Michael S. Lewis, funeral director and co-owner of the Lewis Funeral Home, Inc., has returned to the Board of Directors of The Independent Funeral Directors of Florida (IFDF) where he agreed to fill a vacant two-year position.
Michael is a founding member of IFDF and, as a former Director he has filled every leadership position within the association and served as president from 2001 to 2002. In 2010 Michael was awarded IFDF’s highest honor, The W. Clyde Lankford Distinguished Service Award. Michael has continued his active role in IFDF by serving on the Conference Committee and heading our Annual Memorial Program.
There may be no stronger advocate for family owned funeral homes anywhere. It’s fitting that Michael is also actively involved with The International Order of the Golden Rule (OGR): “The world’s leading professional association dedicated to making independent funeral homes exceptional.” At OGR he has served as Florida Regional Chair, Chairman of the Product and Services Committee, and on the OGR Board of Directors. He elected OGR president in 2012.
Mark O’Connell, Executive Director of IFDF said this about Michael: “His predecessor
as OGR president, Jeffrey S. Wages, stated that Michael brought wisdom, enthusiasm and vision to his role. As true as that may be, it’s all enhanced through his passion, his compassion and his boundless energy.”
After graduating from the Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Service in Atlanta, Mike started working in the family owned funeral home that was started by his grandfather in 1928. He worked with his father, mother and brother and, when his mother died in 1996, he and his brother Sam took over the operation of the funeral home. The firm has continued to expand with the addition of Lewis Funeral Home, Pace Chapel and Field of Faith Crematory and Tribute Center in Pace, Fla.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Mike Lewis returns to state funeral director's board