Sam Way is a licensed Funeral Director & Embalmer who was born and raised in Ellaville, Georgia. He is the son of Clarence Way and Mitzi Way. He graduated from Schley County High School in 2004. Sam graduated from Ogeechee Technical College in March of 2008 with his Associates Degree in Funeral Service. He served as Funeral Director in Macon and Columbus for a total of 5 years before joining Watson-Giddens & Watson-Tante Funeral Homes. He's worked with Eddie & Sharon Watson for 6 years, and looks forward to continuing the level of service they have strived to attain.
Ashley was born and raised in Oglethorpe and Ellaville and is the daughter of Paul and Berta Cox. She graduated from Schley County High School in 2006.
Sam and Ashley and their five children: Breanna, CJ, Robert, Heavenly and Livie, live in the Doyle community of Marion County. They are members of New Providence Baptist Church.
Eddie and Sharon Watson purchased Watson-Giddens Funeral Home in 1999 and Watson-Tante Funeral Home in 2011. They strive to continue to serve families with the same care and compassion people of this area have grown accustomed to. They consider this a way to minister to people at a very difficult time in their lives.
Eddie has worked in the funeral home industry since 1994. He attended Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science and graduated in 1998 as a licensed funeral director and embalmer. Eddie also serves on the Board of Directors for Sumter EMC and Chairman of the Board for Schley County Zoning Board.
Sharon Grimsley Watson was born and raised in Ellaville, Georgia. She is a licensed pre-need insurance consultant and works beside Eddie in the funeral homes. Sharon also serves as Treasurer for the Schley County Historical Society.
Eddie and Sharon were married in 1982 and are blessed with two children and four grandchildren. They attend Ellaville Baptist Church where Eddie served as a deacon and Sharon sings in the choir. They are involved in the community and are proud to live and serve this area.
P. J. Riner Wilson is a licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer and office manager at Way-Watson Funeral Home. She recently became a licensed pre-need insurance consultant. P. J. was born and raised in Marion County. She graduated from Tri-County High School in Marion County in 1997 and from Ogeechee Technical College in May 2013 with an Associates Degree in Funeral Service. She has been employed with Way-Watson Funeral Home since 2007. Currently residing in Marion County with her husband, Jesse Wilson, she has two daughters, Avery and Austin. She is a member of the Ellaville-Schley County Historical Society.
Malinda McKinney is office manager at Watson-Giddens Funeral Home and serves as funeral attendant. She has worked at the funeral home since 2004. Malinda is married and has two children and six grandchildren. She attends Ellaville Baptist Church.
Marc Ellis serves as funeral attendant. He was born and raised in Schley County and the son of Marcene and Hazel Rigsby Ellis. He has worked part time for the funeral home since 1989. Marc has been a Georgia State Trooper since 1982 and retired in 2014. He is married to the former Angie Stubbs and has 3 children and 4 grandchildren. Marc attends Ellaville United Methodist Church.
Jerry Gentry joins us as a funeral attendant with over 30 years of experience in the funeral industry. He is preceded in death by his wife, Becky and a son, Tim Speck. He has a step-daughter, Wendy Jones and he is a member at Plains United Methodist Church.
Rev. Hugh Harbort has lived with his wife, Gina in the Shiloh community for over 40 years. He served as Pastor at Shiloh Baptist Church from 1979 until 2017.
He has three sons, Scott and his wife, Leann, Ken and his wife, Cindy, and David and his wife, Andrea. He has two granddaughters, and five grandsons.
Hugh looks forward to continuing his ministry to families and supporting them in the funeral industry.
Jeff along with his wife Annie is the owner of the funeral home. Jeff is a 1985 graduate of Wayne State University’s Mortuary Science Program.
He also holds a bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University which he earned in 1992. He enjoys exercising and spending time off with his children – Maggie, Jack and Peter.
Jeff and his family are members of the St. Basil Catholic Church. When time allows, Jeff likes to be active in our community and is a member of the Kiwanis Club, Loyal Order of the Moose, Sons of the American Legion, and the Knights of Columbus. In 2013, Jeff and his family were the St. Basil Knights of Columbus Family of the year.
Jeff was recognized by the Bobby Walker Administration with their Leadership Award in 2010. He was also recognized by the First Spiritual Church of Covert for his role in community leadership in 2015.