Exhibit 4.1

                           CERTIFICATE OF ELIMINATION

                                       OF

                            SERIES F PREFERRED STOCK

                                       OF

                             CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC.

                                 * * * * * * *

            Pursuant to Section 151 of the General Corporation Law of the State
of Delaware, CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC., a corporation organized and existing under
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (herein referred to as the
"Corporation"), DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:

            That pursuant to authority granted to the Board of Directors of the
Corporation by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
Corporation, and pursuant to the provisions of Section 151 of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, such Board of Directors at a meeting
duly held on May 11, 1999, adopted a resolution providing for the elimination of
a designation of a series of preferred stock of the Corporation, which
resolution is as follows:

            WHEREAS, the Corporation has previously established and designated a
      series of Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, designated as its Series F
      Preferred Stock ("Series F Preferred Stock"), originally consisting of up
      to 20,000,000 shares, pursuant to the Certificate of Designation,
      Preferences, Rights and Limitations filed with the Secretary of State of
      Delaware on November 6, 1996, as amended on December 17, 1996 and May 9,
      1997 (as so amended and restated, the "Series F Certificate of
      Designation"); and

            WHEREAS, no such shares of Series F Preferred Stock are currently
      issued or outstanding, and none will be issued;

                  NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that no shares of Series F
            Preferred Stock are issued or outstanding, and none will be issued,
            and therefore pursuant to the authority expressly granted and vested
            in the Board of Directors of the Corporation in accordance with the
            provisions of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
            of the Corporation and Section 151(g) of the General Corporation Law
            of the State of Delaware, the Series F Certificate of Designation is
            hereby withdrawn and eliminated.

            IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  CARRIAGE  SERVICES,  INC.  has  caused  this
Certificate of  Elimination  to be signed by Melvin C. Payne,  its Chairman of
the Board and Chief Executive Officer, as of the 19th day of July, 1999.

                                    CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC.


                                    BY:   /s/ Melvin C. Payne
                                          -------------------------------------
                                          MELVIN C. PAYNE, Chairman of the Board
                                            and Chief Executive Officer

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