Summer Convention
Summer Convention
We Hope You Will Join Us
Onsite registrations will be accepted
The King and Prince is the perfect location to spend time with your family and friends while earning your Continuing Education hours. Over 3 days, our programs will offer attendees 8.5 Continuing Education Hours from world-class speakers offering timely and pertinent information for funeral service professionals. This year we will also have EXHIBITS where you can see the latest products and services for your funeral home.
Each afternoon is yours to relax and unwind and evenings offer our Hospitality House. Our Golf Tournament will be held Sunday morning. Join us Tuesday night for our banquet with entertainment by the dueling pianos 'Flying fingers' and a Silent Auction. Our Service of Remembrance and Business Meeting will be held Wednesday morning.
Open our KNOW BEFORE YOU GO drop down window below for FAQ or CONTACT GFDA for assistance.
Our Know Before You Go drop down window has our agenda, attire, Continuing Education approvals,
Golf Tournament information, Exhibitor Move-in schedule and floorplans, Attendee Check-in & Registration Hours.
(click to open/close drop down windows)
Know Before You Go
The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort: Check-in begins at 4:00 pm / Check-out is 11:00 am
Our event attire is business casual - you can leave your suit at home.
Onsite registrations will be accepted. Badges will be required for all events and meals.
For Golfers
Shuttle departure from Hotel Lobby: 8:30 am
Tournament Start: 10:00 am
Course: The King and Prince Golf Course
100 Tabbystone, St. Simons Island, GA 31522
For Attendees
Convention Registration Desk will be located in the Lanier Pre-Assembly (hotel lobby) & open
Sunday, June 4 at 5:30 pm
Monday, June 5 at 7:30 am
Tuesday, June 6 at 7:00 am
Wednesday, June 7 at 8:00 am
For Exhibitors
Move-in Hours
- Sunday, June 4 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
- Monday, June 5 starting at 7:30 am
- All exhibits must be finished by 9:00 am, Monday, June 5.
Exhibit Hall Hours
- Monday, June 5, 2023 from 10:00 am - 11:00 am and again after our morning programs conclude
- Tuesday, June 6, 2023 from 9:00 am - 11:00 am and again after our morning programs conclude.
Move-out Hours
- Exhibitors may begin moving out on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 starting at 1:00 pm. All exhibits must be vacated no later than 10 am, Wednesday, June 7.
EVENT AGENDA
We have 2 areas for exhibits, just steps away from each other.
EXHIBIT HALL
Lanier Pre-Assembly
EXHIBIT HALL
Delegal Room
Continuing Education
Continuing Education Hours have been approved by the AL, GA, NC, SC, and TN Funeral Service Boards.
- Alabama Board of Funeral Service: Approved 7.5 CE Hours
- Georgia Board of Funeral Service: Approved 8.5 CE Hours
- North Carolina Board of Funeral Service: Approved 5.5 CE Hours
- South Carolina Board of Funeral Service: Approved 8.5 CE Hours
- Tennessee Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers: Approved 7 CE Hours
In-person CE reminders: It is the attendee's responsibility to register at our Continuing Education table. Certificates must be completed with licensee information and attendees must be present in the classroom to receive the GFDA seal for credit. It is your responsibility as an attendee to maintain your certificates. GFDA will submit attendance verification to AL, NC, SC, and TN Funeral Service Boards as they require.
Service of Remembrance
Our Service of Remembrance will be held Wednesday, June 7 at 9:00 am.
We will remember those who passed from May 1, 2022 through April 30, 2023.
Loved ones are invited to attend. CONTACT GFDA to RSVP if you are not registered for the convention.
Our Service of Remembrance video will be posted after our convention.
Suzette Adams, Wife of David E. Adams
Jim Albritton
Debbie Denise Ashe, Sister of Judge Ashe, III
Walt Benzinger
Ernest “Buddy” Cameron, Father of Dale Cameron
Terri Lynne Carpenter, Sister of Chad Rike
Marcus Castleberry, Father of Mike Castleberry
Stephen Dorsey Cochran
Robert E. Corley, Jr.
Brian Crissman, Brother of David Mathis
Jane Yonce DeLoach, Wife of George DeLoach
Samuel “Sammy” H. Eady
Loyd Eugene Evans, Father of Stan Evans
Halie Goodson, Sister of Everett Huffman
Barbara T. Hall, Grandmother of Jason Holt
Sandra Hunt, Wife of GFDA Past President Riley Hunt
Mattie Mae Mathis Johnson, Sister of Arthur L. Parker
Thomas E. "Tommy" Johnson, Jr.
Dwight "Slim" Kinsey
Daniel “Danny” Leslie Lay, Father of Samuel Lay
Gaynell Elizabeth McDaniel Lord, Grandmother of Jerry Taylor
Ron & Kathy Loudin
Rocky Dewayne McDaniel, Uncle of Jerry Taylor
Rachel Arline Miller, Mother-in-law of James Stewart
Larry Gene Moore, Father of Larry Moore
Walker Allen “Sam” O’Neal
Carolyn Pierce, Wife of President Reginald L. Pierce, Sr.
James “Jimmy” Marcus Ragan, Jr.
