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Have you ever heard of a conjurer? According to my guest “a conjurer is a magical practitioner based in the African American experience”. He explains that “being an African American is not just based on being a descendant of slaves from Africa but being the blueprint of mankind. We are the living embodiment of what multiple races look like in one vessel. All our bloodlines come with sets of magik.” But what is magic? Is it something that we all possess? Is this something given only to a select few for specific reasons? How do we discover, work with, and begin the process of utilizing our own magik? How do death and grief tie into this and the overall ebbs and flows of the cycle of life?
In this episode of The Death and Grief Talk Podcast, I explore and discuss the concept of reincarnation, spiritual progression, death truly being the beginning and other facets of black and hoodoo folklore with Brandon Wilkins aka Uncle Brandon. I became acquainted with Uncle Brandon on TikTok and was immediately drawn in by his enthusiastic and charismatic personality. Through his social media presence, he answers questions from his 1000,000 plus viewers daily. There is undeniably something mysteriously captivating about Uncle Brandon and the ancient wisdom that he shares. When he speaks the ancestors and Magik of the universe speak through his deep and raspy voice. He seems to have an endless wealth of not only spiritual knowledge but also practical and simple perspectives that awaken the desire to learn and glean more from his experience and expertise. He is a chef and spiritual practitioner and conjurer who has traveled extensively not only geographically but also through time and space utilizing the vehicles of literature, sacred text ancestral knowledge and wisdom. Uncle B is making His-story through carrying on his family’s legacy through sharing his craft. He grew up in the kitchen watching his grandmother make miracles with her hands. He is an entrepreneur, public speaker, musician and music director, bartender, sewist, personal chef, spiritual advisor, creative and teacher. His goal is to celebrate life, while creating meaning and enjoying a plate of new memories. Connect with Uncle Brandon Website https://www.iamchefbrandon.com/ Email Hausofmidnite@gmail.com Instagram @hausofmidnite TikTok @UncleB1133 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7CezWpVoTay_2V6RZCzlYg About the Death & Grief Talk Podcast Death and grief are sacred aspects of our human journey that we all witness, honor, and process uniquely. The Death and Grief Talk Podcast is here to host open and honest conversation about the questions, fears, anxieties, and emotions that we all experience when someone dies. I am your host The Grave Woman. I'm a licensed funeral director, embalmer, insurance agent and scared death/grief care practitioner. I have over a decade of experience working in the death care industry. I am dedicated to helping everyone navigate individual journeys to find peace and purpose with life, death, and grief. Ways you can listen on the go: Anchor FM https://anchor.fm/deathandgrieftalk Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3mdh03y... Watch on YouTube www.youtube.com/thegravewoman Follow @thegravewoman on all social media
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Loss and grief have a magical and peculiar way of propelling our personal and spiritual journeys in directions that in many times result in us showing up for ourselves and in the world in ways that differ from the visions of ourselves that we had sketched in our minds. For many, spirituality becomes less about subscribing to what some consider to be outdated traditions and more about seeking answers and guidance from divine sources both seen and unseen. When embarking upon transformative spiritual journeys many seek guidance from those gifted in communicating with the “other side”. One such person is Shawna Temple.
