Brandy Wren says she walked into her father’s June 2025 visitation at Serenity Memorial Funeral and Cremation Services in St. Louis expecting to say goodbye. Instead, she says Edward “Pretty Boy” Campbell Sr., a 66-year-old Marine veteran who served in the Persian Gulf and lived with ALS, appeared deformed and covered in wax. She described the experience as something you’d see in a horror movie.
Wren’s complaint is one of three filed against Serenity with the Missouri State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors since 2023. Across those filings are allegations of unidentified bodies, unembalmed remains, falsified embalming dates, and a son buried without his mother’s knowledge. Serenity and owner Gerald Johnson deny nearly all of the allegations, and Johnson filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in 2025 claiming state officials conspired to destroy his business. An August order allows disciplinary action against the funeral home’s license, but a hearing is expected later this year.
So what does this mean for families here on the Suncoast, where many of us are making these decisions for aging parents, sometimes from another state? Consumer advocates suggest a few simple steps: request the general price list in writing, ask who performs the embalming and whether they’re licensed in Florida, confirm refrigeration and storage practices, and don’t be afraid to visit the facility in person before committing. You’re allowed to comparison shop, and any reputable home will expect it.
Have you ever had to choose a funeral home for a loved one? What did you learn from the experience?
