CALDWELL & COWAN FUNERAL HOME - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer
Ben Reynolds has been a part of the Caldwell & Cowan Family for several years, starting out as a Funeral Service Assistant, and now serving as a Funeral Director and Embalmer and Certified Crematory Operator. Ben is a graduate of Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service. He is a resident of Covington, attends East Newton Baptist Church, and assists with the Youth Group there.
Job Titles:
- Funeral Service Assistant
Billy Crawford joined the Lawnwood Memorial Park family in September of 2013, after 19 years of employment with Newton County Government. He is a 1985 graduate of Newton County High School, and a 1988 graduate of DeKalb College, where he studied Business. Billy is an active and longtime member of Julia A Porter United Methodist Church, where he has served in many areas. A compassionate advocate for children, he has served as Children's Director alongside his wife, Lila, for more than 25 years. Billy and his family reside in Oxford.
Job Titles:
- Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer
Carlo Otalora, a Licensed Funeral Director, Embalmer, and Certified Crematory Operator at Caldwell & Cowan Funeral Home since January 2017. Hailing from the city of Miami, in 2015 he graduated from Miami Dade College School of Funeral Services. This provided him with a strong foundation in funeral service practices, grief counseling, and funeral home management.
Fluent in both English and Spanish, being bilingual helps Carlo excel at providing exceptional support to families from diverse backgrounds. His ability to communicate effectively in both languages ensures that families feel heard, understood, and supported throughout the funeral planning process. This allows him to bridge cultural gaps and provide comfort and assistance to all families.
When Carlo is not dedicating himself to his profession, he enjoys staying active and exploring his surroundings. His free time is filled with biking, playing soccer, and discovering new places to eat. This balance between work and personal interests allows Carlo to approach each day with a renewed sense of energy and genuine passion for helping others during their most challenging times.
After retiring from Newton Medical Center, Catherine and Larry Parnell began their new careers at Caldwell & Cowan. In addition to day-to-day office responsibilities as Administrative Assistant, Catherine processes death certificates and maintains communication with families. Larry works as a Funeral Service Assistant and serves as Fleet Manager. Parents of three and grandparents of seven, they were high school sweethearts and have been happily married since 1960. Larry and Catherine live in Mansfield, and thoroughly enjoy life in the country! They say the most fulfilling of their job responsibilities is meeting the families served by Caldwell & Cowan at their point of need.
Job Titles:
- Receptionist
- Member of the Caldwell & Cowan Family
Cathy Burgoyne has been a member of the Caldwell & Cowan Family since January of 2014. She is a Covington native, and is an active and longtime member of First United Methodist Church. Cathy and Lexi, her beautiful, energetic daughter, live in town with their two fur babies, Pooh and Holly. As Receptionist, she is one of the first people you meet when you come into the Funeral Home, and her wish is to make every family feel welcomed while in our care. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, cooking and listening to music.
Christine Banks joined the Caldwell & Cowan family in January of 2015. A longtime resident of Atlanta, and a 2007 graduate of Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service, she is a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer and Certified Crematory Operator. Prior to joining Caldwell & Cowan, Christine worked in the Atlanta area, completing her apprenticeship and going on to become an embalming supervisor. Over the years she has worked closely with many students undergoing the clinical program training at Gupton-Jones College.
Christine has earned her CFSP (Certified Funeral Service Practitioner) designation which distinguishes her as an individual with a commitment to raise and improve the professional standards of the funeral service practice, while committing to pursue lifelong learning. In 2016, Christine became the first woman, in Georgia, to complete the Fountain National Academy's Embalming and Post Mortem Reconstructive Surgery Seminars. A reconstruction specialist is skilled in specialized embalming and surgical techniques used in reconstructive procedures in cases of severe traumatic injuries suffered at death.
Christine takes great pride in her work and is thankful to have the ability to help members of the community when they are in a time of need.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant for Lawnwood Memorial Park
- Lawnwood Memorial Park Administrative Assistant
Crystal L. Milligan is Administrative Assistant for Lawnwood Memorial Park. She has been employed with Lawnwood since July of 2004, and is available to assist families with both Preneed and At Need sales and services. Crystal is a native of Covington, and is married to Steve Milligan, who has been employed with Lawnwood since 1997. She is a Volunteer Firefighter and Emergency Medical Responder, and volunteers with the Central Georgia Chapter of the Red Cross/Jasper County. Crystal has two children, Nichole and Michael.
Job Titles:
- Funeral Service Assistant
Job Titles:
- Funeral Service Assistant
Dennis Hooten is a lifelong resident of Newton County. He is a graduate of Newton County High School and a Veteran of the U.S. Army. Married for 51 years to his wife, Judy, they have two children and six grandchildren. Dennis and Judy are active, lifelong members of the First Presbyterian Church of Covington and are involved in the church's Family Promise and Food Bank ministries. Dennis is a member of the American Legion's Post 32 and participates in their monthly activities.
After selling cars at Hooten Motor Sales for almost 40 years, Dennis enjoyed a brief retirement traveling with his wife. Returning to work as a Funeral Service Assistant, in 2018, has allowed Dennis to reconnect with many old friends and former customers.
Job Titles:
- Funeral Service Assistant
Job Titles:
- Is Director of Grief Management
Adam Cooper is Director of Grief Management, a joint outreach of Caldwell & Cowan Funeral Home and Lawnwood Memorial Park. He and his wife, Angie, have two daughters, Lenzie and Samantha.