Shawna Temple aka Oshunslight describes herself as a Hoodoo/eclectic witch living in Houston, Tx. Her practice combines spiritual paths, reiki healing and psychology. Shawna holds two master’s degrees in psychology and counseling and is now pursuing a PsyThD. According to her website www.oshunslight.com , Shawna’s path is one of a Root worker and Grey Witch. She blends aspects of African Spirituality, Santaria, wisdom from the Orishas, Traditional Witchcraft and good ol' Southern Hoodoo. She has walked a varied path and am ALWAYS learning. She believes strongly in the unseen. Forces that were set about at the beginning of time and before. She believes that witches, brujas and root workers; are blessed to have the intuition and knowledge to touch this energy and be a part of the reawakening of the human race.” Shawna is the founder of The Deep Roots Society which boasts members from around the world and practitioners of varied backgrounds. Many paths are represented and respected in the space that she has created. I was blessed to find and connect with Shawna via social media (Instagram to be exact) where she shares jewels of wisdom, readings, and real spiritual talk with her nearly 20,000 followers daily. During our time together in this episode of The Death and Grief Talk Podcast, Shawana and I candidly discuss everything from what left-handed work is, what she defines as root work, the necessity of elevating one’s ancestors to why it is important to not rush into setting up ancestral alters immediately after someone dies. Connect with Shawna Online Website www.oshunslight.com Email Oshunslight@gmail.com Social Media @Oshunslight YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChzRShtw9nN9bReDI6ou6WA Magical Moments with Oshun’s Light Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/1nkgrd5iXnccuck4iBQ8xM About the Death & Grief Talk Podcast Death and grief are sacred aspects of our human journey that we all witness, honor, and process uniquely. The Death and Grief Talk Podcast is here to host open and honest conversation about the questions, fears, anxieties, and emotions that we all experience when someone dies. I am your host The Grave Woman. I'm a licensed funeral director, embalmer, insurance agent and scared death/grief care practitioner. I have over a decade of experience working in the death care industry. I am dedicated to helping everyone navigate individual journeys to find peace and purpose with life, death, and grief. Ways you can listen on the go: Anchor FM https://anchor.fm/deathandgrieftalk Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3mdh03y... Watch on YouTube www.youtube.com/thegravewoman Follow @thegravewoman on all social media The universe has a very strange way of connecting us all in ways that at times seem divinely orchestrated and at others feel completely chaotic and random. Regardless of how it chooses to connect it; the universe, aka Spirit is intentional, timely and unfathomably precise and accurate in its execution.
I was connected to today’s guest of The Death & Grief Talk Podcast; Krystina Christiansen in a way that feels equally divine and random. Krystina is a filmmaker based in Los Angeles, CA. She's produced, directed, and written a bit of everything - from documentaries and music videos to art installations and talk shows. I had the honor of experiencing Krystina exercising her passion for story telling through the medium of film on the set of a documentary she is producing about the death care industry. In between shooting with her in LA we had a chance to share an intimate moment over dinner in which she shared the heart touching and breaking story behind her passion project. During our time together in this podcast episode, Krystina and I discuss everything from the way Spirit speaks to and guides us, shared southern Baptist roots, how telling the stories about life and death and those of us who work in the death care industry has assisted her in navigating her personal grief to the current SAG AFRA strike and its true impact on the creators and the viewers of the stories they write, perform, and sell them. Currently, she's campaigning for her short documentary, “Dear Brandon'', following an outdoorsman now paralyzed with MS who, at the end of his life, writes a letter that was left on a hiking trail in Utah by his social worker. The inspirational letter quickly made its way to the highest peaks in the world with his newfound family of strangers, which is how she finds it 3000 miles away in Hawaii. The 30-day crowdfunding campaign has a goal of $20,000 in order to finish the film and submit it to festivals for distribution consideration. To support, visit seedandspark.com/fund/brandon. To read the letter visit: krystinachristiansen.com/brandon Krystina is also in post-production on her first feature length documentary produced under the Appian Way and QC Entertainment banners, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Eli Roth as Executive Producers. When not immersed in storytelling she can most likely be found maintaining her duolingo streak, wandering a National Park, art gallery, or the nearest science museum. Connect with Krystina Online Website www.krystinachristiansen.com Email Krystinaoliva@gmail.com Social Media @KrystinaOlivia Brandon’s Instagram @forbrandonslove77 About the Death & Grief Talk Podcast Death and grief are sacred aspects of our human journey that we all witness, honor, and process uniquely. The Death and Grief Talk Podcast is here to host open and honest conversation about the questions, fears, anxieties, and emotions that we all experience when someone dies. I am your host The Grave Woman. I'm a licensed funeral director, embalmer, insurance agent and scared death/grief care practitioner. I have over a decade of experience working in the death care industry. I am dedicated to helping everyone navigate individual journeys to find peace and purpose with life, death, and grief. Ways you can listen on the go: Anchor FM https://anchor.fm/deathandgrieftalk Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3mdh03y... Watch on YouTube www.youtube.com/thegravewoman Follow @thegravewoman on all social media End of life planning looks different for Black and Indigenous families. It’s more casual, more informal and in most cases involves food and historically happens around our tables at Sunday dinner. Sunday Dinner conversations not only serve as social gatherings but are imperative for Black and Indigenous families because they serve as a medium for opportunities to discuss preferences, desires and individual needs and wishes for end-of-life treatment, funeral and burial planning. Each person has their own unique “diet” so to speak when thinking about these vitally important matters. Most importantly, Sunday dinners have the power to ensure that information is verbally communicated amongst loved ones in the hopes that further steps can be taken to create solid end of life plans.
