Executive Management Team

Our caring team at Small's Mortuary consist of diverse group of professional men and women grounded in the mission of providing families with excellent care and compassion during their time of loss. 

We have a staff of over 50 professionals on the Small Mortuary team from cremation specialist, crematory operators, family counselors, funeral directors, funeral attendants, support staff, embalmers, after care advisors, hospice care liaisons, managers, limousine drivers and arrangers serving families during their time of need 

Several are licensed or specially trained professionals and take part in hours of continuing education building on the compassion and care of serving families during this time.

C'aracher (CJ) Small, Jr. 

President & CEO, Licensed Funeral Director & Embalmer

Mr. C’aracher (CJ) Small, Jr., is the son of the late Mr. C’aracher Small, Sr., and Mrs. Irene Johnson Small. CJ graduated from John S. Shaw High School he went on to attend S. D. Bishop State Community College and Auburn University at Montgomery. 

Mr. Small was awarded an Associates of Art Degree from Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service in Atlanta, Georgia; He was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management from Faulkner University of Montgomery, Alabama.

He is a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer and 15 years ago founded Small’s Mortuary in Mobile, Alabama. Mr. Small’s life-long dream was to open his own funeral home that would offer a sense of pride and dignity while meeting the needs of families that would provide them a sense of comfort, confidence, and consistency with a personalized service.

He is a member of the National and State Funeral Directors and Morticians Association; National Funeral Directors Association and a member of the Prince Hall Masonry; a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity where he was named Mobile alumni Kappa Man of the year; he is a member of the Oakdale Community Service Club; a board member for the MLK Monday Mystic Association; a board member with the Mobile Civic Center; past board president for the Mt. Ararat Learning Center; a member and past King Elexis I for the Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association. He is an elected member of the Mobile City Council representing District 3.

Through a dedication to community and faith Mr. Small is an active member of the Mt. Sinai Baptist Church where he serves as Sunday-School musician and teacher; he is a member of the Mobile County Mass Choir; he also serves as a board member for the Mobile Area Chapter of the Gospel Music Workshop of America, (Port City United Voices).


Desi M. Corley

Licensed Funeral Director & Embalmer, Mobile Location Manager & Executive Staff Manager

He is a native of Columbia, South Carolina and a 1997 graduate of Lower Richland High School. Desi furthered his education in the Mortuary Science field and graduated as Student-Government Association Vice President in February 1999 from Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service in Decatur, Georgia. 

Desi is dual state licensed as a funeral director and embalmer in Alabama and South Carolina. He is a Certified Crematory Operator, Cremation Specialist and is a National Licensed Preneed Agent. Desi joined Small’s Mortuary and Cremation Services, Inc. as the Executive Director of Staff Operations in 2014.. Desi has a sincere passion and dedication for the death and dying industry. He always desires to go the extra mile to ensure each family has a memorable experience during the advanced planning of funeral service or the passing of a loved one. 

Desi definitely executes the 4 D’s of Small’ Mortuary, Distinctive, Dedicated, Diligent, and Dignified.

Carlos D. Black

Licensed Funeral Director, Deputy Funeral Home, Locations Manager

Mr. Carlos D. Black, a native of Fort Worth, Texas, hails from one of the most notable funeral homes in the industry: Gregory W. Spencer Funeral Directors in Fort Worth. His career in the death care field began at the youthful age of thirteen. He is a 2000 graduate of the Green B. Trimble High School. He furthered his studies by matriculating at and graduating from the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service in Dallas, Texas.

He is an active LFD (licensed funeral director) with accreditation in Alabama and Texas. He is also a licensed and ordained minister of the Gospel, serving at the Beth Eden Missionary Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. He is the happy husband of Makisha and together they are the proud parents of three children.

In 2021, Mr. Black relocated to the Gulf Coast region and joined the staff at Small’s Mortuary and Cremation Services where he serves as the deputy funeral home, locations manager.

Carlos’ sincere passion, creativity and personality attest to his calling to operate in the funeral industry. He always goes above and beyond the call of duty to exceed each families’ expectations. His determined dedication and persistent pursuit of excellence gives him the drive to pursue the vision of helping to provide a refining remembrance for each family.

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