Rick Slack has worked in the funeral business for 44 years. He graduated from Ohio Valley University with an Associate of Arts Degree and Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. While attending Ohio Valley University he worked nights and weekends at Leavitt Funeral Home in Parkersburg, WV. He went on to serve his apprenticeship there. After his apprenticeship was completed, he was employed by Leavitt Funeral Home, where he worked for 6 years. He left Leavitt's to come to Chesapeake, OH where he was employed at Schneider Funeral Home in 1978. This is when he met his wife Lesa and married her in March of 1979.

He was a partner in the funeral business with his father-in-law, Joe M. Schneider, and his brother-in-law Brian Schneider until 1995, at which time the business was sold to Carriage Services. Rick agreed to continue working for three years at the funeral home as manager to provide stability for the business in the community. In April of 2000 Rick and Lesa became the owners of Perry and Derrick Paint and Decorating Center in Huntington, WV. They sold the business in 2004, and Rick returned to the funeral business by working part-time at Schneider-Griffin Funeral Home. Rick and Beth met in 2005 and worked together at the funeral home and decided there was a need for a funeral home in South Point, OH. They opened Slack and Wallace Funeral Home January 11, 2011.

Rick is involved in the following organizations:Member, South Point 1st Church of the Nazarene

• Member and former President of the Greater Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce
• Vice President and Executive Board Member of the Lawrence County Economic Development Corporation
• Past Chief of Chesapeake Volunteer Fire Department and an active member for 30 years
• Past President and active member of Chesapeake/Rome/Proctorville Lion's Club
• Board member of Rome-Proctorville Cemetery
• Hospice of Huntington Patient Volunteer
• Hospice of Huntington Advisory Board Member
• Member and past President of Lake Forest Association

Rick enjoys spending time with family, being involved in his church and community, golfing, photography and fishing.

Family:

Wife: Lesa Schneider Slack (Chesapeake Elementary School Nurse)

Children: Richie (Marlee Hilton) Slack (Regional Manager, Fresenius Medical Corp.) and Cory Slack (Chemist, Calgon Carbon)

Grandchildren: Jayden, Sawyer and Sofia Slack

Parents: Earl (1921-2013) and Dorothy Slack (1928-2017); Joe (1930-1996) and Polly Schneider

Beth Wallace McNearney has worked in the funeral business for 11 years. She has been a resident of Huntington, WV since birth and graduated from Spring Valley High School in 2000. She enrolled in Marshall University and earned a B.A. in Business Management in 2004. Beth decided to pursue the funeral industry after her brother; Jason Owen Wallace was killed in the 1996 Scottown, Ohio fireworks explosion. Upon moving to Cincinnati, she graduated from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and earned her degree in 2005. While serving her apprenticeship, she worked with Rick at Schneider-Griffin Funeral Home from October 2005 - February 2007. She then moved to Florida and worked for Edgley Cremation Services and Crime Site Restoration. After returning to Huntington in 2009 she once again worked for Schneider-Griffin Funeral Home as a Funeral Director/Embalmer until June 2010. Rick and Beth met in 2005 and worked together at the funeral home and decided there was a need for a funeral home in South Point, OH. They opened Slack and Wallace Funeral Home January 11, 2011.

Beth is involved in the following organizations:

• Member of England Hill Freewill Baptist Church
• Alpha Chi Omega Alum
• Marshall University Alum
• Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science Alum
• Hospice of Huntington Patient Volunteer
• Hospice of Huntington Pet Therapy Volunteer
• Member of the Greater Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce
• Member of Lawrence County Young Professionals

Beth was introduced to Jonas in 2009 and married at Sprague Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado in 2010. They welcomed their first daughter; Emily Dawn April 23, 2011. A week shy of two years they welcomed their second daughter; Claire Anne April 16, 2013. Two little girls wasn't enough for the McNearney family so God blessed them with a little baby boy; Owen Wallace on October 3, 2014. Beth loves spending time with her family and friends, church, crafting, traveling, being involved with the community and loves animals.

Family:

Husband: Jonas McNearney (Senior Engineer at Rubberlite, Inc.)

Children: Emily Dawn McNearney, Claire Anne McNearney & Owen Wallace McNearney

Parents: Johnnie Owen and Willa Wallace (both retired teachers from Wayne County Board of Education)

Sister: Amie Dawn Wallace Crockett (Funeral Director Apprentice)

Brother-in-law: Tyler Crockett (Sales Representative, The Chapman Printing Co., INC.)

Nephew: Jase Roland Crockett

Brother: Jason Owen Wallace (1986-1996)

Fur babies: Lola and Beau

Amie Dawn Wallace Crockett is serving her Funeral Director Apprenticeship at Slack and Wallace Funeral Home. She has worked for Slack and Wallace since the opening in January 2011. Amie is the sister of co-owner Beth Wallace McNearney. Amie has been a resident of Huntington, WV since birth and graduated from Spring Valley High School in 2002. She enrolled in Marshall University and earned a B.A. in Criminal Justice in 2007. Amie just recently left her full-time position for the KY Department of Corrections-Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. She was a Probation and Parole Officer and worked there since May 2015. After graduating from Marshall University, Amie obtained employment at Transitions, Inc. Halfway House in Ashland, KY as a Primary Counselor. She worked there from January 2008 until November 2011. She then worked full-time for the Division of Juvenile Services in WV as a Corrections Case Manager for the Cabell County Youth Reporting Center and was employed there from November 2011 until May 2015.