In this episode of The Death and Greif Talk Podcast I am joined by Ashley Johnson and Dr. Elisha Hall. Ashley Johnson is an alumni of the Univ of Florida, and a trained End of Life Doula. She currently serves as the President of National End of Life Doula Alliance. Her death care career was inspired by growing up in a low socio-economic neighborhood that lacked advocacy on how to deal with end-of-life practices. With more than a decade in the death care industry ranging from Forensic Anthropology to whole body donation, she launched Loyal Hands, an End-of-Life consulting agency. Dr. Hall restores African and Indigenous healing legacies. As an impact strategist and systems thinker, Dr. Hall is the founder of the African and Indigenous Knowledge Institute (AIKI), a local consulting organization that develops institutions through interactive educational platforms. In 2020, Dr. Hall received his Ph.D. in Policy Studies in Urban Education at the University of Illinois (Chicago). His research centers on how storytelling can heal youth and adults, especially when used as self-edification and character development. With over 20 years of food equity and community organizing experience, he fuses political education with public health justice frameworks to provide restoration for African and Indigenous communities. Currently, he is the African American Engagement Director at Compassion & Choices. About the Death & Grief Talk Podcast Death and grief are sacred aspects of our human journey that we all witness, honor, and process uniquely. The Death and Grief Talk Podcast is here to host open and honest conversation about the questions, fears, anxieties, and emotions that we all experience when someone dies. I am your host The Grave Woman. I'm a licensed funeral director, embalmer, insurance agent and scared death/grief care practitioner. I have over a decade of experience working in the death care industry. I am dedicated to helping everyone navigate individual journeys to find peace and purpose with life, death, and grief. Connect with Ashley Johnson Website https://loyal-hands.com/ Social Media TikTok & Instagram NELDA www.nedalliance.org Watch Her Ted Talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gj9gGJiD4c&feature=youtu.be Connect with Dr. Elisha Hall Website www.elishahall.com Music https://unitedmasters.com/m/63b83d2fac4cd62c620c5d39 Compassion and Choices https://www.compassionandchoices.org/ Ways you can listen on the go: Anchor FM https://anchor.fm/deathandgrieftalk Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3mdh03y... Watch on YouTube www.youtue.com/thegravewoman Website www.thegravewoman.com/courses Follow @thegravewoman on all social media! “To have and to hold”, these words are commonly thought of as being part of wedding or commitment vows but for me these words resonate across the board in all things especially finance. When we think about it, we are constantly in the process of working towards accumulating something. Possessions, money, a partner, a home, vehicle, health, relationships, achieving our personal goals, etc. During this accumulation of gathering to “have”; how many of us stop and think the cost of “holding” onto what we have accumulated. Especially when thinking about our personal finances and legacies.
