Mortuary Science Program empowers three generations of funeral service professionals to support their community
The Mortuary Science Program at the Wayne State University Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences has made three generations of impactful careers possible for a family from Port Huron, Michigan. Ann Kendrick, who graduated in 1981, her mother, Barb Randall ’74, and daughter, Laura Godwin ’08 earned their degrees from Michigan’s only mortuary science program and have applied the knowledge and skills they built in the heart of Detroit to serve countless families in their hometown.
In the late 1960s, Barb studied at the Wayne State College of Education as her husband Dave Randall worked in Detroit. Dave purchased a funeral home in Port Huron in 1971, but his business partner died soon after, motivating Barb to switch her major to mortuary science. She became the Pollock-Randall Funeral Home's chief financial officer and frequently commuted between Port Huron and Detroit until her graduation in 1974.
Barb received her mortuary science degree when it was less common for women to do so. According to the American Board of Funeral Service Education, the percentage of female funeral director program graduates rose from 9% in 1976 to 71% in 2022.
Kendrick appreciates how professionals like her mother paved the way for future generations of women to pursue formal funeral service education.
"Whether licensed or not, the contribution of women to funerals has always been significant throughout human history,” she noted.
Dave and Barb Randall helped thousands of families grieve, and their lifelong dedication to community service enriched the lives of countless others. Dave passed away in 2010, and Barb in 2021, but what they started continues to grow.
Continuing their legacy
Kendrick recalls reading the textbooks her mom would bring home and considering following in her parents' footsteps, but Dave wanted his daughters to get a different degree and work for somebody else before joining the family business.
Kendrick earned her bachelor's in accounting and worked in public accounting for several years while assisting part-time at Pollock-Randall. Eventually, the business and her family grew, leading her to focus on funeral service full-time alongside her husband, John Kendrick ’83.
“Though I grew up in Detroit, many of our team members did not,” Ann said. “Being in a big city very different than Port Huron, the Wayne State Mortuary Science Program gives students experience in an urban environment and the chance to observe funeral customs from various cultures.”
Laura Godwin did not expect to follow in her family's footsteps in funeral service either, but she ultimately enrolled in the Wayne State Mortuary Science Program to contribute to Pollock-Randall while she determined a career path.
“I thought about other programs at WSU Applebaum, but on my first day of coursework, I realized that mortuary science combined my love of science, business, the arts and psychology, all while allowing me to feel like I was helping people,” Godwin said.
In addition to serving as a full-time funeral director and mother to three children under 11, Godwin is a licensed counselor. She has employed new methods for caring for grieving families, including adopting a comfort dog who attends visitations. She also encourages staff to nurture their mental health and avoid burnout.
A lasting connection
Across Pollock-Randall’s three locations, a team of 35 employees conducts an average of 600 funerals a year.
“The Randall and Kendrick families have served the Port Huron community for generations with care and compassion,” Mortuary Science Program Director Mark T. Evely said. “Over the years, they have trained, mentored and employed countless students and graduates as they started their funeral service careers. The family has established a legacy in their community and in funeral service. We are proud to be a small part of that legacy in educating three generations of their family at Wayne State.”
Pollock-Randall sends staff to the Mortuary Science program’s open house and crematory training every year and currently employs three recent graduates: Aiyanna Rivera ’23, Kaitlyn Meldrum ’24 and Kylee Crane ’24.
Meldrum works part-time for Pollock-Randall and will conduct her resident training there. She chose the Mortuary Science program on Godwin and Kendrick’s recommendation while shadowing them as a high school student, when she observed the unique skill set required to succeed in the field.
“A family was going through a horrible time, having just lost someone,” Meldrum recalled. “But as they talked with Ann and Laura, they started laughing together. That’s when I realized I also wanted to have a career where I help people through times like that.”
Barb, Ann and Laura have leaned on their faith, education and experience to serve families with excellence and compassion. Ann and Laura said they take pride in the Wayne State alumnae who have joined their staff and look forward to furthering the role of women in funeral service while upholding a generational commitment.
“Everybody on the team understands we're serving people at a significant time of their life,” Godwin said. “There is always another family depending on you.”
Since 1939, the Wayne State University Mortuary Science Program has been dedicated to educating and developing funeral service professionals who serve their communities with care and distinction. Through traditional, online and hybrid programs, students benefit from high-quality instruction and practical experiences that lay the foundation for their funeral service careers.