Our Staff

Brian K. Burton graduated from North Dorchester High School in May of 1992. He attended Chesapeake College on a part time basis starting in 1998, and in 2000 attended the Catonsville Community College where he graduated in May of 2001 with AA Degree in Mortuary Science. 

Brian has been licensed by the State of Maryland since 2002. He has been associated with the Thomas Funeral Home, P.A. in Cambridge since June of 2003. He is currently serving on the board of directors of the Delmarva Funeral Service Association, where he also was past president, vice president and secretary/treasurer. Brian is a member of the Cambridge Lions Club and Maryland State Funeral Directors Association. In August of 2011, Brian became Manager/Supervising Mortician after the passing of John W. Thomas. On February 19, 2014, Brian became co-owner with Janet Thomas. Brian is married to Jennifer Harding Burton and they have a daughter Kate and a son Will. 

Ralph was born in Harlingen to Sal and Socorro Torres. Ralph grew up with five siblings in a family that embraced and instilled Catholic values. He graduated high school from St.Joseph’s Academy in Brownsville. Ralph was passionate about helping people and thought pursuing a career in funeral service would be a perfect opportunity. He earned his Funeral Service and Embalmer License from the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service in 1990. Ralph moved back to the valley and continued his education, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration in 1995.

Ralph made Weslaco his home in 1996 and is a self-employed accountant, funeral director, embalmer, and pre-need counselor. He has been helping families in the mid-valley for many years. Ralph joined our team in 2020 and is passionate about celebrating lives and helping families.

When Ralph is not directing funerals, he works as an accountant for D&J Site Construction, LLC. Ralph is also an avid sports fan and spends many weekends organizing basketball tournaments for our youth. He also coaches Team Elite, a youth basketball team. Ralph is grounded in his faith and the proud father of two Texas A&M graduates, Miranda and Ralph Torres. He loves to catch an Aggie game with his kids when he can get away.

Ralph is an asset to our team and is fluent in English and Spanish. He will guide and direct you with true professionalism and provide comfort at the same time.

Emily J. Thomas has been a staff member here since January of 2011, beginning as an associate.  Born to Janet Carr Thomas and the late John W. Thomas, the granddaughter of Kenneth R. Thomas, Margaret Thomas, Harold Carr, Jr., and Marilyn Carr, the passion to serve her community has been passed down to her through the generations of her family.  Emily grew up in Salem, and graduated from North Dorchester High School class of 2011.  She graduated from Wor-Wic Community College with an associate’s degree in Business Administration in 2013, going on to graduate from the Community College of Baltimore County with an associate’s degree in Mortuary Science in 2015, and becoming a fully licensed mortician with the state of Maryland in May of 2016.  Being the third generation of her family to join this field is something she takes great pride in.

Emily lives with her fiancée, John Sparrow, on their farm in Delmar, Maryland, where they enjoy life with their four fur babies. They love traveling together, especially to Walt Disney World.  They also enjoy going camping in their fifth wheel when they get the chance.  Emily also is an avid crochet artist in her free time.  More than anything, Emily is proud to be able to continue on the Thomas Family tradition of helping the Dorchester County community in this very special way, and will continue to carry on this legacy.