In today’s world we are constantly being bombarded with financial advice, solicited. Every other person on social media is a financial guru, and phrases like “generational wealth”, “how to become a millionaire in 2 years” and “invest in this cryptocurrency today” flood our timelines along with images of everyone “living their best life” while in many cases leaving us wondering what were doing wrong. In today’s episode of The Grief and Death Talk Podcast I have the honor of speaking with a credible source of financial information Mr. Ricardo Thomas. Ricardo Thomas is a graduate of Loyola University where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance. He is a Registered Financial Consultant and Chartered Federal Employee Benefits Consultant. He also became a fully licensed investment broker at the age of nineteen. He is a practicing financial consultant and is the president of THOMAS-WADDELL & Associates, Inc., a financial consulting & asset management firm with clients across the country. He has also, worked as a Divorce Financial Analyst, served as an expert witness, and consulted on divorce cases where expert opinions were needed on divorce settlements. He is also a former contributing financial writer for both Perspectives Magazine and Women of Excellence Magazine. In addition, he is a former adjunct instructor at Delgado Community College and taught financial-related classes as a part of the University of New Orleans’ Project Pass program. His work in personal finance has been featured in the Times-Picayune, N.O. City Business, New Orleans Tribune, Barnes & Nobles Bookstore, as well as other publications around the country. Mr. Thomas is a member of the International Association of Registered Financial Consultants. He is also involved in the community by serving as a board member for the past 19 years for Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Louisiana where he is currently vice chairman of the board. He is also a board member of the Urban League of Louisiana and is the current president of the Urban League Guild. He is also a former president of the Urban League of Greater New Orleans Young Professionals. Additionally, he is the immediate past chair of the Executive Council for WWNO FM radio, the local NPR affiliate and lastly, as a member of the African American leadership council for Compassion and Choices, a national non-profit focused on end-of-life planning. Over the years he has made numerous presentations on radio, television, and newspaper pertaining to a variety of financial topics. He is also the recipient of many awards including “Who’s Who among U.S. Executives”, “Who’s Who in Finance and Industry”, the & New Orleans; City Business Power Generation Award and was named a recipient of the 5-star Wealth manager award for financial planning and was featured in New Orleans magazine. Connect with Ricardo Online: Website http://www.thomaswaddell.net/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-twaconnect/ Twitter https://twitter.com/twaconnect Facebook https://www.facebook.com/thomaswaddellassociates/ About the Death & Grief Talk Podcast Death and grief are sacred aspects of our human journey that we all witness, honor, and process uniquely. The Death and Grief Talk Podcast is here to host open and honest conversation about the questions, fears, anxieties, and emotions that we all experience when someone dies. I am your host The Grave Woman. I'm a licensed funeral director, embalmer, insurance agent and scared death/grief care practitioner. I have over a decade of experience working in the death care industry. I am dedicated to helping everyone navigate individual journeys to find peace and purpose with life, death, and grief. Ways you can listen on the go: Anchor FM https://anchor.fm/deathandgrieftalk Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/death-grief-talk-with-the-grave-woman/id1544895995 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3mdh03yZygapqGX53tAwEn Watch on YouTube www.youtube.com/thegravewoman Follow @thegravewoman on social media I was first introduced to Caitlin Doughty through the Ask a Mortician YouTube channel in 2012. Caitlin Doughty is a mortician, advocate, and bête noire of the traditional funeral industry. In 2011 she founded the funeral reform collective The Order of the Good Death, which has spawned the death positive movement. Her educational web series "Ask a Mortician" has been viewed almost 200 million times and all three of her books Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, From Here to Eternity, and Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? were New York Times bestsellers.
Caitlin was the first funeral director (and might I add first female funeral director) that I ever saw articulacy, honestly and publicly discuss the good, bad, and ugly about the death care industry while challenging the way we “do death” in this country. She was also the first person to encourage me to expand my blogspot.com blog into a YouTube page. Over the years I have watched not only her YouTube channel, but she and her career blossom. The thing that I respect most about Caitlin is that though she has amassed countless supporters through her books, social media, public speaking and non-profit, she seems to remain grounded while balancing the role of the observer and advocate. I recently interviewed Caitlin for the Death and Grief Talk Podcast and consider this episode to be Milestone for The Grave Woman because Caitlin is truly someone in this industry that not only look up to but respect. During our time together I connect with Caitlin heart to heart as she shares how she maintains the balance of her online success and real-life experience, practices self-care, avoids appropriating those that invite her into their sacred space of loss, grief, and celebration and much more. The greatest take away from our interview is that though speaking truth to power, advocacy, educating and speaking up for others can be exhausting, BUT the work that so many of us are doing in death care to create a more equitable, option focused and leveled environment for consumers and death care professionals alike is necessary and not without the reward of positive progressive change. Connect with Caitlin Online Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thegooddeath/ and https://www.instagram.com/ordergooddeath/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/OrderoftheGoodDeath Twitter https://twitter.com/OrderGoodDeath?