Making the dead look better - Jamaican morticians get advanced skills in embalming and cosmetics

For many Jamaicans, the deceased are more than just loved ones who have passed on; they are cherished family members who deserve to look as presentable as they did in life. In a culture where the appearance of the deceased is paramount, morticians are expected to maintain a high standard of care for the dead.

Christina Millwood Nicholson, a leading mortician and forensic pathologist assistant, is on a mission to elevate those standards. Through a groundbreaking workshop at the Jones Funeral Home in Kingston on the weekend, Nicholson is introducing Jamaican funeral directors and embalmers to the latest embalming techniques and resources aimed at improving the appearance of the deceased -- and she's determined to bring international standards to local funeral homes.

Nicholson, who is also a licensed cosmetologist and make-up artist for the deceased, recently hosted the 2024 Embalming Workshop, where she shared her extensive knowledge and expertise with 17 participants from registered funeral homes across Jamaica. Her passion for the craft is evident, as she explains, "I'm a foreign immigrant, and once I became a mortician, I knew the demand my country had for professionals like myself. I wanted to give something back to my country, and this is one way I thought I could do that by imparting knowledge to other professionals."

The workshop, which attracted participants not only from Jamaica but also from as far as the Turks and Caicos Islands, focused on improving the skills of local morticians in the areas of embalming and cosmetics. Nicholson emphasised the importance of using the right chemicals and techniques to achieve optimal results.

"What I'm doing is not just teaching, but giving them the tools they need to perform properly in an embalming room," she said.

Nicholson's commitment to improving the craft is not just about training morticians in the latest techniques; it's also about creating a network of professionals who can collaborate and learn from one another.

Michael Lancelot Garrison Jones, CEO of Funeral Home and Supplies in Kingston, said, "What she's doing is not just providing the materials, but also the expertise and the training to ensure we can continue to improve."

"It's about passing on the knowledge and having a partner to work with as we move forward," Jones said of the input of Nicholson. "We need to ensure that the next generation of morticians is equipped to meet the evolving demands of the profession."

Nicholson's influence extends beyond the workshop itself; she has built a large following on platforms like TikTok, where she shares embalming tips and interacts with professionals from around the world. She said that many of her followers are from Jamaica, and they often reach out for advice on embalming difficult cases.

"That's when I realised there was a huge need here, and I thought, why not come here and show them how I do what I do?" Nicholson said.

Looking ahead, Nicholson is determined to continue her mission of improving embalming standards in Jamaica. "This won't be the first or last workshop," she said, hinting at future plans to expand the reach of her training programmes.

"The industry is always evolving, and I want to be a part of that change, not just as a teacher, but as someone who helps shape the future of embalming in Jamaica."