Adam received his Doctor of Psycology Degree in Grief Counseling from Breyer State University in June of 2015, and his Masters Degree in Pastoral Counseling from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, in May of 2012. He is a Certified Celebrant through the InSight Institute, as well as a Grief Management Specialist through the American Grief Academy.
As Director of Grief Management, Adam oversees and facilitates Support Groups, and the Caldwell & Cowan grief program. Our Grief Management Programs meet at 3134 Floyd Street, where evening Support Groups twice monthly.
Job Titles:
- Funeral Service Assistant
Job Titles:
- Funeral Service Assistant
Judson and his wife, Ginger Caldwell, have carried the long legacy of the funeral home for over forty-five years. Married since 1977, they have two children, Adam and Kate.
A graduate of Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC, and Gupton-Jones School of Mortuary Science in Atlanta, Georgia, Judson served two years as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. One of those years was spent in Vietn am at the U.S. Army Mortuary in Saigon. It was this experience that ultimately led to his decision to carry on the family business. Judson served eleven years as a Council Member on the Covington City Council, and is a past president of the Covington Kiwanis Club and the Independent Funeral Directors of Georgia (IFDG). He has also served on the Board of Deacons and as Deacon Chairman, First Baptist Church, Covington, and has been active with various church committees.
The Caldwells have made a commitment to their community to provide professional, personal and compassionate services to each family served, and to afford every person and family the courtesy, respect and dignity they deserve.
In 1939, Mr. Caldwell and his son, Lewis, relocated the business to Floyd Street in Covington, creating G.W. Caldwell & Son Funeral Home. For over 70 years, Floyd Street was our primary business location until our new facility at 1215 Access Road, Covington, opened in 2007.
Lori Smith joined the Caldwell & Cowan Family in 2018, as a Case Processor, with several years experience in customer service. She loves helping others and providing support and encouragement to those in need. Lori is a lifelong resident of Covington and enjoys kayaking, traveling to the beach and mountains, and spending time with her family, friends, and furbaby, Pistol.
Job Titles:
- Funeral Service Assistant
Mr. Caldwell began in funeral service in Gay, Georgia in 1910. At that time, embalming was only done when the family requested it, and was always done in the home. There were few funeral home establishments as we know them today, and "undertaking" establishments were often add-ons to woodworking businesses, such as cabinet and casket making.
Mr. Caldwell moved with his family to Newton County in 1920, initially coming to Covington to work for R.E. Everett at Everett Funeral Home as an embalmer. In 1933, after losing his job with Mr. Everett due to an extended illness, Mr. Caldwell decided to open his own funeral home in Porterdale, a small mill town adjoining Covington.
Job Titles:
- Funeral Service Assistant
Pat Lazenby has been a part of the Caldwell & Cowan family for over 10 years. She is a lifelong resident of Covington, and a member of Harvest Baptist Church, where she teaches an AWANA class, and volunteers with Faith Works Ministry.
Job Titles:
- Funeral Service Assistant
Ray Amerson has been a Newton County resident for over 70 years. He is a graduate of Newton County High School, and a Veteran of the U.S. Air Force. Married for 30 years to his wife, Norma, they have four children and four grandchildren. A musician, Ray has played music all over the Southeast, as well as abroad during his military service. Ray and Norma are involved in the church food ministry at their church, Harvest Baptist in Covington, and Ray plays piano for services. As a Veteran himself, Ray is honored to help fellow Veterans as a volunteer with Disabled American Veterans, driving them to and from appointments at the VA Clinic in Decatur.
After working for more than 40 years, Ray has enjoyed retirement since 2010, and now has time to enjoy the things he loves and spend more time with family and friends. As a Funeral Service Assistant with the Caldwell & Cowan family, Ray assists on funeral services and at visitations. He feels it is a blessing to be able to offer comfort to families in their time of need, and says the Lord has been so good over the years, he could never thank Him enough.
In the early 1950s, after Mr. Caldwell's retirement, Sam Cowan came into the business to partner with Lewis, and the business was renamed Caldwell & Cowan Funeral Home. Sam and Ruth were active in the business until their retirement in 1991.
Job Titles:
- Funeral Service Assistant
Job Titles:
- Licensed Funeral Director
Scott Ellis, Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer, Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP) and Certified Crematory Operator, has been a part of the Caldwell & Cowan family since 2007. A 2010 graduate of Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service, he served as Vice President of the Pi Sigma Eta fraternity, and was awarded the distinguished Bill Pierce Award, given to one who demonstrates their exemplary professionalism and above and beyond efforts to funeral service. Following graduation, Scott completed the National Funeral Directors Association's Certified Preplanning Consultant program, which recognizes qualified, knowledgeable individuals who are committed to provide ethical and caring advance planning services for all families. Scott is now on the Executive Board of the Georgia Funeral Director's Association.
Scott is a lifelong resident of Newton County. He and his wife, Ronda, have been happily married for over 41 years. Their daughter and son-in-law, Erin and Mark Still, and their four beautiful grandchildren, are their pride and joy. Scott and Ronda enjoy going camping and love spending time with their family members, who mean the most to them.
Scott's goal in funeral service is to treat every family with the compassion and respect they deserve when they need it most. Having completed all required coursework to obtain his Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP) designation indicates that he goes above and beyond to serve every family as if they were his own.
Job Titles:
- Funeral Service Assistant