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor Website www.orderofthegooddeath.com About the Death & Grief Talk Podcast Death and grief are sacred aspects of our human journey that we all witness, honor, and process uniquely. The Death and Grief Talk Podcast is here to host open and honest conversation about the questions, fears, anxieties, and emotions that we all experience when someone dies. I am your host The Grave Woman. I'm a licensed funeral director, embalmer, insurance agent and scared death/grief care practitioner. I have over a decade of experience working in the death care industry. I am dedicated to helping everyone navigate individual journeys to find peace and purpose with life, death, and grief. Ways you can listen on the go: Anchor FM https://anchor.fm/deathandgrieftalk Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3mdh03y... Watch on YouTube www.youtube.com/thegravewoman Follow @thegravewoman on social media “If someone can't respect another person's gender identity, pronouns, or other aspect of their identity or sexuality, a safe, healthy environment where consent can be comfortably given is not possible. Respecting someone's gender identity, whatever it may be, is key to a healthy relationship.” – Speak About It
I love having conversations that challenge my perspective, open my mind all the while educating and stretching the boundaries of my understanding, compassion, and empathy. One such conversation topic is that of identity. According to my latest Google search, identity is defined as the unique set of characteristics that can be used to identify a person as themself and no one else. The word identity can be used in different ways in different contexts. On a personal level, identity often refers to a person's sense of self, meaning how they view themself as compared to other people. In this episode of The Death & Grief Talk Podcast, I participate in a beautiful exchange with my death care colleague Alexandra Jo about the nuances of identity while exploring the manners in which we can respect autonomy, properly use gender affirming language, and how remaining curious impacts the way we honor one another’s identity and humanity not only in life but also in death. Alexandra (they/them) is the Director of Outreach and Education at Parting Stone and is a Certified Celebrant through InSight Institute. They are a first-generation deathcare professional who is passionately death-curious with over three years of experience researching and creating forward-thinking content for the funeral profession. They produce and host the Deathcare Decoded podcast and write regularly for Connecting Directors and other industry publications. Alexandra also gives continuing education lectures on innovation in the funeral profession at death care conferences around the country. One of the biggest takeaways from my conversation with Alexandra and lessons that I have learned over the past few years through serving as a vessel for conversations about race and death is that it is okay to make mistakes when operating with the intention of learning and growing. It creates safety and allows for exchange free of judgement, criticism and most importantly fosters our instinctual need and desire for curiosity. Connect with Alexandra Jo Online Listen to the Death Care Decoded / Death Curious Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/5EZljk9bSoPDfjhIbS2kU4?mc_cid=c422c02322&mc_eid=697d0c0a3e Connect on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deathcurious/?hl=en Follow on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@deathcurious?lang=en Visit the Website https://partingstone.com/ About the Death & Grief Talk Podcast Death and grief are sacred aspects of our human journey that we all witness, honor, and process uniquely. The Death and Grief Talk Podcast is here to host open and honest conversation about the questions, fears, anxieties, and emotions that we all experience when someone dies. I am your host The Grave Woman. I'm a licensed funeral director, embalmer, insurance agent and scared death/grief care practitioner. I have over a decade of experience working in the death care industry. I am dedicated to helping everyone navigate individual journeys to find peace and purpose with life, death, and grief. Ways you can listen on the go: Anchor FM https://anchor.fm/deathandgrieftalk Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3mdh03y... Watch on YouTube www.youtube.com/thegravewoman Follow @thegravewoman on social media According to Wikipedia, Hoodoo is a set of spiritual practices, traditions, and beliefs created and concealed from slaveholders by enslaved Africans in North America. Hoodoo evolved from various traditional African religions, practices, and in the American South incorporated with various elements. In this installment of The Death and Grief Talk Podcast Mrs. Lisa Jones, hoodoo practitioner and owner of Memphis Conjure defines her sacred practice passed down through maternal generations for over 100 years as simply “a pathway to peace” that has been demonized and misunderstood by white observers and lazy tongues.
