Meet Tarsha Wynn-Scott | Funeral Director/Embalmer, Nurse Educator & Community Activist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tarsha Wynn-Scott and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tarsha, as a parent, what do you feel is the most meaningful thing you’ve done for them?
My husband and I are the owner/operators of Brighton Christian Memorial Funeral Home in Bessemer, Alabama. Being a licensed funeral director and embalmer for the last eighteen years, I have seen how living in a low socio-economic drug infested environment has devastated not only a community but also an entire generation of young minorities. To assist in combating this disease, I have always been a community activist. Working in the community to identify weaknesses and filling a need. For example, I was the commissioner of the local little league (baseball and football) for over seven years. At a young age, my children did not fully understand why they were “sharing” their mother with the community children. That position pulled me away from my own children many days and nights. Now that they are young adults and can analyze the community around them, they are now involved in mentoring, giving back and understanding my motto for life: “Together We All Wynn”.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have the privilege of working in two industries of services: funeral directing and nursing. Both professions are trusted among the community. Yet, they are on two different ends of the spectrum. As a nurse, people look to and trust my opinion about health and wellness. As a funeral director, people look to and trust me to be good stewards of not only their loved ones but also their finances. Both of these professions are emotionally stressful. As a nurse educator, I take every opportunity to mentor health care students/professionals so that we can elevate the number of minority professionals in the industry. Our community needs more advocates in the field that look like us to reduce health care disparities. As a funeral director, I am always trying to discover the best ways to engage the youth. We are losing young men and women to violence at an alarming rate. I mentor, employ and expose at risk youth to venues to open their “lens” to the various worlds around us.

The evolution of my careers has not been easy but it has been rewarding. To overcome the challenges that I have in both, I continuously emerge myself in education on various topics. I attempt to absorb all available research/education to better serve my community. When we remain stagnant and comfortable, we do not fully find our PURPOSE.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
When my friends and family visit the area, it is going to matter what time of year it is. Here are some places we may visit:

The Tuscaloosa Amphitheater for an outdoor concert
Regions Field for a baseball game
The Comedy Club for a night of laughs
The Summit for some shopping
Gianmarco’s or Perrys for some great food and drinks
Bistro on 19th or Perfect Note for live music and drinks
Vulcans or Railroad Park for some outdoor site seeing relaxing time

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
This Shoutout is dedicated to my family. Over the years, no matter how stressful, outlandish, tiresome, or time-consuming my endeavor were, my family ALWAYS “bought into” my mission and vision and towed the line. They always trusted me to be making a sound decision they they were willing to back me on. Momma, Ernest, Bryan, Kennedy, Lindsay and KJ, thank you for the years of support to empower and enrich other’s lives.

Facebook: Brighton Christian Memorial Funeral Home