LinkWhile her brother was in a Nashville courtroom facing federal corruption charges Tuesday, state Sen. Ophelia Ford was a few blocks away asking a state board to reinstate her funeral director's license that lapsed, she said, while she was battling health issues.
Ford said she was in and out of hospitals last year, leaving her no time to fill out the paperwork necessary to renew her license. She asked the state Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers to make an exception for her.
After the board denied her request, Ford, who was elected to the state Senate two years ago, vowed to change the law.
"I cannot allow what has happened to me to happen to anyone else," said Ford, a Memphis Democrat. "It is terribly unfair that any board would not have the discretion to look at what has taken place with a person. I think it's a grave insult and a shame that anyone would have their license taken from them under circumstances such as mine."
