A Journey of Determination and Support: My Experience in the NTCC Funeral Service Program

At 35 years old, my life was already full of responsibility. I am a single mother raising my child while also serving as a caregiver to my mother. Balancing family, work, and personal goals is not easy, but I have always believed that pursuing an education would open doors for a better future for my family and myself.

The funeral service program at NTCC is top notch.  I was never a big fan of remote/online based learning but between the setup of the program and the excellent staff, it was easy to keep up with everything that needed to be done.  Every staff member of the program have a great passion for teaching and helping you grow into the next generation of funeral service professionals.  They have all the info to help you grow as a person and learn the information needed to pass your boards.  You will have the opportunity to study with and learn from people all over

The online Funeral Services program at NTCC gave me the opportunity to be a stay at home mom and go to school. The instructors taught me how to become a confident funeral director and embalmer. I was new having never worked in funeral services before. Thankfully all the instructors were patient and willing to answer all questions I had. The greatest advice I can give to anyone interested in funeral services is “DO IT!!” You won’t regret it. 

NTCC's Funeral Service Program is more than an educational institution—it is a community built on integrity, respect, and compassion. The faculty and staff pour endless hours into their students, ensuring not only academic success but also personal growth and professional excellence. Their guidance goes beyond textbooks and lectures; they shape individuals into dedicated directors and embalmers who prioritize families with care and empathy.

My experience with NTCC’s Funeral Service program was a phenomenal experience from the start! Since I was already a licensed funeral director and had been out of Mortuary School for over 10 years, Ms. G was extremely detailed, knowledgeable, patient, and helped guide me on the steps needed to obtain licensure to become an embalmer in Texas. 

When I first started in NTCC’s Funeral Service program, I had no prior funeral experience, aside from when I had attended funeral services as a guest. I have always been drawn to the funeral service industry and so when I found NTCC and that they offered a degree in funeral service, I knew that was where I wanted to start the path to my career. After researching the program and knowing that this was it, I decided to apply. From the moment I applied the abundance of communication drew me in. Any question I had for Mrs.

After retiring at the age of 62 from a full career in education, I began working part-time for Bates, Cooper, Sloan Funeral Home.   The more time I spent there, the more I recognized the profound impact that compassionate care can have during one of life’s most challenging moments.  Inspired by the support I received from the funeral home staff and from my past experience of losing close family members, I realized that I wanted to help others navigate their grief.

Greetings to everyone reading this testimonial. My name is George Edwards. I started the funeral service program at NTCC in the fall semester of 2022. Unlike most students, I embarked on my college career at the age of 53. I began working for a funeral home, part time, in 2020, and after a few months I made the transition to full time. It wasn’t long before I found that being a funeral director and embalmer is where the long road has taken me. I started my research on the few colleges in Texas that offer a funeral service degree. The cost of most of them seemed expensive.

When I began my journey at Northeast Texas Community College (NTCC) in August 2023, I had been away from law enforcement for some time and found myself in a season of searching trying to figure out what was next for me in life. Entering the funeral service program was both exciting and nerve wracking. I was transitioning careers, working a full-time job, a part-time job, and raising my daughters all while taking on a new academic challenge in an online format. I didn’t know what to expect, but I was ready to give it everything I had.