09/30/2026
Please join us in celebrating an incredible, monumental milestone for one of our very own! We are absolutely thrilled to announce that Alyssa Jelks a.k.a. "Paige" has officially passed her state board examinations and is now a fully licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer! 📜🎓
Paige graduated from Jefferson State Community College in May of this year, and her journey to this moment has been a testament to faith, resilience, and divine purpose. True to our Ekklesia model, we believe our work is a sacred ministry—a calling to gather, serve, and love our community during their most broken moments. Paige embodies this mission completely. She has worked incredibly hard, showing unmatched spiritual and physical strength, and overcoming every obstacle in her path. We are so incredibly proud of her dedication!
But that is not all—Paige has just made history! 🌟
This is not just a personal milestone for Paige—this is a monumental, historic moment for our entire community. Paige is officially the very first Black female to obtain these dual licenses in the history of Cherokee County, Alabama. Paige, you are a true trailblazer, a history-maker, and an absolute inspiration. God has anointed you for this work, and we are honored to stand with you. 🖤🕊️
To truly understand how momentous this is, you have to look at where we come from. Cherokee County’s roots run deep with history—from early trail-blazers like Moses Hampton, who bought his freedom and helped lay out the city of Centre, to the historic Black communities like Congo, Alabama near Cedar Bluff, where early ancestors laid foundations of faith, resilience, and unique sacred burial traditions. For generations, the deathcare industry across the South was heavily segregated, creating systemic barriers for families during their most vulnerable times.
By breaking this ceiling, Paige isn't just joining a profession; she is rewriting the history books. Having Paige on our team at Cherokee Memorial Funeral Home empowers us to continue breaking through long-standing funeral industry and community barriers. Her presence brings a profound depth of cultural understanding, representation, and trust. She represents a bridge of healing, ensuring that every family in our community feels seen, deeply understood, and treated with the absolute highest level of dignity and compassion.
This achievement makes a massive impact on the generations coming behind her. Paige is proof to every young girl of color in Northeast Alabama that no barrier is too high to break and no room is closed to you when you walk in your purpose. She has taken the ancient, sacred art of undertaking and carved out a new path of self-determination.
Paige, your dedication, countless hours of study, and faith-driven resilience have brought you to this moment. You haven’t just earned a license—you have built a monument of inspiration.
At Cherokee Memorial, we are making BIG moves in the funeral industry—elevating how we minister to families, breaking barriers, and setting a new standard of excellence in service. Paige is a vital part of that forward momentum! 🚀✨
The future of funeral ministry is bright, and the Lord is doing great things. Leave some love in the comments below to congratulate Paige on this historic, blessed milestone!
