Back in the 1930’s, what was to become the Nelson-Berna Funeral Home was founded here, in Northwest Arkansas. Originally Nelson Funeral home, there was one guiding principal that is still the hallmark of Nelson-Berna today: to provide extraordinary service, attention to detail, and make each service as unique as the individual it celebrates. At Nelson-Berna Funeral Home, we have been celebrating life for over 75 years.

Scott and Paula Berna
Email: Scott@nelsonberna.com / Paula@nelsonberna.com

Scott was born and raised in Van Buren, Arkansas. In 1981, while still a senior in high school, he began his career in the funeral profession by washing cars and answering phones for the Edwards Family Funeral Homes of Van Buren and Fort Smith.

Paula was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas. At the age of eight, her family moved to Illinois, where her parents pastored a church. She later began traveling and singing as a soloist in churches across the United States.

In October 1985, Scott obtained his Funeral Directors license.

While singing at her grandfather's funeral in 1987, Paula met her future husband, Scott, who was the funeral director for her grandfather’s services. They were married in 1989.

After her grandmother prearranged her own funeral, Paula saw the importance of preplanning and how beneficial it would be to the surviving family. She began to help families by meeting and sharing with them the advantages of preplanning. She continued her career as a prearrangement counselor in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas.

Scott has managed funeral homes and cemeteries in Longview, Texas, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, before moving to Fayetteville in June 1999, to manage Nelson’s Funeral Home and Crematory and Fairview Memorial Gardens.

Scott and Paula purchased both the Funeral Home and the Cemetery in April 2002.

Paula eventually became the manager of the cemetery. Presently, she helps families at the Cemetery, as well as assisting families at the Funeral Home.

Scott and Paula have two children, Colby and Calli. During their time off, they enjoy participating in their children’s respective sports as avid spectators and with Scott sometimes coaching.

Roger Morris
Email: Roger@nelsonberna.com

Rober Morris, Nelson-Berna Funeral Director, was born into the funeral service industry in Huntsville, Arkansas, where his father served the people of Madison County for over 38 years in the funeral service. Following in his father’s footsteps, he has been a licensed funeral director since 1986 and came to the Nelson-Berna Funeral Home in Fayetteville in 1994.

He and his wife, Jennifer, live in Fayetteville where they raise their son, Hayden.