Amie met her husband, Tyler Crockett, during her freshman year at Spring Valley High School. They dated off and on for 15 years. They married at St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands in August 2013. They reside in Huntington, WV with their son, Jase Roland and two dogs, Lucky Lucy and Maggie.

Tyler Crockett has been a resident of Huntington, WV since birth and graduated from Spring Valley High School in 1999. He enrolled in Marshall University and earned a B.A. in Sports Management and Marketing in 2005 and earned a M.S. in Sport Administration in 2010. Tyler works at The Chapman Printing Company, INC. Tyler also helps out at the funeral home when needed.

Amie loves spending time with her family and friends, traveling, cooking, crafting, shopping, and has a love for animals.

Family:

Husband: Tyler Crockett (Sales Representative, The Chapman Printing Co., INC.)

Son: Jase Roland Crockett

Parents: Johnnie Owen and Willa Wallace (both retired teachers from Wayne County Board of Education)

Sister: Beth Anne Wallace McNearney (Co-Owner of Slack and Wallace Funeral Home)

Brother-in-law: Jonas McNearney (Senior Engineer at Rubberlite, Inc.)

Nieces and Nephew: Emily Dawn McNearney, Claire Anne McNearney and Owen Wallace McNearney

Brother: Jason Owen Wallace (1986-1996)

Johnnie Wallace has been a resident of Wayne County, WV since birth. He graduated from Wayne High School in 1967 and West Virginia State University in 1972, where he was a starting linebacker for the football team. He received his master's degree from Marshall University in 1976 and taught Building Construction for the Wayne County School system for 32 years. While working for the school system he was an assistant coach for Wayne High School Football Team and Head Coach for the Wrestling Team. Upon retirement, he has continued to be a WV licensed contractor where he specializes in residential building construction. Johnnie just received the distinguished honor of being voted BEST in the Tri-State 2014 for Wayne County's Custom Builder and General Contractor.

Member and Trustee of England Hill Freewill Baptist Church

Member of Wayne County Teachers golf league (Silo Golf Course- Lavalette, WV)

Family:

Wife: Willa D. Webb Wallace (retired Wayne County teacher for 33 years and wife of 49 years.)

Children: Beth (Jonas) Wallace McNearney , Amie (Tyler) Wallace Crockett and Jason Owen Wallace (1986-1996)

Grandchildren: Emily Dawn McNearney, Claire Anne McNearney, Owen Wallace McNearney and Jase Roland Crockett

Bill Clark has been a resident of Lawrence County Ohio since birth and is a graduate of Symmes Valley High School. After graduation from high school he joined the United States Army and was on active duty for 2 years with 13 months of that time in Korea. He remained on non-active duty for 4 years and was honorably discharged in 1971. He worked for Nabisco and retired there after 34 years. After Bill retired he worked as a part-time attendant at Schneider-Griffin Funeral Home for 3 year. He has been a big help and tremendous asset during the renovation and building of the new Slack and Wallace Funeral Home.


Attends Sunshine Freewill Baptist Church

Family:

Wife: Karen Keeney Clark (Chesapeake Middle School Secretary)

Children: Ronnie Clark (1969-1998) and Dustin (Libby) Clark

Chris Smith has worked for Slack and Wallace Funeral Home since the funeral home opened. He has been a resident of Lawrence County since birth and is a graduate of St. Joseph High School in Ironton. Chris is originally from Ironton and relocated to South Point in 1995 upon his marriage to his wife, Tracy. He has been employed with the Ohio Highway Patrol since May of 1991, when he began his career as a cadet dispatcher at the Ironton Post until he attended the Ohio Highway Patrol Training Academy in Columbus Ohio. Upon completion of the training, he was assigned to the Defiance Post until he was transferred to Lawrence County in February of 1993. Chris worked in Lawrence County until he was promoted to position of Sergeant at the Portsmouth Post and remained there until he returned to Lawrence County in 2005. Chris is currently a Sergeant/Assistant Post Commander for the Ohio State Highway Patrol in Lawrence County.

Chris is involved in the following organizations:

• President of People for the Point, Inc. (includes planning and hosting Party in the Park and Christmas Extravaganza)
• Attends New Life Church with his family
• Councilman for Village of South Point
• Member Ohio State Troopers Association
• Member for Spectrum Outreach Advisory Board
• Lawrence/Scioto County Solid Waste Advisory Board Member

Chris enjoys spending time with family, being involved in his community, being outdoors hunting and fishing with his children, working on his Jeep build project and Hunting with his son.

