings took place Dec. 21- 22 at the funeral home in Grenada located at 2113 Commerce Street.
Sec. of State Delbert Hosemann
Examiners from the Secretary of State’s Office have determined the funeral home failed to pay into trust proceeds from purchases for approximately 90 clients who pre-purchased funeral goods and services. However, not all clients of National Funeral Home are affected by the lack of payments to the trust.
Approximately 50 clients have funding in place in trust for their purchases at the levels required by state law. Additionally, clients who purchased insurance policies through the funeral home are not affected at all by the lack of trust funding.
Funeral homes are required to pay into a trust money collected from consumers who pre-pay for funeral goods and services (Miss. Code Ann. § 75-63-59) or purchase insurance to cover these expenses (Miss. Code Ann. § 75-63-61).
In addition, the meetings that occurred on Dec. 21-22 served as work sessions for staff to update contact information and documentation of client payments to the funeral home.
The Secretary of State’s Office is working with the Estate of Carl Latham to make whole the approximately 90 clients whose funds were not trusted. Assets to cover the deficiency have been identified by the Estate, and we are working with consumers, the Estate, and the trust in that regard.
Latham, the former owner of National Funeral Home, passed away on Nov. 21, 2015. His Estate will continue operations of the funeral home.
Clients who pre-purchased funeral goods and services from National and who have not met with staff from the Secretary of State’s Office are encouraged to call 601-359-9055 for more information.