I was introduced to Mrs. Jones through her TikTok videos in which she uses discusses spiritual works, healing and ritual practice to promote and educate about her practice and spiritual products and services. I felt an instant attraction to and connection with Mrs. Jones. She reminded me of my Mama Julie, aunts, grandmothers and other women in my life who knowingly or unknowingly have practiced within our Gullah/ Geechee culture and community to navigate the spiritual journey of life, death and grief while supporting and sustaining our black and indigenous community. Through her business Memphis Conjure Mrs. Jones sells Delta Style Hoodoo Products made by hand. She also creates and distributes ritually charged oils, powders & all things hoodoo including but not limited to mojo/nation sacks & bags, oils, powders, honey jars that are properly prepared to offer remedies for various conditions and enhance spiritual practice. Her practice and products are crafted according to a hoodoo tradition & style, taught to her by her grandmom & mom. Her family has practiced conjure/spiritual work & root work for over 108 years. Her great-grandmom, grandmother and mother were root workers and her grandmother worked on Beale Street during the 40's as a root worker & spiritual advisor. According to her website “Hoodoo in all its variants is predominately considered a southern phenomenon. Many regions in the south can attribute conjure and rootwork to elders and ancestors who were exposed to the craft. Many were slaves who brought many traditions from the continent of Africa and other regions, or possibly native Americans who were adept at planting and seasonal anomalies. Many consider the craft evil or spooky and may not quite understand the correlations between survival and coping with the trauma of enslavement. Many books introduce the curious to the mystery of hoodoo and other crafts. We suggest reading these books with an open mind and seek to understand the “Why’s of Hoodoo” before the “How’s of Hoodoo". It is a practice forged of necessity and trauma and the legacy of our African American ancestors. We are forever agonized at what they suffered and seek to move forward in honor of all the lives before us & those who managed to persevere". Connect with Memphis Conjure online: Website www.memphisconjure.com Email memphisconjure@gmail.com TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@memphisconjure/video/7185711551523966251 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CJfdw25nRcA/ About the Death & Grief Talk Podcast Death and grief are sacred aspects of our human journey that we all witness, honor, and process uniquely. The Death and Grief Talk Podcast is here to host open and honest conversation about the questions, fears, anxieties, and emotions that we all experience when someone dies. I am your host The Grave Woman. I'm a licensed funeral director, embalmer, insurance agent and scared death/grief care practitioner. I have over a decade of experience working in the death care industry. I am dedicated to helping everyone navigate individual journeys to find peace and purpose with life, death, and grief. Ways you can listen on the go: Anchor FM https://anchor.fm/deathandgrieftalk Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3mdh03y... Watch on YouTube www.youtube.com/thegravewoman Follow @thegravewoman on social media “What you want in a mentor is someone who truly cares for you and who will look after your interests and not just their own. When you do come across the right person to mentor you, start by showing them that the time they spend with you is worthwhile.” – Vivek Wadhwa
It is impossible to overstate the importance of having professional black mentors in the end of life and death care industry. Individuals who selflessly give of themselves, teach, encourage, uplift, and provide opportunity without being competitive all the while allowing apprentices, students, and professionals to stand on their shoulders and to build careers while passing the baton forward. Historically those who’ve held positions of power and influence have been white male gatekeepers. For young black professionals like myself and those that are constantly emerging, seeking help, guidance, direction, and support from these gatekeepers has been intimidating, disappointing and unfruitful. Luckily this changing. In 2019, I was blessed to meet my mentor Mrs. Anita Grant. Anita Pollard Grant, RN, MS, BSN, AAS, MLD-C is the Founder and CEO of GranEnterprise LLC, the parent copy of the NBE Review Coach. Anita graduated cum laude from the Medical University of South Carolina in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science degree. As an undergraduate, she was a member of Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society for Nursing. After graduation, Anita became a licensed Registered Nurse and a Commissioned Officer in the United States Navy Nurse Corps. During those active-duty years, she gained hands-on experience in Same Day Surgical Care and Behavioral Health Nursing and in supervising staff, facilitating interdisciplinary communication and coordinating patient care. Years later, Anita transitioned to the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps where she served as a Nurse Manager as well as a National Healthcare Recruiter with the Department of Justice/Federal Bureau of Prisons, a Nurse Consultant/Surveyor with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and a Senior Program Manager for the National Institute of Corrections. In May 2021, Anita retired as an O6/Captain from the USPHS after almost thirty (30) years of honorable service. Anita has been an answer to