UAHT Iron Horse Undertakers

11/03/2025

05/06/2024

IRON HORSE UNDERTAKERS WHERE ARE THEY NOW....

Savannah Toews, a licensed funeral director and embalmer in both Texas and Arkansas since graduating from UAHT in 2017, is not only a dedicated practitioner but also a passionate educator. As a college instructor, she shares her experience with aspiring professionals, ensuring the future of funeral service is in capable hands. Savannah’s commitment to continuous learning reflects her dedication to better serve families in her community. With a passion for inclusivity, she strives to provide diverse options to meet the unique needs of every family.

05/04/2024

Class of 2024

02/01/2024

IRON HORSE UNDERTAKERS WHERE ARE THEY NOW......

Daryl “MacKenzie” Burks is a classic overachiever. MacKenzie impressively holds three associate degrees, one bachelor's degree, and one master's degree for a total of 5! Not only is she a pre-arrangement consultant and funeral director at Smith Family Funeral Homes – Arkadelphia, she is also an adjunct instructor in the Funeral Service Program at the University of Arkansas at Hope-Texarkana where she earned her Associate of Applied Science in Funeral Service Education degree in 2014.

MacKenzie is a 2010 Bismarck High School graduate. After completing high school, she was uncertain of which educational route she wanted to take. Funeral service had been calling MacKenzie all of her life, but she was scared to take the leap of faith and pursue a career in funeral service. She did not grow up in a family owned funeral home and was uncertain if that was the right profession for her. Therefore, she settled on completing her degree in Mass Communications. MacKenzie realized quickly that she was not meant to pursue a degree in communications and changed her degree plan which resulted in her completing three associate degrees - Associate of Arts, Associate of Sciences, and Associate of Applied Science in Funeral Service Education. She completed both the Associate of Arts and Associate of Sciences in May 2012.

Following the funeral service program, MacKenzie could not end her educational journey there. She decided to pursue another degree and enrolled at University of Arkansas at Little Rock. In 2017, MacKenzie earned the Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice degree.

Again, MacKenzie still could not be stopped. She was truly inspired by her instructor in the funeral service program and decided to complete her Master of Education in Learning Systems Technology in 2020. Now, MacKenzie is paying it forward and inspiring her students just as she was inspired by her instructor in 2014.

Outside work, MacKenzie finds meaning and joy in riding horses, racing mules, and playing her upright bass in church every Sunday.

01/16/2024

IRON HORSE UNDERTAKERS WHERE ARE THEY NOW......

Roland Gosey

A proven leader is business and public service with comprehensive knowledge of funeral service and funeral home operations.

Roland L. Gosey is the owner and managing funeral director of Williams Funeral Home in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He is a 1996 graduate of Arkadelphia Sr. High School and 2004 graduate of the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope where he earned and Associate of Applied Science in Funeral Services.

At the age of 27 he became then the youngest funeral home owner in the State of Arkansas at that time. He owned majority interest in Williams Funeral Home; a family owned and operated business that opened in 1950. He later became the principal in 2008. He introduced aftercare and personalized services to the community and surrounding cities. His creative genius and eye for detail was God given gift that solidified him as a true funeral service professional. He is registered with The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards. In May of 2017, he opened Williams Funeral Home VanBuren in Camden, Arkansas as a satellite location for the Arkadelphia location.

Roland has led Williams Funeral Home to become the premier funeral home in Southwest Arkansas specializing in incomparable service and personalization. Under his management Williams Funeral Home still remains a positive household name known over the state for its compassionate staff, professional and personalized service.

He is a member of the Clark County Democratic Party, the Arkansas Democratic Black Caucus, secretary of the Helms Cemetery Board, trustee of Eternal Rest Cemetery (perpetual care), a former member of Excelsior/Universal Lodge No. 13 of M.W. Prince Hall Grand Lodge, F. & A.M. of Arkansas where he served as past secretary, president-elect and one of the organizers of the Independent Arkansas Funeral Directors and Morticians Association, Inc., former president Arkansas Funeral Directors and Morticians Association and a member of the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association. He has served on the boards of the Economic Development Corporation of Clark County, Clark County Election Commission, Group Living, Inc., Arkadelphia Housing Authority, Arkadelphia Racial and Cultural Diversity Committee, Arkadelphia Chamber of Commerce Board of Director’s, Commissioner with the Arkadelphia Planning and Zoning Commission. He is a past vice-president of Clark County NAACP and a former director with the Arkadelphia City Board of Directors representing Ward 4.

Roland is a dedicated member of the historic Greater Pleasant Hill Baptist Church est. 1867 where he serves as trustee, church clerk, president of the Laymen Ministry, co-chair of the Mission and Education Ministry, co-chair of the Hospitality Ministry, chair of beautification committee, a member of the male chorus, the Greater Pleasant Hill Baptist Church COVID-19 Task Force Team and a member of the Community Engagement Ministry

05/25/2023

Congratulations Class of 2023!!!!! We made it ...... next stop BOARDS here we come head first!!!!!

04/19/2023

04/19/2023