New Jersey has ordered all U.S. flags to fly at half-staff from Thursday, January 22 to Saturday, January 24, 2026 in mourning for Governor Richard J. Codey who died at the age of 79.

Codey, a third-generation funeral director and the state’s 53rd governor, also served in the state Legislature for a record 50 years. Codey died at home on January 11, 2026 after what his family called “a brief illness.”

The executive order mandating the lowering of the flags, signed by former Governor Phil Murphy during the last days of his administration, outlines some of Codey’s accomplishments as both a legislator and governor, including creating the Governor’s Task Force on Mental Health, banning smoking in indoor public areas and revising school nutrition guidelines.

The order states the flags will be lowered at “all state departments, offices, agencies, and instrumentalities” during the designated period.

From left, NJSFDA Director of Government Affairs Samantha L. Link and President-elect Samuel C. Arnold attend the inaugural ball for Governor Mikie Sherrill. Not pictured is Passaic County Funeral Directors Association President Harris M. Holloway, CFSP.

The New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association was well represented at Governor Mikie Sherrill’s inaugural ball, held at the American Dream mall in East Rutherford.

Attending the ball were NJSFDA Director of Government Affairs Samantha L. Link, President-elect Samuel C. Arnold and Passaic County Funeral Directors Association President Harris M. Holloway, CFSP.

Sherrill, who was inaugurated on January 20, 2026, was feted at the event by approximately 2,000 people. Link, Arnold and Holloway all were there in recognition of a new administration, maintaining the NJSFDA’s voice in New Jersey government as the association continues to advocate for the state’s funeral profession.

A man was injured when he rushed into a burning funeral home to help remove the human remains awaiting funeral services there. A Liberian group is warning funeral homes about refusing to accept third-party caskets for funeral services. And The Burial, a film about a sensational lawsuit involving a funeral home owner and a large conglomerate, has become a sleeper streaming hit. These stories and more are in the week in funeral news.

NEWS

Pastor, Cousin Rushed into Burning Funeral Home to Save Remains
By Tom Jones (WSB-TV)
A man is in the hospital after he risked his life removing bodies from a funeral home in Fairburn after a massive fire broke out. The owner of Cook Brothers Funeral Directors and Cremation in Fulton County, GA, says he lost everything but didn’t lose what’s most precious to the families he serves–their remains. Read more here.

Liberian Group Warns Against Alleged Anti-Competitive Practices in Funeral Services Sector
By Front Page Africa
The Liberia National Casket Union has called for unity among its members and urged the public to remain vigilant following what it describes as attempts by certain funeral homes to restrict bereaved families from purchasing caskets from independent dealers. Read more here.

Antiquities Robbers Caught Digging in Ancient Roman Burial Cave in Galilee
By Pesach Benson (The Jerusalem Post)
A gang of four antiquities robbers was caught red-handed while digging inside an ancient Roman-period burial cave near Hittin, on the edge of the Arbel Valley in Israel, the Israel Antiquities Authority has announced. The suspects caused severe damage to the site, which is located in a protected antiquities area. Read more here.

Town Down to “Final Space” for Muslim Burials
By Abigail Marlow (BBC News)
A council in Great Britain has denied that space for Muslim burials will run out despite reports one cemetery had only a single remaining site for Islamic internments. Read more here.

Jamie Foxx Courtroom Drama about Funeral Service Is a Sleeper Streaming Hit
By Florencia Aberastury (CBR)
Jamie Foxx is an incredibly talented actor who has received acclaim for films like Ray, Collateral, Django Unchained, and more. And he also stole the show in the 2023 legal drama film The Burial, a film based on a real-life case about funeral service. The Burial received a limited release before streaming, where it has since become a sleeper hit. According to FlixPatrol data, The Burial is currently the second most-watched movie on Tubi in the United States. The film has been consistently within the Top 10 most-watched movies on Tubi this week, peaking at number two on January 18, 2026. Unfortunately, it dropped to seventh place one day later. Read more here.

