HOPE, AR – April 4, 2019
Herndon-Fuqua Funeral Home, owned by Vickers and Thomas Fuqua, recently donated a 1996 Cadillac Fleetwood Hearse to the University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana Funeral Service Education Program. The Fuquas own and operate Texarkana Funeral Homes in Texarkana, Texas and Texarkana, Arkansas, Chapelwood Funeral Home in Nash, Texas, and Bates-Rolf Funeral Home in New Boston, Texas. In addition, they own and operate the Herndon-Fuqua Funeral Homes in Hope, Prescott, and Gurdon, Arkansas.
“The Fuqua family has a long history of giving back to the communities we serve. We believe in supporting each other and fostering long-term relationships with our partners. UAHT is a vital part of the Hope and Texarkana communities, and the Funeral Services program is important to the regional funeral industry. Many of our current employees have come from this program, and we will continue to hire students from the program. We expect to grow our partnership with UAHT and are working on several additional projects for the future,” said Vickers Fuqua, President of Texarkana and Herndon-Fuqua Funeral Homes.
UAHT offers a Certificate of Proficiency in Funeral Directing, a Technical Certificate in Funeral Directing, an online Technical Certificate in Funeral Directing, and an Associate of Applied Science in Funeral Service Education degree. The certificates in funeral directing are designed to prepare students for jobs in funeral services and lead to the completion of the Associate of Applied Science in Funeral Service Education degree which is accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education.
Karen Davis, Dean of Science and Health Professions at UAHT said, “This donation will be beneficial to students in their on-campus clinical coursework. Students need an opportunity to learn about all aspects of the funeral industry. This hearse will add to the funeral service program’s ability to provide real funeral service industry scenarios to our students.”
“The University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana is fortunate to partner with the Fuqua Family to further enhance the quality of instruction and student learning in our Funeral Services Program. The Fuquas, personally and through their funeral homes, have always demonstrated the highest level of commitment to the families and communities of our region. UAHT is proud to play a role in supporting that commitment by providing an educational program to support and enhance their ability to attract and maintain funeral service professionals to assist them in serving the families in northeast Texas and southwest Arkansas,” said Chris Thomason, Chancellor.
For more information about the Funeral Services Program at UAHT, call 870-777-5722 or visit uacch.edu.
Front row: Heather Kiser, Chapelwood Funeral Home General Manager; Karen Davis, UAHT Dean of Science and Health Professions; Brad Sheppard, UAHT Funeral Services Instructor; Fred Meisenheimer, Texarkana Funeral Home Chief Operations Officer
Back row: Chris Thomason, UAHT Chancellor; Scott Brown, Herndon-Fuqua Funeral Home General Manager; Vickers Fuqua, Texarkana Funeral Home President; George Speer, Texarkana Funeral Home Funeral Director; Jeremy Fugitt, Herndon-Fuqua Funeral Director and Embalmer