69th National President

455 North Broad St. | Elizabeth, NJ 07208

P: 908-352-9114 | F: 908-352-1855

Shawn'te C.R. Harvell, a native of Newark, New Jersey who was raised in Bound Brook, New Jersey. Shawn as he is known, is the second child of Barbara and Darnell. A Graduate of American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service and The State University of New York-Canton, Shawn is a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in New Jersey and New York. In his early stages of leadership Shawn served as the Assistant Manager at McCall’s Bronxwood Funeral Home, Inc. in the Bronx, New York for over 13 years. Shawn currently serves as the Manager of the Smith Funeral Home, Inc. in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and owns and manages Legacy Funeral Service, a funeral service consulting company servicing funeral homes in the tri- state area.

Shawn has a passion for serving families in their most difficult times, and he is one who takes the funeral service profession very serious. Shawn’s motto is “You have to be serious about business, if you’re going to be in business.” He is one of the leading and innovative funeral professionals in the country. His high standards in the funeral profession and his notable quality work have made him one of the most sought-after funeral directors and embalmers in New York, New Jersey, and the surrounding area.

Shawn's love for funeral service education has landed him in the forefront of various publications including articles in the Scope and Nomis Publications; "The Millennial Consumer of Funeral Services...What will the needs of the consumer be in the near future?" and most recently Shawn was featured on the cover of the New Times during Science week in an article entitled, "The Fading Art of Preserving the Dead."

In addition to his responsibilities serving families and colleagues in funeral service, Shawn is also an adjunct professor at Eastwick College in Hackensack, New Jersey, as well as Mercer County Community College, New Jersey, where his Mortuary Science passion comes alive while teaching Funeral Service-related science courses.

Shawn received his Certified Funeral Service Practitioner designation in 2015 from the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice and is currently serving as the 69th National President for National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association. Concurrently he serves as President-Elect of Essex Union & West Hudson County Funeral Directors Association and is on the Board of Trustees for the New Jersey Funeral Service Education Corporation, New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association, New York State Funeral Directors Association, and the National Funeral Directors Association. Additionally, Shawn is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Clifford Alford Lodge#165 International F&AMM, Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Englewood, New Jersey and serves as Co-Minster of Music at Paradise Baptist Church in Newark. Accomplished and blessed, Shawn is honored to be the adored father of two beautiful daughters: Madison and Mylea.