Noble Guyon

From left, Stuart Mortuary staff members Fred Quarles Sr., Jimmy Adams and funeral director Cory Graham sit at the back of a funeral service in Indianapolis on Saturday. Much of the work of the funeral director and staff is done before the funeral. When it comes time for the service, the director and staff have little left to do.

Cory Graham, 27, sits outside a Cracker Barrel discussing his favorite sports teams in Indianapolis, Ind. on Nov. 12 after attending church. The Indianapolis Pacers and Indianapolis Colts are Graham’s favorite teams to watch. Due to working at Stuart Mortuary so much, Graham doesn’t always get to watch the games.

Cory Graham, center, talks with people after a funeral service at Temple of Praise Assembly in Indianapolis. Graham said that directing funerals outside of Stuart can be more difficult at times, as the director has less control over the environment.

Tim Burnett vacuums the floor before the start of another funeral at Stuart Mortuary. The staff members at Stuart go to work immediately after a funeral is over, prepping the chapel for the next service, which often is within an hour.

Funeral director Cory Graham pulls a divider out for a hallway while a casket is transported from the chapel to the back of Stuart Mortuary.

Funeral director Cory Graham, 27, takes a moment to sit down and rub his eyes after preaching at a funeral service at Stuart Mortuary in Indianapolis on Saturday. This funeral was Graham’s second and last of the day, after being up until 4:30 a.m. performing house calls the night before.