Chief Mortician & Funeral Director in Charge
Samuel L. Vance II was born in 1980 to the proud parents of
Samuel L. and the Late Joyce Ragland Vance in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. From an early age, Samuel posed the Vance trait
of hard work and striving for perfection to be at the top of everything he
did. Samuel begun his career in funeral service at Perry-Hearn & Scott Funeral Home in Pine Bluff, Arkansas under the leadership of Roy D. Hearn, while in high school. In 1999, Samuel graduated from Pine
Bluff High School where he was a member of the band. Later that year he
enrolled at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Samuel is no stranger to
hard work, during his collegiate years he held down four jobs while taking a
full load of credit hours. Samuel was initiated as a member of the Beta Theta
Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporation in the fall of 2000. He had the
pleasure of serving as Chapter President and was on many committees. After
obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology in 2003 with a Minor in Sociology from the
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, he moved to Dallas. While attending Dallas
Institute of Funeral Service, Samuel was afforded the opportunities to work at
Gregory W. Spencer Funeral Directors at the McGowan Mansion, Gregory W. Spencer
Funeral Directors at the Cedar Crest Chapel, Paradise Funeral Home under the leadership of Mr. Frankie Washington, Peaceful
Rest Funeral Home under the leadership of Mr. John Hollis King all in Dallas, TX and Gregory W. Spencer Funeral Directors under the leadership of the late Dr. Gregory W. Spencer in
Fort Worth, TX. In 2004, Samuel received an Associate of Applied Science Degree
in Funeral Service. After moving back to Arkansas, he worked for a government
and state funded program. In 2005, Samuel relocated to Little Rock, Arkansas and began serving his apprenticeship under Mr. Samuel L. Mitchell whom it spent many hours, days and late nights with developing the techniques. Mr. Vance often times refer to Mr. Mitchell as His Father of Embalming. Later in 2005 he was hired at Watson-Northcrest Funeral Home in North Little Rock, Arkansas under the leadership of Mr. Alex R. Watson as their Embalmer and Funeral Director. Samuel took a leap of faith in 2006 and became self-employed
at the age of 26. As an Entrepreneur in 2006, he applied for and obtain a
resale permit to open Professional Male Apparel. Samuel is the President/CEO of
Vance Investments of Arkansas, Inc. where he owns 100% of Samuel L. Vance and
Sons Funeral Directors, Vance Mortuary Transport and Coach Livery, Vance
Mortuary Trade Services, Vance Properties Management, Professional Male Apparel
and Greekblazers.com. Samuel is also a silent partner and co-owner to two other
companies. In 2008, Samuel obtained a Masters of Arts Degree in Management and
Leadership from Webster University St Louis, Missouri. He later enrolled at
University of Phoenix to pursuing a Doctoral Degree in Management.
After reaching out to Savannah Johnson of Johnson Funeral Home-Malvern from the time he graduated mortuary college inquiring about purchasing Johnson Funeral Home and getting no where with his efforts, Sam gave up on the ideal. In the summer of 2015, Mrs. Johnson contacted Samuel asking was he still interested in purchasing the funeral home. In the fall of 2015 Samuel purchased and became sole owner of Johnson Funeral Home. In 2016 Samuel changed the name of the funeral home to Samuel L. Vance & Sons Funeral Directors. He will be forever grateful to Mrs. Savannah Wright Johnson for giving him a opportunity of a lifetime.
With over 23 consecutive years of funeral service experience, Samuel is a Licensed
Embalmer and Funeral Director in the state of Arkansas, he currently has the
Embalming Contract for nine funeral homes across the state. Samuel is known as
an Embalmer's Embalmer- one who is called on by other embalmers for his
expertise, to embalm difficult cases and/or small children. Samuel embalm between 350-450 cases per year on average.
As a Boy Scout of America, Samuel received the Eagle Scout Rank which is the highest rank in scouting. This rank is
achieved by less than 4% of all scouts and less than 1% are African American.
Samuel serves on the board for the Independent Arkansas Funeral Director and Mortician
Association. He is an active Life Member #1708 of the Mu Beta Sigma
Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporation. He is also a member of Epsilon Nu Delta Mortuary Fraternity, Incorporation. He is also a member of
Arkansas Young Black Professional Association. Samuel attends First Baptist
Church S.A Jones in North Little Rock, AR where he is a Trustee.
Samuel reside in Benton, Arkansas with his wife Kisha, daughter Layla, sons
Jay, Samuel (Trey), Samson (Lil Sam), Breezie the Pomeranian and Hearz the Doberman Pinscher.
