Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

                        SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL
                       ELECTS NEW INDEPENDENT BOARD MEMBER

HOUSTON, TEXAS, May 8, 2003 . . . Service Corporation International (NYSE: SRV),
the world's largest funeral and cemetery  company,  announced today the election
of a new independent member, Alan R. Buckwalter,  III, to the Company's Board of
Directors.   Mr.  Buckwalter's  appointment  fills  a  vacancy  created  by  the
retirement of longtime Board member, E.H. Thornton, Jr.

Mr.  Buckwalter is 56 years old and recently  retired as Chairman of J.P. Morgan
Chase  Bank,  South  Region,  after a career  of over 30 years in  banking  that
involved management of corporate,  commercial,  capital markets,  international,
private  banking  and  retail  departments.  He  served  as head of the  Banking
Division and  Leveraged  Finance Unit within the Banking and  Corporate  Finance
Group of  Chemical  Bank and  Chairman  and CEO of Chase Bank of Texas.  He also
serves on the  board of Plains  Resources,  an oil and gas  exploration  company
headquartered  in Houston,  Texas.  He is an avid  community  volunteer  who has
served on the boards of the Texas Medical Center,  St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital
and the Greater Houston Chapter of the American Red Cross.

R. L. Waltrip,  Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,  commented on the election
of Mr.  Buckwalter:  "Alan  possesses  a wealth  of  financial,  accounting  and
management  expertise  and his  appointment  represents a great  addition to the
Company's leadership.  Having a new independent director join the Board brings a
fresh  perspective to our Company,  which will be beneficial as we move forward.
In  addition,  I  would  like to  thank  E.H.  Thornton,  Jr.  for  his  immense
contributions  and  dedication to SCI over the past 40 years.  His direction and
insights have added tremendous value to our organization and he will be missed."

Service  Corporation  International,  headquartered  in Houston,  Texas,  is the
world's  largest  funeral and  cemetery  company.  The Company has an  extensive
nationwide network of providers,  including 2,266 funeral service locations, 436
cemeteries and 189 crematoria  providing  funeral and cemetery services in eight
countries at March 31, 2003.  For more  information  about  Service  Corporation
International, please visit our website at www.sci-corp.com.

For additional information contact:
Investors: Debbie Young - Director / Investor Relations           (713) 525-9088
Media:     Terry Hemeyer - Managing Director /
           Corporate Communications                               (713) 525-5497