Family Services Team

Our compassionate and caring team members are here to guide you every step of the way.

Kendra Hickman

Event Coordinator and Record Keeper

Kendra has an Associate’s Degree of Arts from Clark State University and spent most of her career in customer service. She dedicated seventeen years to Assurant Specialty Property as a shared services specialist. Kendra’s attention to detail continues in her service to Ferncliff Cemetery.

Marilyn Knize

Family Services Coordinator

Marilyn became a member of the Ferncliff team in 2017. She is a graduate of Northwestern University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre & Speech Education, with graduate work in Marketing and Management from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management. She has spent most of her career in sales and customer service. After living in Chicago, then moving and raising her daughter in San Diego, Marilyn returned to Springfield in 2012 to be closer to her large loving family. Marilyn helps families create lasting memorials for themselves or their loved ones. Her love for Ferncliff and the Springfield community is evident in her service.

Melinda Massie

Family Services Coordinator

Melinda has a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy from Wittenberg University and spent much of her career serving others. She dedicated ten years to serving local families as a Community Psychiatric Support Treatment Worker at Mental Health Services of Clark and Madison Counties, and held a variety of client-facing roles at Oesterlen Services for Youth. Melinda's genuine caring continues in her service to our Ferncliff families.

Tom Pamer

Family Services Associate

Tom has a degree in Graphic Design from Clark State College and is a Springfield native. Tom's service to our community is demonstrated through his major participation in The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS-CAN). Tom enjoys time with his wife Hilary and son Joshua, as well as pursuing his interests in genealogy, local history, art and photography. Tom’s caring and compassion make him an excellent member of our family services team.

Valinda Warfield

Service Attendant

Valinda is a retired Accounting Assistant from Woeber Mustard Company, and found her second calling at Ferncliff. Valinda takes great pride in meeting funeral processions at the cemetery gates, guiding them to the service location, assisting with parking and leading loved ones with care to the gravesite. We’re fortunate to have Valinda as part of our team, guiding and comforting families when they need it most.

“I like being able to support family members at the lowest point in their lives after losing a loved one. If all I can offer is just a few words of comfort or a hug, just being there for them gives me a good feeling, knowing I was able to be there in their time of need.” - Valinda

Valerie Adams

Administrative Assistant

A Springfield native, Valerie has a Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies and is a Certified Life Coach with a focus on holistic healing. She has an extensive customer service background and says she most enjoys helping people in her work at Ferncliff.

Testimonials

The staff at Ferncliff was very helpful and caring. On the day that we buried our relative's ashes, they saw to every detail and were very compassionate.
Wendy S.
Prior to the funeral Marilyn Knize did a wonderful job taking me to the plot, explaining things well, and answering all of my questions.
Phillip C.
Everyone at Ferncliff was professional and caring. It was a worthy sendoff for my Navy Veteran Uncle. They made the process and procedures simple and easy for me during a difficult period of time. They took care of all the veteran related things including getting a color guard and bugler for the ceremony. The grounds and monuments were beautiful and well maintained. I could have not been more pleased.
Doug H
The staff was knowledgeable, professional and compassionate. They made a very emotional and demanding task a lot less stressful.
M.C.
We have been very satisfied with the Ferncliff facility as well as the staff that runs the facility. They are caring, knowledgeable people who will go the extra mile to make sure that you get the service you want for your loved one.
P.J.H.
Marilyn was a great help in picking out our head stone for Mom. Tom helped us in knowing what to expect for the interment arrangements. We were very happy with the service we received.
Everyone who helped us was helpful and nice! Ferncliff helped make things better and easier for my family. I'm very satisfied with the outcome. Would recommend!
Ferncliff's staff was very helpful and friendly and business-like all at the same time. We, as a family, appreciated everything you guys did.
I was very grateful (and impressed) with the staff at Ferncliff. They were very helpful, attentive and compassionate. They really helped to take the stress out of some of the arrangement process. Also, the cemetery is beautiful. Very thankful for Ferncliff's services.
We were clueless, but your staff was friendly and very helpful.
Very Pleasant. Very Easy to Deal with. Made the difficult experience very easy to complete.