Our Staff

Xenia K. Ware

Business Manager & Owner

Xenia Keenan Ware, daughter of Mildred Hunt, was born on June 13, 1952 in Manhattan, NY. She attended the New York City and Asbury Park, New Jersey Public School Systems and graduated from Asbury Park High School in June of 1970.

Xenia was an extremely bright student and always excelled in her studies. She received a full academic scholarship to Boston University and graduated in 1974 with a Bachelors Degree in Liberal Arts.

Shortly after graduation she worked for three years as a job counselor for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In 1977 she joined Xerox Corporation where she remained employed for thirty years.

While at Xerox she held positions in customer and employee education, technical sales support, major and small account sales and sales management. She spent the last six years of her career in technical product sales support and regional sales team management in the Xerox Agent Operations Group. An organization dedicated to the sales and marketing of Xerox products & services to small local businesses, and fortune 500 companies in remote areas in the United States and Canada.

Xenia’s extensive and varied corporate work history with large enterprises and small companies has provided her with an exceptional set of business skills and tools. One of her primary responsibilities in technical product support was the flawless delivery and system implementation of complex high speed electronic printing solutions in small business and fortune 500 computer centers. She has transferred these project management skills of organization, people management, meticulous attention to detail, punctuality, and customer satisfaction to all phases of the funeral business and memorial services delivery.  She believes that a sincere sense of caring should be a part of every business transaction. It is her personal mission to ensure that all interactions with grieving families and funeral service guests are handled with dignity and compassion.

Does Not Make Arrangements or Perform Embalming

Shawn’te Harvell

Manager

Shawn'te C.R. Harvell was born on March 20, 1982 in Newark, NJ. and raised in Bound Brook, NJ. He is the second child of Barbara and Darnell Harvell. He is a Graduate of American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service and The State University of New York-Canton. Shawn’te had received his Certified Funeral Service Practitioner designation in 2015 from the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice.

He is a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in New Jersey and New York. Shawn’te currently serves as the Manager of the Smith Funeral Home, Inc. in Elizabeth, NJ and the James Hunt Funeral Home in Asbury Park, NJ. He has also been the Assistant Manager of the McCall's Bronxwood Funeral Home, Inc. in the Bronx, NY for over 13 years, as well as trade embalm for multiple funeral homes in the tri-state area.

Shawn's love of funeral service education lead him to write an article that has  been featured in the Scope and the Nomis Publication entitled " The Millennial Consumer of Funeral Services...What will the needs of the consumer be in the near future?"

He has a passion for serving families in their most difficult time and takes the funeral service profession very seriously. Shawn’s motto is “You have to be serious about business, if you’re going to be in business”. 

He is one of the leading and innovative funeral professionals in the country. His high standards in the funeral profession and his notable quality work have made him one of the most sought-after funeral directors in New York, New Jersey, and the surrounding tri-state area.

Shawn’te currently serves as Vice President of the Garden State Funeral Directors Association. He is a member of the following organizations: National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association currently serving as District #1 Governor, New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association appointed to the New Jersey Funeral Service Education Corporation, New York State Funeral Directors Association, and the National Funeral Directors Association.

He is also a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Clifford Alford Lodge #165 International F&AMM, Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Englewood, NJ and serves as Co-Minster of Music at Paradise Baptist Church in Newark.   Accomplished and blessed, Shawn is blessed to be the doting father of daughters, Madison and Mylea.

Vivian Velazquez

Office Manager, Funeral Assistant & Cosmetologist

Vivian Velazquez was born on February 5, 1972, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey.  She attended Woodbridge Vocational Technical Highschool in Woodbridge, NJ and was the class salutatorian for her graduation class in 1991. She also attended Middlesex College from 1991 - 1992.

Vivian was employed as a seamstress at the Embroidery Company in Perth Amboy from 1989 - 1990, a Shoe Salesperson at Bradlee’s Shoe department in Woodbridge, NJ from 1990 - 1991, and a Dietary Aid at Hartwyck at Oak Tree nursing home in Edison, NJ from 1990 - 1996. She received her Phlebotomist and EKG Technician certification in 1995 and was employed at St University Hospital from 1996 – 2013, and worked for Harvard Protection Services as a Security Manager at Siemens in Islin, NJ from 2016 – 2018. She was also a Group Home Manager at the New Jersey Institute for Disabilities in Edison, NJ from 2019 – 2021.

Vivian has had a diverse work history. However, she has always desired to work in the funeral services industry. Her goal is to attend mortuary school and receive certification as a Funeral Director. She has excellent communication, organizational and administrative skills and enjoys assisting grieving families in planning and coordinating the memorial services for their loved ones.

Vivian is currently employed as of February 2022 as the Office Manager and Funeral Services Assistant of the James Hunt Funeral Home, in Asbury Park, NJ.

Frances Gray

Cosmetologist

Frances L. Gray was born on April 26, 1954 in Long Branch, New Jersey. In 1972 she graduated with a degree in Cosmetology from Monmouth County Vocational Tech High School in Asbury Park, NJ. After graduation she attended Kean University in Union, NJ for a year. In 1984 Frances was awarded a twelve month scholarship to Jersey City College in Jersey City, NJ for winning the “Top Hair Stylist” competition.

Fran, as she is called by her friends and family, is known for her excellence in hair styling and makeup.  She was employed over  thirteen years in Soft Sheen Products in Chicago, IL and Dudley’s Products in High Point, NC as a platform artist, professional hair stylist, and makeup artist for high fashion magazine photo shoots, television fashion shows, trade shows, and new hair product introductions.

Frances has worked in many international high fashion shows in locations such as Paris, France, Brazil and the Caribbean Islands. She has also provided high fashion hair styling and makeup services for numerous fashion shows given by Carl Williams (Mr. Fashion) throughout the states of New York and New Jersey.

She resides in Neptune, NJ and has two daughters, five sons and three grand-children. One of Fran’s greatest concerns is the unity of the family. She is a strong, giving woman with a loving spirit and a passion for helping anyone in need. She has been an entrepreneur in her community for 43 years and plays an active role in providing numerous scholarships to children in need. Her beautiful spirit has enabled her to become a loving foster parent to more than 34 children; five of which she had adopted.

Frances owns and operates Fran’s Beauty Whirl, a hair salon in Neptune, NJ. She is the principal hair stylist and makeup artist for the James H. Hunt Funeral Home and also has a thriving business providing wedding consulting services. She is a member of the Negro Business and Professional Women’s Association, works in the Food Pantry in Red Bank, NJ, distributes free coats and hats every winter from her beauty salon, and volunteers her professional services to local area nursing home residents.

Frances is a loyal and active member of Faith Baptist Tabernacle in Asbury Park, NJ. She is a 21 year cancer survivor with a smile that lights the lives of everyone she meets. In spite of all of life’s harsh realities, Fran always offers others a welcoming smile and encouraging thoughts without ever seeking anything in return.

Does Not Make Arrangements or Perform Embalming