Family:

Wife: Tracy Jones Smith (Self-Employed)

Children: Lexi (Alex) Whitt (Attending Marshall University and works at Glenn's Sporting Goods) and Drew Smith (Attending South Point High School).

Parents: Robert R. Smith (1934-2018) and Marta J. Smith (1938-2010)

Sister and Brother in Law: Sheila and Ed Pennisten, who reside in South Point

Larry and Loretta Thompson are current residents of Chesapeake, Ohio; both are graduates of South Point High School. Larry retired after 47 years employment with Coyne Textile Services out of New York. They have four children and eight grandchildren. They both attend England Hill Freewill Baptist Church in Catlettsburg, Kentucky, where Larry serves as a Deacon.

Alex Whitt has worked for Slack and Wallace Funeral Home since late 2017. He has been a resident of Lawrence County for most of his life and is a graduate of South Point High School. Alex has been employed at Glenn’s Sporting Goods since July of 2015, after graduating high school. He currently attends Marshall University and is working towards a degree in Safety Technology. Alex met his wife, Lexi Smith-Whitt in 2012, during their sophomore year of high school. They were married in June of 2018 in Panama City Beach, FL and are planning on residing in South Point until they both graduate from college. Alex enjoys hunting, cooking, and spending time with his wife. He also volunteers to help coach South Point High School baseball team.

Lexi Smith-Whitt has been a resident of South Point, OH since birth and graduated in 2015 from South Point High School. She is currently enrolled at Marshall University earning a B.A. in Health Science to further her education in Mortuary Science after graduation. Lexi currently works for Glenn's Sporting Goods and helps us out part time here at the funeral home.

Family:

Wife: Lexi Whitt (Glenn's Sporting Goods)

Parents: Chris Whitt (Universal Health Services) and Lora Whitt (River Park Hospital)

Siblings: Jared Whitt (Attending Marshall University and Employed at Glenn’s Sporting Goods) and Emilee Whitt (Attending South Point High School)

Father and Mother in Law: Chris Smith (Ohio State Highway Patrol and Slack and Wallace) and Tracy Smith (Self Employed)

Brother in Law: Drew Smith (Attending South Point High School)

Jessica Hensley grew up in Weirton, West Virgina. She attended and graduated from Weirton Madonna High School in 2002. Jessica attended West Liberty University, where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education with a specialization in Early Childhood Education. After graduating in 2006, she moved to Huntington, West Virginia where she began teaching first grade and kindergarten at St. Joseph Grade School. In 2012, Jessica received her Masters degree in Early Childhood Education from Marshall University. Currently she is taking the role of stay at home mommy and she says it is her most difficult and most rewarding job yet.

While at West Liberty University, she met her husband Matthew. They were married in 2007 and reside in Huntington. Matthew is a Registered Nurse Practitioner and is employed by King’s Daughters Medical Center. They are blessed with three beautiful baby boys, named Miles, Benjamin and Kelson and they cannot imagine their life without them.

Jessica began her yoga journey in college, practicing off and on until 2013 when she decided that she was going to make yoga a part of her lifestyle. She began practicing at Brown Dog Yoga Studio, in Huntington and graduated as a RYT-200 from the studio's first Yoga Teacher Training Program. Jessica loves yoga because it allows her to feel comfortable and strong in her own body. Yoga also has taught her many lessons about herself on the mat, that she has been able to carry off the mat, making her a better person in all aspects of her life. She is so blessed to be teaching her first students at the Funeral Home.

Jessica is also teaching yoga as a volunteer at Her Place Recovery Center and working on bringing yoga to Veterans at the VA Medical Center. Lend-A-Hand for Appalachia is a non-profit that Jessica started with her friends, taking high school students to southern Appalachia to do home repair for those in need. She currently sits on the Board of Directors and the organization is very near and dear to her.

Although it can be an extremely somber occasion, a gentle Therapy Dog can be an asset during this time. They bring unconditional love and help to lighten a mournful atmosphere while bringing peace to individuals during an upsetting time.

Therapy dogs have an amazing ability to put people at ease in a very emotional and difficult situation. The love that an animal can give is very comforting. Interacting with and petting therapy dogs can reduce the stress hormone, cortisol, lower blood pressure, banish negative thoughts and ramp up the feel-good hormone, oxytocin.

The use of grief therapy dogs in funeral homes is just an extension of the services therapy dogs offer. We are here for the community and want to be able to provide some comfort anyway we possibly can. We thought adding a therapy dog to the staff would help comfort people at the saddest most difficult time in their life. Lola is 2 years old and has been going through basic obedience training with Tim Childers at Petiquette in Barboursville, WV. She will eventually become a certified therapy dog with Therapy Dogs International. Sometimes all it takes is kiss from a wet nose to help people share their feelings and begin the healing process.

Lola is living with Beth's family which consists of her husband, three kids; 7 and under and a new puppy, Beau who is 6 months old. She is a very sensitive and loving dog and we feel like she’s made for this job. We plan on taking her to nursing homes, hospice and schools once she’s certified. In the mean time she will be available to families on a request-basis while she earns her therapy dog certification.