Moss Stovall Neal Funeral Home

The convention, which begins today and continues through Wednesday, takes place at The Classic Center, with some 400 registrants representing nine districts throughout the state on hand.Among those to be honored during the event will be William "Billy" Jackson of Jackson-McWhorter Funeral Home, who will receive the Humanitarian of the Year Award. In addition, James Neal Sr. of Moss-Stovall-Neal Funeral Home in Toccoa will be honored as the Mortician of the Year.Between them, Jackson and Neal have more than a century's worth of experience in the funeral home business. Jackson has owned and operated Jackson-McWhorter on Broad Street for more than 40 years and Neal has been involved with Moss-Stovall-Neal Funeral Home (first as a partner, then as sole owner) since 1960; the funeral home's web site reports that it is the oldest, continuously operated business in Toccoa.Shanna Jackson Sheats, who is now the operations manager and funeral director at Jackson-McWhorter, said the award her father is receiving is a "well-deserved honor.""He's been a pillar in the community for over 40 years," she said, adding that Jackson was named District 7's Mortician of the Year in 1982 and 2003. "He's a man of humble spirit. He's very low-key and very laid-back. He doesn't ask for much. He just likes to see everybody happy and everybody taken care of. He shows a lot of compassion to families, his neighbors, friends, and his community as a whole. His family has been in Athens for five generations - since the late 1880s."The convention provides attendees much more than an opportunity to rub elbows with folks from the same industry, although networking is a critical component of the week. Morticians and funeral directors can earn continuing education credit for classes and seminars, and there are a host of vendors onsite displaying the products they provide to the funeral home business."Our convention is centered on networking and association," Sheats, who has been a licensed funeral director since the age of 22, said. "... (Online Athens)