Staff
Our dedicated staff members are here to provide support, compassion, and information to help you through your journey of grief and the celebration of your loved one’s life.
She was born in El Dorado, AR. She is a 2011 graduate from El Dorado High School. She attended South Arkansas Community College majoring in Early Childhood Education. In 2016 she received an Industrial Wage Certificate. She has a two year old daughter that means the world to her. Shakidra loves to sing and she is a member of the gospel singing group “Chosen”. She is also a faithful member of Mt.Calvary Missionary Baptist Church. You will find Shakidra always trying to put a smile on anyone’s face that she is around. She loves meeting new people and being a positive role model to others. Her mission is to live her life to its full potential each and every day. To always strive for excellence, but never forget her values and beliefs. Her mission is to be humble, respectful, and always caring. Also her mission is to go through life with a smile on her face with no regrets because she knows that she’s done her best.
Dr. Renee’ Crater serves as the Treasurer of Andrews Funeral Home. She is a physical therapist, and the owner of MCH Physical Therapy Clinic in Little Rock, AR, which was founded in 1989. In 1983 she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Central Arkansas (UCA), and a transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Alabama State University in 2012. Dr. Crater is very active in her community. In addition to being a board member of the American Academy of Physical Therapy, she is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association, board member of the Arkansas Medical, Dental, and Pharmaceutical Association (AMDPA), AMDPA’s representative on the Arkansas Stroke Care Task Force, UCA Foundation board member, board member of The Tidwell Project, and a member of the Little Rock Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
RJ Hicks was a graduate of Hope High School in 1970. After High school he attended Texas Southern University. Followed by Military of the United States June 1972-1975. He then attended the Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Services, Houston Texas graduating in 1979. After graduation he moved to El Dorado, Arkansas, to become a member of Andrews Funeral Home staff. He is a former union county deputy Coroner. He is involved in many other activities. He serves as the Commander and Chief of El Dorado Consistory number 332. He is a Shrine in Little Rock, AR number 34. Also, and Vice President of Arkansas Consistory.
A 29 year employee of Martin Resource Management Corporation, Cross Oil division. Clark holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Central Arkansas. Clark joined Cross as an analytical chemist, then Chief Chemist and later promoted to Vice President Technical Service. In his current role, he is Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing. In addition to having responsibility for the day-to-day operation of our quality control, research, quality assurance, product distribution, logistics, and supply & distribution, he is responsible for technical, sales, and marketing for Base Oil sales. He is married to Jennifer and they have two sons, Bradley & Brennan.
Affiliations
- AFPM—American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers
- NLGI – National Lubricating Grease Institute
- ASTM—Member of Committee on Electrical Insulating Oils
- ILMA – Independent Lubricants Manufacturers Association
- Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.
Community Interest
- St. John Missionary Baptist Church—Deacon
- El Dorado Civitan Club
- Union County United Way—Former Board Member
- Union County Community Foundation—Former Board Member
- El Dorado Boys & Girls Club—former volunteer coach, former board president, and current Board Member
Mrs. Williams received a B.A. in Mass Communications from University of Arkansas- Fayetteville. Following graduation, she began working for AR Blue Cross Blue Shield where she worked in several different departments over the years: Individual Underwriting, ASE/PSE (State & School) Benefits department, and the Advanced Health Information Network department. While working full-time at AR Blue Cross Blue Shield Mrs. Williams attended Webster University where she earned a M.A. in Human Resource Management.
After obtaining a M.A. in Human Resources Mrs. Williams worked for Emerson Electric as a Human Resources Supervisor, and Parker Hannifin as a Human Resources Manager. Mrs. Williams then joined PepsiCo and was employed there for 15 years. She began her career with PepsiCo as a Human Resource Generalist and quickly climbed the ranks holding the positions of Human Resources Manager Sales/Ops, Human Resources Manager- West Manufacturing, Division Human Resources Manager, and at the time of her departure from PepsiCo she held the position as Human Resources Director responsible for the MidSouth and Arkansas markets which spanned across 4 states (AR, TN, MS, & MO) with a total of 1500+ employees that she was responsible for.
While at PepsiCo, Mrs. Williams received several recognitions including Pepsi All-Stars Performer Of The Quarter, Q3- 2008, and PepsiCo’s UXL Award in both 2014 & 2016 for outstanding Human Resource excellence, execution, and leadership.
In October 2020, Mrs. Williams joined RB (Reckitt Benckiser) as a Regional Human Resources Business Partner covering manufacturing operations for St. Louis, New Jersey, and Tijuana Mexico. In this high-level strategic role Mrs. Williams is responsible for all People initiatives including Performance Management, Employee Relations, Staffing/Recruiting, Compensation, Diversity & Inclusion, Cultural Transformation, and Organizational Development and Design.
Mrs. Williams is a member of SHRM (Society of Human Resource Management), has been the executive sponsor for Mosaic & WIN (Women In Network) committees with PepsiCo and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Order of Eastern Star. Mrs. Williams is married with one child and in her spare time she loves reading, shopping, traveling, watching good movies, dance with The Centre For Dans Arts (Tidwell Foundation), and loves sports; particularly track & field.
Lamar Smith has served as President of Andrews Funeral Home since 2012. He is the representative for the general agent of Selected Insurance for Andrews, and is also the President of Andrews Burial Association. His educational credentials are: Bachelor of Science degree with emphasis in Marketing and Business Administration from Louisiana Tech University in 1981, and Master degree of Public Administration with areas of concentration in Human Resource Management, and State and Local Government Administration from Grambling State University in 1991. He was previously employed by Arkansas State Parks at the Museum of Natural Resources as Collections Manager/Registrar. He has served as an adjunct instructor at South Arkansas Community College, where he taught personnel supervision and human relations. He previously served on the board of Mosaic Templars Cultural Center of Arkansas for 11 years, having been appointed by Governor Mike Huckabee and reappointed by Governor Mike Beebe. His hobbies are reading, listening to music, and watching DVD’s.
