Elk Funeral & Cremation Service

12/19/2025

DJ elves?

12/18/2025

Bobbie Racer, 66, of Dunbar, West Virginia, passed away at home on October 9, 2025. Lynda was born on December 22, 1958.

There are no services planned at this time.

Elk Funeral & Cremation Service is honored to be assisting Bobbie's family at this time.

View Bobbie Racer's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

12/18/2025

Lynda Sanchez, 69, of Dunbar, West Virginia, passed away at home on September 4, 2025. Lynda was born on October 6, 1955.

There are no services planned at this time.

Elk Funeral & Cremation Service is honored to be assisting Lynda's family at this time.

View Lynda Sanchez's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

12/17/2025

Jamie Justine Milam, 61, of Saint Albans, West Virginia, passed away on December 17, 2025. Jamie was born in Springfield, Missouri, on March 10, 1964, to Gary L. Holland and the late Dixie K. Perryman.

Jamie is preceded in death by her mother, daughter Shawwnalynn, step-father Russell Breeden, grandmother Retha Krumholz, and grandfather Stacey Perryman.

Jamie's memory lives on in her husband, Darrell "Butch" Milam, her father, step-mother Margie Breeden, her sons Tyler LeMaster of Sissonville, West Virginia, and Mark Adkins of Wisconsin, daughter, Cyntia Milam of Hernshaw, West Virginia, sisters Rosa Gerlach of Saint Albans, West Vrginia, Lisa Breeden of Springfield, Missouri, Johnna Creighton of Springfield, Missouri, Christina Warrick of Alabama, Jessi Clark of California, and Carrie Holland, brothers Dalton Friend, Gage Friend, and Gary Holland, grandchildren Metias, Bryson, Abbigail, Amelia, and Thena, 5 nieces, 5 nephews, 6 great nieces, and 3 great nephews.

There will be a funeral on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at 1 pm with Pastor Chad Smarr officiating, pallbearers will be members of the Lakewood and Jefferson Fire Departments, with a visitation one hour prior (12 pm - 1 pm), at Elk Funeral & Cremation Service, 2001 Pennsylvania Avenue, Charleston, West Virginia 25302. Immediately following will be a burial at Grandview Memorial Park, 1313 Hillview Dr, Dunbar, WV 25064.

Jamie's family is asking that anyone who can to please consider donating towards the cost of her funeral. There is a link to donate under Jamie's obituary on Elk Funeral & Cremation Service's website.

Elk Funeral & Cremation Service is honored to assist Jamie's family at this time.

View Jamie Milam's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

12/17/2025

We thought elves were supposed to just know how to do this and also be really good at it …. Why do ours need a cheat sheet and they made a mess!

12/17/2025

Paul David Hughes, 82, of Charleston, West Virginia, passed away on December 15, 2025, at the Hubbard Hospice House. Paul was born in Charleston on November 29, 1943, to the late Paul B. Hughes and Shirley J. Lay Hughes.

Paul is also preceded in death by his wife, Shirley Mae Hughes, and his brother Dennis Hughes.

Paul is survived by his brother Danny Hughes and his wife Kelly, daughter Pamela Jenkins and her husband Richard, his granddaughter Geneva Daugherty and her husband Stephen, and great-grandchildren Mason, Noah, and Lincoln Daugherty.

Paul was an auto salesman before retiring.

A graveside service will be held on Thursday, December 18, 2025, at 12:00 PM at Elk Hills Memorial Park, Big Chimney, West Virginia.

Elk Funeral & Cremation Service is honored to be assisting Paul’s family at this time.

View Paul Hughes's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

12/16/2025

Keeping an eye up and down the hallway today

12/15/2025

This may be one of the only safe ways to travel after that snow storm

12/12/2025

Fun Funeral Fact Friday!!

Did you know every state in the U.S. has its own requirements to be a funeral director and embalmer?

Here are the first 10 states ’ (plus D.C.) requirements! (note: This is as of 2025; ABFSE: American Board of Funeral Service Education; LRR: Laws, Rules, Regulations) (We will keep going each week.)

Alabama: Funeral Director: you can be an ABFSE graduate, hold any bachelor’s degree, or complete a certificate ABFSE program. Embalmer, you need to be an ABFSE graduate. For both licenses, must complete the LRR exam, can complete an apprenticeship during or after education, and must get a state and federal background check.

Alaska: Funeral Director: 30 semester hours from an accredited college/university. Embalmer: degree from an accredited funeral service program. Dual license: be an ABFSE graduate. All of these require the LRR exam, and serve an apprenticeship anytime, unless going for dual licensing, then you must complete after your education.

Arizona: Funeral Director or Embalmer (separate licenses): Graduate of an accredited or provisionally accredited school or mortuary science, complete the LRR exam, and get a state and federal background check.

Arkansas: Funeral Director: High School/GED; complete 6 hours in funeral service pract. & ethics & laws/rules approved by the board. Embalmer or Dual Licensing: Be an ABFSE graduate. For all of these, you must complete the LRR exam and can serve your apprenticeship anytime.

California: Funeral Director: Associate degree in any field or equivalent. Embalmer: ABFSE graduate; Associate degree in Mortuary Science, serve apprenticeship anytime. For both licenses, you must complete the LRR exam and get a state and federal background check.

Colorado: Funeral Director or Embalmer (separate licenses): Graduate of an ABFSE Accredited Program, serve an apprenticeship anytime, and get a state and federal background check.

Connecticut: Funeral Director or Embalmer (separate licenses): Associate degree in Mortuary Science, complete LRR exam, serve an apprenticeship before education, and get a state background check.

Delaware: Funeral Director: ABFSE graduate, complete LRR exam, serve an apprenticeship after education, and get a state and federal background check.

D.C.: Funeral Director or Embalmer (separate licenses): ABFSE graduate; Associate degree in Mortuary Science, LRR exam, and serve an apprenticeship after education.

Florida: Funeral Director: ABFSE graduate; Bachelor’s or associate degree in MS or other. Embalmer: Complete an ABFSE-accredited Mortuary Science course approved by the licensing authority. Dual Licensing: Associate’s degree in arts, science, OR applied science degree in MS approved by the board; OR hold an AS Degree from an accredited college AND ABFSE graduate. All 3 options must complete the LRR exam, get a state and federal background check, and serve an apprenticeship anytime.

Georgia: Embalmer or Dual Licensing: ABFSE graduate and serve an apprenticeship anytime. Only take the LRR exam for dual licensing.

12/12/2025

Who taught the elves how to use the copier???

12/11/2025

We don’t like the idea of them holding on for dear life on the snow garland… with this upcoming forecast everyone please stay safe and warm, we wouldn’t want you to end up looking like our elves do ❄️

12/10/2025

We suppose this is like when we read a history book, what do you think?