For years, Lauren Mc-Donald III was one of just six funeral directors to serve on the Georgia Board of Funeral Service.
During the panel’s April meeting, the Forsyth County man was appointed its chairman.
“It’s a great honor to be elected,” said McDonald, owner of McDonald & Son Funeral Home in Cumming. “One, to be appointed by the governor to serve on the board and two, by your peers to elect you to be the chairman.”
McDonald, who also serves as Forsyth County’s coroner, was appointed to the board in 2004 by Gov. Sonny Perdue.
Since then, he’s worked with five other licensed funeral directors and one consumer member to carry out funeral service laws.
The board has the authority to set standards, adopt rules and to revoke or suspend licenses for violations.
The state has more than 2,000 licensed funeral directors, nearly 1,800 embalmers and about 700 funeral establishments.
All license holders must comply with state laws and rules and are subject to inspections to ensure compliance.
“We’re all there to represent the public,” McDonald said. “That’s one of our main goals is to make sure that public interest is protected.”
During his first term on the board, McDonald served on its legislative committee, working with state legislators on rule and law changes.
“I really enjoyed that,” he said.
Last year, McDonald was reappointed to a second term, which expires in February 2014.
Though he’s pleased to be chairman, he’s disappointed about losing his voice on the board.
“As chairman, you vote only in the instance of a tie, so you really don’t have voting power. That’s the downside,” he said.
“You’re there to maintain order in the meeting ... and making sure that everybody is able to have their say when they come before the board.”
During the panel’s April meeting, the Forsyth County man was appointed its chairman.
“It’s a great honor to be elected,” said McDonald, owner of McDonald & Son Funeral Home in Cumming. “One, to be appointed by the governor to serve on the board and two, by your peers to elect you to be the chairman.”
McDonald, who also serves as Forsyth County’s coroner, was appointed to the board in 2004 by Gov. Sonny Perdue.
Since then, he’s worked with five other licensed funeral directors and one consumer member to carry out funeral service laws.
The board has the authority to set standards, adopt rules and to revoke or suspend licenses for violations.
The state has more than 2,000 licensed funeral directors, nearly 1,800 embalmers and about 700 funeral establishments.
All license holders must comply with state laws and rules and are subject to inspections to ensure compliance.
“We’re all there to represent the public,” McDonald said. “That’s one of our main goals is to make sure that public interest is protected.”
During his first term on the board, McDonald served on its legislative committee, working with state legislators on rule and law changes.
“I really enjoyed that,” he said.
Last year, McDonald was reappointed to a second term, which expires in February 2014.
Though he’s pleased to be chairman, he’s disappointed about losing his voice on the board.
“As chairman, you vote only in the instance of a tie, so you really don’t have voting power. That’s the downside,” he said.
“You’re there to maintain order in the meeting ... and making sure that everybody is able to have their say when they come before the board.”