The South Carolina Center for Funeral Service Education, also known as the Funeral Service Education department at Piedmont Technical College, will soon be the premier training facility for current and future funeral directors in the region with the completion of renovations of the embalming lab.

“The current lab is not equipped to teach as thoroughly as we would like to,” said David Martin, funeral services director. “Presently, students must travel to local funeral homes to observe and participate in the embalming process.”

Funding for the equipment will be provided through federal Perkins money. The cost for construction will come from a restricted physical plant fund that was originally earmarked for the new Saluda County Center, but became available when the Certified Nursing Assistant program there received a S.C. Department of Commerce Community Development Block grant.

Martin said they have been working closely with the Funeral Service Advisory Board for Piedmont Tech and an ad hoc committee from the South Carolina Funeral Directors Association to determine what is needed. The renovations to the lab will increase the existing area to approximately 400 square feet. A body cooler, prep tables and other equipment will be added. But the improvement that should have the most impact is the addition of state-of-the-art broadcasting equipment.

Funeral service professionals will have the opportunity to view and participate in these sessions at their local community or technical college through video conferencing rather than traveling to the Greenwood campus.

Renovations are planned to begin in early 2009 with completion slated for early summer.

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