SCCFA is excited to welcome Laurie Gargis as our incoming Executive Director, beginning January 2026. Laurie brings a strong mix of funeral home and cemetery leadership—along with the kind of steady, service-first mindset that fits our profession perfectly.
Originally born in Miami and raised in Orlando, Laurie and her husband, Brian, have been married for 34 years and are proud parents of two sons, Blake (25) and Jacob (24). She attended the University of Central Florida, is a Tri Delta alumna, and began her professional life in banking and real estate before finding her long-term home in deathcare.
Laurie entered the profession in 1995, managing the Preneed department for Farley Funeral Homes in Venice, Florida. Five years later, she and Brian made a bold move—acquiring Florida Funeral Home (formerly Florida Mortuary–Miami). Under their leadership, the firm grew to serve more than 4,800 families a year, reflecting a strong operational foundation and a deep commitment to families.
After relocating to Lexington, South Carolina in 2012 to be closer to family, Laurie continued expanding her operational leadership—overseeing day-to-day performance for multiple funeral homes and cemeteries in the Columbia market. She later moved into strategic pricing and revenue growth, helping develop price lists and identify opportunities across both cemetery and funeral home locations.
Laurie is already working closely with Cindy Foree and the SCCFA team to support a seamless transition and a strong Southern Convention in San Antonio. When she’s away from the office, she loves spending time with family and friends—preferably at the lake or the beach.
Please join us in welcoming Laurie to SCCFA!