(NewsUSA) – Linda Mitchell, CEO of Black & Clark Funeral
Home in Dallas, has braved many difficult journeys – she is a
cancer survivor, was widowed at a young age, and deals with the
scrutiny of being a woman in a male-dominated industry. These
hardships have taught her the importance of support in difficult
times. Above all, her struggles have imbued her with an undying
passion to achieve her dreams.

Mitchell and her staff personally commit to each family they
serve; taking special care to give support in time of sorrow. “Many
funeral homes conduct the service and then forget about the people
when it’s over,” said Mitchell. “I know what happened to me after
my husband died, and how alone I felt. I like to be there for the
families after the funeral because the service is only the first
step in the grieving process.”

After the passing of Black & Clark’s owner in 1999,
court-appointed administrators were hired to oversee the estate of
the Clark family, signaling to Mitchell that a sale of this
historical funeral home could be on the horizon. “Most of the
people who work at Black & Clark have worked here for more than
40 years,” she said. “I thought it would be sad for someone else,
or for some large corporation, to purchase this funeral home
without me putting forth an effort to maintain ownership.” Though
she lacked the necessary finances, Mitchell was very focused on
fulfilling her dream. “I truly wanted to buy the place. I knew that
I didn’t have much money, but I had faith in God that this was what
I was destined to do.”

Upon learning she would need $1.5 million dollars to purchase
Black & Clark; Mitchell reached out to a friend who steered her
in the right direction. “I was given the number of Aleritas
Capital,” said Mitchell. “I had been researching several lending
institutions, but discovered that Aleritas has a specialty in
lending to funeral homes.”

With a focus on lending to insurance and deathcare institutions,
Aleritas provides services and loans to businesses that have
historically been underserved by traditional lenders. Using the
loan secured through Aleritas, Mitchell not only was able to
purchase Black & Clark, but also initiated remodeling and
beautification projects to ensure the facility stayed current with
local funeral homes.

So, what does Mitchell see for the future of Black & Clark?
Her mission to bring Black & Clark to the prominence it once
held is clear, as is her plan to succeed. And through her faith and
hard work and with the support of her Black & Clark family, she
remains confident she will fulfill this vision as she leads Black
& Clark into the future.