Nancy Reynolds, Mother of Ben Reynolds
Calvin Gene Rinehart, Sr.
Margaret Rooks Sherrell, Wife of John Sherrell
Walter C. “Buck” Smith, Jr., Father of Betty Ann Brannen
James Max Strickland
Nell Blackmon Strickland, Mother of Arnold Strickland
Randall "Randy" Bruce Terrell
Joyce W. Venable, Mother of Jeff Seiple
Mary Whitaker Townsend, Mother of Deborah Vestal
Katie Lee (Tally) Vestal, Mother of Mike Vestal
Sara "Nana" Hall Wages, Mother of DeLana Wages Revell,
Step-mother of Valerie J. Wages, CFSP, Kathy Y. Wages, Tommie Ann Wages Johnson, and Tom M. “Tommy” Wages, Jr.
Renee Bond Wetzel, Wife of Kevin Wetzel
Lawrence Lamar Williams, Father of Laverne Pickett and Grandfather of France Turner
Edith Wilson, Grandmother of Christine Banks
Room Reservations
Room reservations are the responsibility of attendees.
Convention registration is separate.
ATTENTION: Our block closed May 3 at 11:59 pm.
Reservations are now based on the resort's availability & rates.
Make your reservation directly with the resort - 800-342-0212
To be added to our wait list, contact the GFDA office.
If you find you will be unable to join us and have a room reservation, please contact the GFDA office so we can notify our wait list.
If you find you will be unable to join us and have a room reservation, please contact the GFDA office so we can notify our wait list.
The King and Prince
Beach & Golf Resort
201 Arnold Rd
St Simons Island, GA 31522
Our 2023 Silent Auction will take during the Banquet & Party on Tuesday night, June 6.
Onsite donations will be accepted.
Ideas for Silent Auction Donations - Sports (tickets for professional or college games, gift certificates for guided fishing tours, memorabilia signed by professional players); Just for Fun (gift certificates for hotel or bed & breakfast stay, small getaway packages, theater & dining certificates); Spa Gift Certificates or Spa items; Home Decorative Items or Hobby items; Liquor, Wine or Beer Assortments; Artwork or Jewelry; Theme Baskets; Summer/Game Night/Beach/Camping items; Gift Certificates for Favorite Shops or Restaurants. We ask that all donations have a value of $100 or more.
SILENT AUCTION
DONATION FORM
You may notify us onsite at the Convention Registration Desk or CONTACT GFDA.
25 YEARS
Bradley Anderson
Bobby J. Brannen
Joe Westbury
40 YEARS
Barry Henderson
50 YEARS
Philip Hardy
60 YEARS
CJ Mowell, Jr.
Thank You to Our Host Sponsors
Continuing Education Programs
Service of Remembrance
Past President Breakfast
Tuesday Social
Tuesday Night Entertainment
Monday Break
Tuesday Break
Wednesday Break
Folders
Lanyards
Totes
Hospitality House
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Diamond Platinum
Cherokee Casket Company
Federated Insurance
Lord & Stephens Funeral Homes
Matthews Aurora Funeral Solutions
Gold
Atlantic Coast Life Insurance Company
McDaniels & Thomas Wealth Management LLC
Silver
National Funeral Directors Association
Polyguard Vantage
Shields Professional Vehicles
Bronze
Dodge
Doric Products/Classic Metal Vaults
Garfield Refining
Genesis Whole-Body Donor Program
Service Casket Company
Supporter
Brannen Family Funeral Service
Caldwell & Cowan Funeral Home
Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home, Inc.
Lovein Funeral Home, Inc.
Mowell Funeral Home & Cremation Service
Stanley Funeral Home and Crematory
Golf Tournament 1st Place Team Prizes
The Wilbert Group
Golf Tournament Closest to the Pin & Longest Drive
Batesville
Golf Tournament Hole
VJW Development & Family Services, Inc.
We Look Forward to Seeing Our Exhibitors
ASD
Atlantic Coast Life Insurance Company
Batesville
Chastain Professional Services
Cincinnati Equitable Life Insurance Company
Clark Grave Vault Company
Curtron Transport
Doric Products/Classic Metal Vaults
Everly
Express Funeral Funding
Facultatieve Technologies
Federated Insurance
Frigid Fluid Company
Funeral Directors Life (FDL)
Funeral Home Gifts
Garfield Refining
Genesis Whole-Body Donor Program
Georgia Eye Bank & LifeLink of Georgia
Georgia Secretary of State, Georgia State Board of Funeral Service
Great Western Insurance Co.
Homesteaders Life Company
Independent Funeral Planning Alliance (IFPA)
McDaniels & Thomas Wealth Management LLC
Matthews Aurora Funeral Solutions
Matthews Memorialization
Mortuary Lift Company
National Funeral Directors Association
Patriot Remediation, LLC
Piedmont Precast
Polyguard Vantage
Post and Boost
Precoa
Premier Preneed Marketing
Security National Life Insurance
The Messenger Co.
Treasured Memories
Tukios
Ward's Funeral Supplies
GFDA Marketing Alliance Partners
Federated Insurance
Matthews Aurora Funeral Solutions
GFDA Choice Colleagues
Atlantic Coast Life Insurance Company
McDaniels & Thomas Wealth Management LLC
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