[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 45 (Monday, March 19, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1786-S1787]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO GERVIS SINGLETON

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, today I wish to pay tribute to a man 
who has shown the utmost compassion and care for Kentucky families who 
are grieving the death of a loved one. Mr. Gervis Singleton of Laurel 
County, KY, has been established in the funeral and mortuary services 
business for over 50 years. He has treated each and every family who 
has had the unfortunate need for his services as if they were his own.
  Mr. Singleton owns Cumberland Memorial Gardens and Mausoleum and is a 
partner, along with his son, Craig Singleton, of Singleton Embalming 
Service. Gervis has experienced first-hand the grief process thousands 
of families have gone through during the death of their loved ones; his 
father passed away when he was only 11 years old. He believes that 
mourning is a very important part of the grieving process, and he takes 
pride in knowing that he is doing what he can to help them through such 
difficult circumstances. As someone who is experienced in an area that 
is new to many of us, he is more than happy to assist the deceased's 
loved ones in whatever way he can.
  Gervis knows that his job is very much linked to emotion, but as a 
mortician, he understands that he must block out his own emotions while 
working on the important process of restoring the deceased individual 
to more closely resemble how their loved ones remember them in life. He 
feels that if he can assist the family during their time of mourning, 
that they will more likely gain closure on the loss.
  During his half century working in the business, he has seen fads 
come and go. Mr. Singleton remembers the day when it was almost a 
requirement to wear all black to a funeral, a custom that he has seen 
almost completely go away. He has also seen families transition to more 
cremations in the past few decades. Cremation is a cheaper, sometimes 
more convenient alternative. The increase in number of cremations 
sparked an idea for Mr. Singleton, and in 1995 he built a signature 
addition to the Cumberland Memorial Gardens. The result was a 360-crypt 
mausoleum along with accommodations for 48 cremains.
  Mr. Singleton takes a walk through his 16-acre cemetery every day, 
and reflects on the lives of the many who have passed away and are 
buried there. It is inspiring to see someone who is so involved and 
compassionate in an industry that is an uncomfortable topic for some, 
but still a vital service. Although the passing of loved ones is 
something we may prefer not to think about, it will most assuredly 
befall upon each of us at some point in time, which is why knowing 
there are those like Gervis to help is a comforting thought. There is a 
need for individuals like Gervis Singleton, who are so deeply convicted 
to lend a helping hand in whatever way they can.
  I would like to ask my Senate colleagues to join me in commemorating 
Mr. Gervis Singleton. He is a fine Kentuckian who has made many a 
family feel comforted at a difficult time thanks to his deep respect 
for those who have passed away.
  Recently, an article appeared in the Laurel County-area publication, 
the Sentinel Echo, that illustrated the contributions of Mr. Singleton 
to the people of Laurel County, KY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous 
consent that said article be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                [From the Sentinel Echo, Sept. 5, 2011]

               Singleton Takes Pride in Helping Families

                          (By Magen McCrarey)

       Cemeteries are citadels for those who mourn the death of a 
     lost loved one, and treating them with the ultimate respect 
     is Gervis Singleton's calling.
       Singleton is the owner of Cumberland Memorial Gardens and 
     Mausoleum, and is partner in Singleton Embalming Service with 
     his son, Craig Singleton. He was the second born of seven 
     children. His father passed away when he was only 11 years 
     old.
       ``I don't know if it has something to do with my father 
     passing away,'' Singleton

[[Page S1787]]

     said about his start in the funeral business. ``(But) I grew 
     fascinated.''
       To embalm a body, Singleton said emotions should never play 
     a part. In order to do his job, he must turn off parts of his 
     limbic system, the primarily emotional core of his brain. 
     After 50 years of being in the funeral and embalming 
     business, he still struggles with the emotions of his job.
       ``There are certain things you don't let in your mind. You 
     close them out,'' he said. Although, emotions play a large 
     part in one of the reasons he still finds zeal within his 
     career, comfort.
       ``I take great pride in being able to do something that 
     makes it easier for families during those times. It's not 
     that you're going to grieve with them, although you may, to 
     some extent,'' he said. ``You are trying to help them through 
     their grief.''
       Singleton's embalming business handles roughly 1,500 bodies 
     a year. A single body takes about three hours to embalm. In a 
     way, it's an art, he said. His team of five provides services 
     for funeral homes in northeastern Tennessee and southeastern 
     Kentucky.
       Families may furnish Singleton with a photograph to 
     preserve the body to its original state, and they may not. 
     It's up to the embalmer to transform the unknown deceased 
     into who they were remembered as. Singleton found that some 
     facial features after death need to be improved on, and he 
     brings them back to life, visually.
       But appearance isn't everything, especially when it comes 
     to funeral attire, he said. It's not customary anymore to 
     wear all black. Another uncustomary practice that's become 
     popular in the past 30 years is cremation, he said. ``It's a 
     growing thing, becoming more popular, and cheaper,'' he 
     added.
       Singleton said mourning the deceased is important to gain 
     closure, not only for children but adults, too. So in 1995, 
     he built a mausoleum to accommodate 360 bodies and 48 
     cremation ashes.
       A Laurel County Medal of Honor recipient is buried at 
     Cumberland Memorial Gardens. There is a flag flown above the 
     grave of Carl H. Dodd, a veteran of World War II and the 
     Korean War.
       ``It's the only site I'll allow a flag to fly,'' Singleton 
     said.
       Every day, Singleton walks through the 16-acre cemetery 
     behind his office on south U.S. 25. About 80 individuals a 
     year are buried on the grounds that offer three reflection 
     stations and feature Little Laurel River and a wooded area 
     from behind.

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