Telephone: 1-501-337-0100
Licensed Funeral Director & Owner
Kisha Vance is a native of Little Rock, Arkansas. She is a 1997 graduate of the Historical Little Rock Central High School. In 2005, Kisha obtained her Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting degree from Philander Smith College Little Rock, Arkansas. She later attended Webster University St. Louis and earned her Masters in Business Administration degree in 2008.
Kisha is currently employed with the United States Army Corps of Engineers. She enjoys traveling abroad, reading and spending quality time with her three sons Jay, Samuel and Samson. She attends First Baptist Church, North Little Rock were she serve on the Women Ministry, Beautification Ministry and Website Ministry.
Licensed Embalmer, Licensed Funeral Director & Care Center Supervisor
Reginald Patton of Arkadelphia, AR was born and raised in Crossett, AR. Reginald graduated from Crossett Senior High School in 1999. He later graduated from University of Arkansas of Hope-Texarkana with an Associate of Applied Science in Funeral Service, Funeral Directing Certificate of Proficiency and Funeral Directing Technical Certificate and became a Licensed Embalmer. He served at Mitchell Funeral Home as a Licensed Embalmers. Most recently he became a Licensed Funeral Director under Samuel L. Vance II leadership.
He is a part time substitute teacher for Clark County and the surrounding areas. He also is a member of New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Crossett, AR. Reginald always had a passion for the funeral industry and profession since the age of ten and is very sincere in taking care of families and their loved ones.
Reginald oversees the day to day operations for our Care Center (Embalming Facility)
Telephone: 1-501-337-0100
Licensed Funeral Director & Embalmer Apprentice
Johnetta Burnett is a Pine Bluff native. Johnetta is a 2003 graduate of Dollarway High School in Pine Bluff, AR. In 2007, she earned a bachelors degree in Psychology from Philander Smith College in Little Rock, AR. Johnetta obtained a Masters in Forensic Psychology from Tiffin University in Tiffin, OH in 2009. She later received her Associate Degree in Applied Science Funeral Service in 2015 from the Arkansas State University- Beebe in Beebe, AR. Johnnetta served her Funeral Director and Embalmers apprenticeship under Mr. Vance, she is a Licensed Funeral Director in the State of Arkansas.
Johnetta is a member of Steward Memorial C.M.E Church in Pine Bluff,AR. Johnetta resides in Pine Bluff, with her husband Gary, two sons and their Great Dane, Kratos.
Funeral Director Apprentice
Deon Lavar Sullivan is a native of Camden, Arkansas. He is a 2009
graduate of the Camden Harmony Grove High School. In 2015, Deon obtained
her Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Arkansas Technology
University in Russellville Arkansas. He earned his Master of
Science in Higher Education Administration degree in 2017. Deon was initiated into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated
by the way of the Nu Alpha Chapter Seated at Arkansas Tech University, and
current member of the Epsilon Alpha Lambda Chapter in Arkansas Tech
Deon is currently employed with the Camden Fairview School District where he work as a First grade teacher. Deon is
a member of New Calvary Temple Church of God In Christ in North Little Rock,
Arkansas. He spends his time taking care of his parents, traveling, and with
his fraternity brothers.
Funeral Attendant
Tracy Spencer is new to the funeral services industry; however, his service to this field is not surprising because it aligns with his passion to serve and support people. His personal background reflects his core values through his belief in Jesus Christ; his respect and understanding of the Spirit of Humanity; his hard work efforts and actions to live life to its best while upholding and striving for quality; his utmost grateful ness to all life experiences and blessings that yield from opportunities to support and serve his fellow man and woman-kind; and his unwavering efforts to cherish and maintain his ties to close family and friends.
Professionally, Tracy is a successful, small business owner where he works with manufacturing and other businesses across and outside the state of Arkansas (2011); and is a real estate agent (2012). He has been actively practicing real estate in the state of Arkansas since (2007) and also is serving, and has served, on a number of civic and professional association boards as treasurer for its respective organizations. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix- Little Rock Campus (2006) and a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from the University of Central Arkansas (1995).
Tracy understands and lives with the profound knowledge that
degrees and material things only help to yield a certain kind of quality of
life as well as provides a means to living; but he fully knows that these
things are temporal and can change with the ‘blink of an eye’; and that these
things do not take the place of simple kindness and compassion to all human
beings. He is thankful to serve at Samuel L. Vance and Sons Funeral Directors
(2015).
Funeral Director Apprentice
Funeral Attendant
"The Boss"