“Emotional and Financial” Pressure of Funeral Fees
By Kevin Reide (BBC News)
Families are facing growing emotional and financial strain as funeral costs continue to rise, a charity has warned. Quaker Social Action, which helps families facing financial hardship during bereavement, said it had received a 20 percent rise in calls from those needing support. Read more here.

In his final hours in office, Governor Phil Murphy signed into law a measure directing the state Attorney General to develop statewide model policies to ensure that essential public institutions remain safe, welcoming, and accessible to all residents.

The legislation, A-6308/S-5036, and known as the “Safe Communities Act,” requires the Office of Attorney General, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, to create and publish model policies to ensure personal freedom at designated sensitive locations throughout the state–including funeral homes. These locations include places such as schools, hospitals and courthouses where New Jerseyans access critical services such as education, health care and justice.

“Today, we reaffirm our longstanding commitment to ensuring the people of New Jersey–particularly our immigrant families–are safe, secure and supported in navigating their daily lives easily and confidently,” Murphy said in a press release. “Public spaces such as houses of worship, schools, hospitals and courthouses are places of trust that should welcome and safeguard every member of society. Whether you're praying in a church, studying in school, receiving medical care at a hospital or seeking legal relief, no one should live in fear or uncertainty or be deterred from seeking essential services due to their immigration status.”

The bill also directs the attorney general to develop a separate model policy specifically tailored to places of worship, recognizing the importance of ensuring that individuals can freely and safely participate in religious life.

Certain governmental departments and agencies are now required to adopt these model policies or policies that provide equal or greater protections within 180 days of the Office of Attorney General’s creation of the policies.

Governmental departments and agencies covered by the mandate will be required to make the policies available to the public to promote transparency and public awareness. The Safe Communities Act takes effect immediately.

For funeral homes, the guidance provided by the Attorney General’s Office will serve as a model policy that can be adopted by a mortuary to protect individuals attending funeral services.

A bill creating a new protocol for identifying unclaimed cremated remains for veterans, a veteran’s spouse or eligible dependents to ensure their dignified burial has been signed by Governor Phil Murphy.

The measure, S-3022/A-1131, passed both houses of the Legislature in December 2025. It requires the state’s Electronic Death Registration System to automatically alert the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs when a veteran, spouse or eligible dependent is cremated.

The signature came after initially being conditionally vetoed by Murphy, who requested minor technical amendments to the legislation. The Legislature approved those amendments on Monday, January 12, 2026 during the final voting session of the legislative session.

After a full calendar year, the DMVA will be able to use the notices to contact the funeral home to determine whether the cremated remains have been claimed or not. If they are not claimed, the DMVA would be able to work with the funeral home to find a qualified veterans organization to facilitate interment.

Qualified veterans’ organizations already can facilitate the interment of unclaimed remains, but the new measure would use information already gathered by EDRS to identify the remains of veterans that have not yet been claimed.

The bill was signed into law on January 20, 2026.

Those who have not paid their 2026 New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association dues are nearing the end of the grace period to extend their membership.

If you have not renewed by February 1, 2026, you will have your membership benefits terminated and will lose access to all the benefits and privileges that the NJSFDA provides.

The NJSFDA constitution requires all membership dues to be paid by January 1 of each year. The association grants a one-month grace period during which dues can be paid. A detailed breakdown of costs, renewal options and renewal instructions can be found here.

The NJSFDA assists for its members by advocating with government officials to maintain and enhance the funeral industry in New Jersey. The association also provides daily support for its members through several programs designed with your interests and concerns in mind.

A listing of many of the benefits can be found here.

Renewing your membership is an investment in your business. Take steps today to stay connected and involved in the future of the funeral industry.

For more information on membership renewal or how a funeral professional colleague can join the NJSFDA, contact our Membership Services department at 800.734.3712.