Our Staff

Our Staff

Ted Bearden

President
Email: ted@beardenfuneralhome.com

Ted started his funeral career in 1970 at this same firm. After graduating from Gupton Jones College, he spent over 15 years in funeral service with the largest funeral home in Atlanta. He also serves as Dawson County's Coroner. He has served as president of the Independent Funeral Directors of Georgia, the Georgia Coroner's Association where he was awarded Coroner of the Year in Georgia in 2010, and the Dawson County Rotary Club. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for United Community Bank and previously served on the Dawson County Board of Health. Ted is a member of the Dawson County Art's Council, the Chamber of Commerce, the Independent Funeral Directors of Georgia, Academy of Graduate Embalmers, Georgia Funeral Directors Association and the National Funeral Directors Association. In 2010 he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by Dawson County Emergency Services for his contribution to the development of the program and in 2017 awarded as the Business Leader Of The Year by The Dawson County Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of Bethel Baptist Church where he has held several positions. Having played music most of his life, he is a founding member of the acoustic group, Little Mountain. Ted and his wife Lisa have two sons, James and Wesley.

James Bearden

Vice President

A licensed funeral director, embalmer and life insurance agent, James grew up alongside his father in funeral service. He was an honor graduate of Dawson County High School and Ogeechee School of Funeral Service in Statesboro, GA.   A member of many funeral associations and the Academy of Graduate Embalmers, James currently serves as a board member of the Georgia Racing Hall Of Fame.  He has previously served as a District Chair for the Georgia Funeral Director's Association and a board member of the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce. James also operates Dawsonville Monuments, serving the cemetery needs in the area. He and his wife, Alivia, have two sons, Wade Lewis and Aaron James "AJ".  They are active members of Bethel Baptist Church where they help lead the Young Adult Sunday School Class.  

Wesley Bearden

Wesley grew up in funeral service with both his father and brother to serve as mentors. An honor graduate of Dawson County High School and Ogeechee Technical college, he serves as a Dawson County Deputy Coroner and a Board member of the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce. Wesley is a member of Bethel Baptist Church.

Audume Lord 

A native of Dawson County and a graduate of Dawson County High School, Audume has been a part of our staff since January of 2009, joining full time in 2016. A graduate of Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary science with an Associate Degree in Mortuary Science, she is a licensed funeral director and embalmer. She and her husband, Zach Gordon have two daughters, Addison and Scarlett.

Lanier Swafford

Lanier is a lifelong resident of Dawson County and joined the funeral home in 1984. He is a graduate of Dawson County High School and Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service. In addition to being a licensed funeral director and embalmer, he also has served as a Deputy Coroner since 1996. For over 25 years Lanier served with Dawson County Emergency Services and ended his career as the Fire Chief and EMA Director. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Lanier Technical College, the Amicalola EMC Operation Round Up Board, as well as a number of other professional organizations. Lanier is a Deacon of Bethel Baptist Church and member of Etowah Lodge #222 F & AM. He and his wife Amy have two sons, Brendan and Bailey.

Michael Smith

Michael is a Graduate of Gilmer High School, Class of 2003, a graduate of Jefferson State Community College with a degree in Mortuary Science, Class of 2012. He is a licensed life agent, and specializes in helping families make funeral arrangements in advance. He and his wife reside in the Cartecay Community in Ellijay. He is an Ordained Baptist Minister and a member of the River Hill Baptist Church and the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce.

Renee Gazaway

Renee joined our staff in 2021.  A licensed funeral director and embalmer, she has spent her entire career in funeral service.  She is a resident of Dawson County and active member of Crossroads Baptist Church in Forsyth County.  She and her husband, Shane, have a daughter, Emma Grace.  

David Allen

David has been living in Dawson County for the past 18 years. He is a 1989 graduate of North Hall High School in Hall County. He has been involved in law enforcement since 1996. He started his career in law enforcement with the Hall County Sheriff's Office. In 2005, when David moved to Dawson County, he became a volunteer fire fighter with Dawson County Emergency Services. In 2010 David attended Lanier Technical College and obtained his EMT_I certification. In 2011, David started working full time as a firefighter/EMT with Dawson County Emergency Services. He continued with his law enforcement career by becoming a reserve officer with the Dawson County Sheriff's Office. David started working with the funeral home in January of 2023. He also is a deputy coroner for Dawson County. David is a deacon at Antioch Baptist Church in Lumpkin County. David and his wife Lisa have three adult children.

