What are we doing to keep you and our employees safe?
J.T. Morriss & Son
prioritizes the health and well-being of its associates, families, and
communities that we serve. We are closely monitoring and evaluating
developments of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Based on information provided by
the CDC, NFDA, VFDA, and the Commonwealth of Virginia, we are taking
precautions to protect everyone.
We still believe that gathering and supporting one another
at a time of loss is important. The Commonwealth of Virginia has instituted a
limit on all gatherings. In order to abide by that we are
instituting the following guidelines:
Funerals and Visitations can be held in our funeral homes with a maximum of 75 guests in attendance at a time.
Face masks are required but not provided.
Social distance seating is designated for guests in our chapels during services.
Hand sanitizer stations will be available.
Single use pens will be available for guests to sign the register book.
Family
and friends can leave comments on the deceased tribute wall.
Gatherings
and services will have a limited number of associates to allow the family the
maximum amount of attendees.
We are continuing to offer remote or virtual arrangement conferences for families if they choose.
We ask
that family members that don’t feel well to stay home.
We want to assure you that the
J.T. Morriss team is taking proactive measures to help prevent the spread of
any potential illness. We are closely monitoring the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention and World Health Organization’s statements, along with
Virginia Department of Health Services,
regarding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and following guidelines from
these agencies and our local health departments.
We use cleaning and disinfecting protocols to
clean our chapels, lounge and restrooms before and after each service with
particular attention paid to high touch items like knobs, faucets, chairs and
other communal areas.
Proper and frequent hand washing is vital to
help combat the spread of viruses. Our teams are reminded multiple times a day
that cleanliness starts with this simple act.
Employees who exhibit cold or flu-like symptoms
have been instructed to stay home from work.
If you have any
questions about the funeral home operations, please feel free to contact our
management team through [email protected]
Funeral Assistance (FEMA)
As a result of recent federal relief legislation, FEMA is providing Funeral Assistance up to $9,000 in funeral assistance to qualified families who have incurred COVID-19-related funeral expenses after January 20, 2020.
FEMA Funeral Assistance covers expenses for funeral services and interment or cremation. Eligible services include a wide range of funeral-related services, such as transportation of up to two people for identification; transfer of remains; casket or urn; burial plot or cremation niche; marker or headstone; clergy or officiant services; arrangement of the funeral ceremony; use of funeral home equipment or staff; interment; costs associated with producing and certifying multiple death certificates; and additional expenses mandated by any applicable local or state government laws or ordinances.
In order to apply for this relief, you will need three types of documentation:
1. An official death certificate attributing the death, directly or indirectly, to COVID-19. A death certificate stating the death “may have been caused by” or was “likely the result of” COVID-19 is sufficient, and death certificates not specifying this information may be amended, if qualified.
2. Proof of funeral expenses. We are happy to assist you by providing copies of this information from our funeral home.
3.If your family received funds specifically for funeral costs, these must be disclosed and will offset the FEMA benefit.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to our funeral home for help navigating this program. While FEMA makes the final determination on who is qualified and of any award amount, we are happy to help assist you through the process.
