Thank you Demoss Durden Funeral Home for the professionalism of the funeral arrangements of our beloved mother. Especially Ryan Fiero, he kept us informed of what mom had bought back in 2001 in preparation for her service. Then took care of preparation for the church. What he didn't know he knew who to ask, thank you Drew. The family felt very comfortable and comforted by the professionalism. Thank you all once again. The Dean Family.

We came to see a man about a hearse and made a friend. It is a well-known fact that when the device tracking vitals beeps for the last time, those left behind are suddenly thrust into a whole new world of uncertainty. Friends and family come together and provide their support frequently accompanied by disjointed advice. Even in a properly managed household, creditors and bills appear to come out of nowhere. Every basic task suddenly has a capacity to turn into a disaster. In the cacophony of noises and snowballing obligations, Josh Payton came through as a clear and compassionate voice of reason. Turns out that planning a funeral is not as scary as many believe. Josh made it simple and manageable from start to end. Normally, this is where the story ends. None of us could imagine that after a flurry of activities with funeral arrangements, we would be dragged into several months of Bureaucratic Winter. Obtaining several certified copies of a death certificate is a standard process. It is expected to take a bit longer in the State offices but generally moves fairly smoothly. Typically, no one expects the Spanish Inquisition. For nearly three months, Josh persevered through stonewalling by the medical facility and then by the State. A single experience of the on-hold music at Providence St. Vincent hospital warrants a lengthy time off for mental health recovery. Josh went through it at least half-a-dozen times and kept his composure when the hospital administration blatantly bent the truth about their timelines for document delivery. Sadly, the State didn’t have their best foot forward either. Josh must be a VRU Master to get through that jungle. If Josh did not stay on top of the process, there’s every reason to believe that the death certificate would have to be extracted through a lengthy litigation process. Josh saved this pain and suffering for our family. All throughout the ordeal, Josh stayed laser-focused on the task and kept us informed and in good spirits. Many people cheered across the U.S. when the words “I have the certificate!” came through the family’s comms. Thanks to Josh our family can finally take the steps to rebuild our lives. Whatever comes next, Josh will always be our example of tenacity, perseverance, and composure.

I found the staff and director at DeMoss-Durdan Funeral Home to be quite caring, accommodating, and professional. They were able to help coordinate a meeting with me even on a holiday. Barbara and her team deserve the highest praise and gratitude for continuing to provide outstanding care in an under-recognized field of service. Jennifer Brewer, MD