Gary Vaughters

Gary returned to Funeral Service in 2022 following a 39-year banking career. Gary began his working career with our legacy Funeral Home while attending Dawson County High School.  While earning a BBA in accounting and finance at North Georgia College he began his banking career. Being a lifelong resident of Dawson County,  he has served the community in many roles and currently serves on the Dawson County Development Authority Board. Gary is a member, Deacon and serves as Church Clerk at Bethel Baptist Church. He and his wife Debra have one daughter, Audra, married to Alex Myers and one grandson
Grayson.

Jody Caldwell

Jody joined our staff in 2021 following a career in law enforcement.  A native of Lumpkin County, he is now a resident of Dawson County where he is a member and serves as a Deacon of Lebanon Baptist Church.  

Reggie Stowers

Reggie joined our staff in 2022 following a long and successful career in Dawson County education. Reggie was twice chosen as Star Teacher in 1984 and 1999. He was the Dawson County High School teacher of the Year in 2004 and was named State Outstanding Agriculture Teacher of the Year in 2005. He was awarded the Honorary State FFA degree in 2009 and the Honorary American FFA Degree in 2007. To top off his career he was inducted into the Georgia Agriculture Education Hall of Fame in 2013. Mr. Stowers is an active Member of Winds of Peace Church where he serves on the board of Directors and sings in the church praise team. Reggie also attends Lumpkin Camp Meeting and often serves as song leader. He has served on the Amicalola EMC Board of Directors for 30 years. Reggie is married to Carolyn Hill Stowers. They have two children and two grandsons, daughter Leah Stowers and husband Amir Shirazi Cyrus Shirazi, and son Seth Stowers and wife Rebecca Monkus Stowers and grandson, Slaton Stowers. Reggie continues to serve the community as FFA Alumni Treasurer, Bailiff in Dawson County Court, hayride-driver for Burt’s Farm and the best job of helping to baby sit their grandsons.

Kenny Williamson

A native of Gwinnett County, Kenny has lived in Forsyth County since 2000. He joined our staff in 1995. An extremely talented musician, he also has a full-time ministry. Kenny and his wife Anita have two sons.

Faye Cleveland

Faye is a native of Dawson County and a graduate of Dawson County High School. She is a licensed Master Cosmetologist and owned a salon in the Atlanta area for a number of years. Upon returning to Dawson County, she opened Komes II Hair Salon in downtown Dawsonville in 1993. She has been a member of the funeral home staff since 1994.

James Swafford - Retired

James is a lifelong resident of Dawson County and joined our staff in 2002. A U.S. Army veteran that served in Vietnam, he is a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 970. Holding an associate’s degree in marketing and a bachelor’s degree in accounting, he retired after more than 32 years of Federal Service. James is a member of Bethel Baptist Church in Dawsonville where he has served as a Deacon for over 50 years. He is a member and Past Master of Etowah Lodge #222 F&AM. James and his wife Jane have two sons, Lanier and Jason, and five grandchildren.

Charles Townsend - Retired

Charles grew up in funeral service in Gainesville, Georgia and served families for over 50 years. He spent 40 years in funeral service in Hall County and joined our staff in 2000. He is a member of the First Methodist Church in Gainesville. He and his wife Phyllis have three children.

 In Loving Memory - Rodney Castleberry

A native of Forsyth County, Rodney moved to Dawsonville in 2008.   He served on staff at Bearden Funeral Home from 2009 until 2021. Rodney was an active member of Bethel Baptist Church in Dawsonville and  Chestatee Lodge #102 F & AM in Forsyth County.  Rodney was a beloved member of our family and community who fought a courageous battle with Covid-19 until his passing in 2022.  He leaves behind his wife, Jessica and two daughters, Maddie and Emma Kate.

In Loving Memory - Catherine Manier

Catherine's father originally established the funeral home in 1965 and she worked many years in the firm. When Mr. Bearden acquired the funeral home she was promoted to Office Manager where her many valuable skills and insight served countless families through the years.  She was a beloved member of our family and community.

Dawson County Coroner's Office

  Ted Bearden, Coroner

  Wesley Bearden, Deputy Coroner

Lanier Swafford, Deputy Coroner

David Allen, Deputy Coroner
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