Jim is a fourth generation Funeral Director with the McFarland & Son Funeral Home and is currently the President and CEO of The McFarland & Son Funeral Services Company, owner of McCardell-White-McFarland Funeral Services and is a co-founder and President of Western Reserve Leasing Inc. which provides specialty funeral vehicles and professional services to funeral homes in Northeastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania, and owner of JDM Enterprises, Inc. LLC.

Mr. McFarland attended Mount Union College and Kent State University and gradated from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science and earned his post-graduate degree from the National Foundation of Funeral Service in Evanston, Illinois. He is a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in the state of Ohio. He is one of six hundred Certified Preplanning Consultants for Funeral Service in the United States and a graduate of Leadership Mahoning Valley.

Jim's professional life includes being Trumbull County's only "member by invitation" of the Selected Independent Funeral Homes Association, a national organization that promotes excellence and professionalism in funeral services. He is also a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, Ohio Funeral Directors Association, and Ohio Embalmers Association and is the past President of the Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana County Funeral Directors Association. He has also served as a board member of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association.

Mr. McFarland's accolades in the community are just as impressive as his involvement in his profession. He has served as the President of the Board of Directors of the following organizations: Fine Arts Council of Trumbull County, Trumbull County Historical Society, Warren-Trumbull County Public Library, Warren Area Jaycees.

Jim has served on the Board of Directors and Advisory Boards for the following organizations as well: the Trumbull County Chapter of the American Red Cross, Salvation Army of Trumbull Co., Kent State University Trumbull Campus, United Way of Trumbull County, Warren Area Chamber of Commerce and Adult Guardianship and Protective Services

He has been active his entire life as a member of Warren’s First United Methodist Church and has served in many positions with the church including his present position as Lay Leader for over ten years. He is a member of the Old Eire Lodge #3 F&AM and is a member of the Trumbull 100 for the betterment of our community.

He is a member of The Western Reserve Historical Society, Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum, The Ohio Historical Society, The Ohio Association of Historical Society and Museums, Ohio Library Association and Life Member of the Warren Library Association as well as a Life Member of the Trumbull Co. Historical Society.

He has served on the restoration committee of the Kinsman House and was instrumental in the relocation of the John Stark Edwards home “Warren’s Oldest Home” as well as asisting with the establishment of the Historic Perkins Homestead Association.

He has been honored many times for his professional, community and church activities. Several of the awards have being selected in 1983 and again in 1985 as an Outstanding Young Man of America in recognition of his outstanding professional achievement, superior leadership ability and exceptional service to his community. In 1984, Jim was named Warren's Young Man of the Year and in 1992, he was listed in Who's Who among Rising Young Americans being recognized for his achievements in American society and business and again in 1994 he was selected as an honored member. In 2001 he was awarded a Life Membership of the National Directory of Executives and Professionals and was honored by Warren's Masonic Lodge with their “Community Service Award” that same year.

Recently, Jim and his staff were honored by the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce with the prestigious "Pendleton Business Award" for being the professional organization that met the stringent criteria that makes it the "Best of the Best" in promoting a positive image of Warren for the year 2005.

Jim has been with us since March, 2003 and is licensed as an Ohio funeral director.

An ordained minister, Jim has had a long career as a pastor, most recently with the First Baptist Church of Warren. He taught GED classes part-time through Warren City Schools for over ten years. He has also been active as a volunteer in many community activities throughout Warren.

Jim has a bachelor's degree from Loyola University and a master's degree from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, both in Illinois.

Jim lives in Warren and was married July 12, 2007 to Michele Joseph. Daughter Missy lives with her husband Will in Columbus. Son Benjamin recently received his master's degree in bassoon performance from the University of Kansas, and is a substitute with the Kansas City Symphony. Son Aaron recently graduated from Ohio University and is working as an intern with Zooloo.com in Phoenix. He is engaged to be married to Maria Fisher in September. Stepdaughter Petty Officer 3rd Class Brittany Joseph Mercado was recently married to Rene Mercado and is a Yeoman with the U.S. Coast Guard in Arlington, Va. Stepdaughter Petty Officer 3rd Class Alysha Joseph is a Food Service Specialist, also with the U.S. Coast Guard, and is assigned to the USCGC Frank Drew in Portsmouth, Va. Jim's hobbies include camping, walking, bicycling, reading and, when possible, sleeping.