2025 VFDA Winter Conference

A licensed funeral director and embalmer who has dedicated herself to funeral service for more than 21 years, Lacyn Barton has been a Funeral Service Licensee in Virginia for 9 years and currently serves as President of the Virginia Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers.

Ms. Barton is also on the Board of Directors for the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards. As Director of District 2, she represents the funeral service regulatory agencies for Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Starting out as an embalmer at 17-years-old, Ms. Barton spent her career growing into roles of ever-increasing managerial responsibility in funeral homes, care centers, and cemeteries across the country.

In addition to her degree in Mortuary Science, Ms. Barton holds a BA in Business Administration and an MBA in Health Care Management. She is a Certified Protocol Officer and a member of SCI’s Ceremonial Funeral Team through which she is honored to deploy and serve at a national level. In her current role as Funeral Revenue and Merchandising Manager at SCI, Ms. Barton supports nearly 400 funeral home locations in North America and Puerto Rico with their pricing and merchandising needs.

Outside of her professional commitments, Ms. Barton is an accomplished artist with her paintings gracing homes and institutions nationwide. Her largest collection of portraits prominently hangs at the distinguished Joseph Gawler’s Sons in Washington, D.C.

Raymond A. Rhodes is the Director of the Virginia State Anatomical Program, where he oversees critical services that contribute to advancing medical science and education. Originally from Long Island, NY, Mr. Rhodes has lived in the Fredericksburg, Virginia area since 1993 with his wife, three children, and grandson. He has a passion for family time, particularly enjoying outdoor activities such as camping and fishing, and takes pleasure in motorcycle riding, boating, and DIY home and vehicle repairs with his son and grandson.

Mr. Rhodes brings a diverse educational and professional background to his role. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics and Statistics with a Computer Science minor from SUNY Stony Brook, and completed accounting coursework at Dowling College as part of an MBA path. He also attended the University of Mary Washington’s MBA program before pursuing an Associate’s degree in Mortuary Sciences at John Tyler Community College (now Brightpoint Community College) in Chester, Virginia, where he received his Funeral Director and Embalmer credentials.

Before his current role, Mr. Rhodes worked in hospitality and held a 15-year tenure as a Sales Manager with Coca-Cola Enterprises, managing the Maryland and Virginia area. In 2008, he transitioned to the funeral services industry in Fredericksburg, achieving his Funeral Director’s license in 2013. He became the manager of a family-owned funeral home in 2018, where he served until June 2024.

With extensive experience in management, customer service, and operations, Mr. Rhodes is dedicated to excellence in service and brings a thoughtful, compassionate approach to his work in the Anatomical Program, supporting education and research initiatives across Virginia.

8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. – Registration

8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – Breakfast (must register first before breakfast)

11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Word from Sponsors

11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Preneed, Laws & Regs, Board Update (Lacyn Barton) – 2 Hour

1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. – Embalming and Technical Skills (Dana Goodell) – 3 Hour

4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. – VSAP Updates and changes (Raymond Rhodes) – 1 Hour

5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Cocktail Reception

7:00 p.m. – Dinner

8 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. – Breakfast

9:00 a.m. – Board of Directors Meeting