my prayers since the first time we met. Over the years she has poured into me in ways that would take too long to share in this 500-word blog. I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Anita for The Death and Grief Talk Podcast. Though she and I have worked extensively together over the past 3 years developing course, trainings and much more and surprisingly, after all this time and sharing I had no idea what bought her to the death care industry. During our time together, Anita and discuss the foundation of her career in the armed services, her transition into funeral services and her passion for combing her unique life experience, academic and professional skills to help students nationwide achieve licensure in both funeral directing and embalming. Anita also shared what legacy she hopes to leave behind. Connect with Anita Online Facebook https://www.facebook.com/NBESuccess/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nbereviewcoach/?hl=en Website www.nbereviewcoach.com About the Death & Grief Talk Podcast Death and grief are sacred aspects of our human journey that we all witness, honor, and process uniquely. The Death and Grief Talk Podcast is here to host open and honest conversation about the questions, fears, anxieties, and emotions that we all experience when someone dies. I am your host The Grave Woman. I'm a licensed funeral director, embalmer, insurance agent and scared death/grief care practitioner. I have over a decade of experience working in the death care industry. I am dedicated to helping everyone navigate individual journeys to find peace and purpose with life, death, and grief. Ways you can listen on the go: Anchor FM https://anchor.fm/deathandgrieftalk Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3mdh03y... Watch on YouTube www.youtube.com/thegravewoman Follow @thegravewoman on social media 2/8/2023 Creating Space for Black Vendors in Death Care Through Personalized Memorial KeepsakesRead NowWhen someone passes away having personalized memorial keepsakes such as keychains, cups, t-shirts, jewelry, programs, fans, headstones, grave markers, and other items that reflect the personality, image, and encompass the essence of those that we have lost brings a level of comfort and peace that can not be explained. Having tangible things to hold, see and lean into can never replace our dearly departed loved ones but they do offer endless benefits that soothe and help us process our grief.
Traditionally in the death care industry companies and corporations that manufacture, distribute, and sell memorial keepsakes as well as other items and merchandise available for purchase to consumers by funeral homes and in online storefronts are historically white owned and operated. This leads me to ponder how much more meaningful, and impactful memorials keepsakes and other merchandise could be if they were not only created with intention and distributed through vendors who share cultures with and understand the communities that they serve. This shift could be tremendous for not only consumers but death care professionals, funeral homes, and cemeteries alike. This could also replace the historically appropriative and sales driven development of items that target BIPOC consumers specifically. In this episode of The Death & Grief Talk Podcast; I have the honor of speaking with Latifa Franks; a young black female death care merchandise and memorial keepsake vendor. Latifa is fonder of C. Jackson Memorial Company which is fondly after her mother. C. Jackson Memorial Company was birthed out of Latifa’s desire to not only serve her community of Baltimore, Maryland but black communities worldwide with affordable, professional, high quality memorial keepsakes while honoring the legacy of her mother Cassandra Jackson who passed away when Latifa was only 10 years old. On her website, Latifa sells several keepsakes including personalized memorial apparel, jewelry, portrait LED lights, urns and much more which can be personalized to reflect the image or likeness of loved ones and pets alike. Not only is Latifa using her company to serve, but she also uses her social media platforms to educate and give behind the scenes access into her daily life as a mortuary student and crematory operator. Connect with C. Jackson Memorial Company online Website: https://www.cjmemorialcompany.com/ Social Media: @c. jacksonmemorailcompany About the Death & Grief Talk Podcast Death and grief are sacred aspects of our human journey that we all witness, honor, and process uniquely. The Death and Grief Talk Podcast is here to host open and honest conversation about the questions, fears, anxieties, and emotions that we all experience when someone dies. I am your host The Grave Woman. I'm a licensed funeral director, embalmer, insurance agent and scared death/grief care practitioner. I have over a decade of experience working in the death care industry. I am dedicated to helping everyone navigate individual journeys to find peace and purpose with life, death, and grief. Ways you can listen on the go: Anchor FM https://anchor.fm/deathandgrieftalk Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3mdh03y... Watch on YouTube www.youtube.com/thegravewoman Follow @thegravewoman on social media |
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AuthorJoél Simone Anthony, also known as ‘The Grave Woman,’ is a licensed funeral director and embalmer. She is dedicated to eliminating misconceptions about post-life preparation while stimulating an open, honest and straight forward discussion about death. You can submit your comments, questions and requests to thegravewoman@gmail.com or by using our contact page. |