Staff

Our staff is committed to providing support, compassion, information, and direction as needed to all members of our community, their families, and friends who are dealing with loss and grief.

 

Smoky Mountain Cremations & Funeral Service

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Ronnie Surrett Owner & CEO

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Marcia Messer Brown Funeral Director FD 4235 & General Manager

A native of Haywood County, Marcia has strong roots in the community. She is a 1993 graduate of Tuscola High School and a 2018 graduate of Fayetteville Tech. Before becoming a Funeral Director, Marcia worked a career in healthcare at Haywood Regional Medical Center, Haywood Community College, and LabCorp.

Marcia is married to Caroll Ray Brown, Jr. and has 2 daughters, Jena who attends Western Carolina University and Calli who attends Pisgah High School. In her spare time, she enjoys going to the lake, concerts, and being with family and friends.

Marcia has a passion for the funeral industry and takes pride in providing meaningful services to comfort and help families during one of the most challenging times in their lives.

 

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Kimberly Stanley Henson Funeral Director FD 3421

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Randy Nelson Funeral Service Licensee FSL 2673

Randy grew up in Fargo, ND and has been a licensed funeral director since 1971. He graduated from University of Minnesota Medical School, Division of Mortuary Science. He was the manager at a funeral home at the age of 24 and has managed several large establishments over the years. When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, he was managing a mega funeral home there, but left to come to Haywood County soon after that.

He is married to Connie Nelson and they have three children. Together they are the proud grandparents of 7 grandkids and 4 great grandkids. He and Connie have 2 fur babies, Caesar, a 136 lb. great pyrenees and Rio a 14 lb. poodle mix.

Randy brings great knowledge and experience to our team. He is compassionate about is work and ejoys helping familes get through the most difficult times of their lives.

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Case Cody Accounting & Funeral Apprentice

Case is a 2021 graduate of Pisgah High School. He is the son of Billy and Patty Cody. He enjoys skiing, horseback riding, going to concerts, and spending time with his family and friends. Case is currently enrolled in the Funeral Service Education program at Fayetteville Technical Community College.

Case is very compassionate and goes out of his way to help families. He brings a bright smile and caring heart to our team. 

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LaNeah Dyson Accounting & Funeral Assistant

A native of Haywood County, LaNeah is deeply rooted in the community. She is a member of Panther Creek Baptist Church and serves as the pianist and a Sunday School Teacher. She retired from Haywood County Local Government with 30 years of service. She was also the manager at Haywood Christian Ministry Thrift Store for 8 years before joining the staff at Smoky Mountain in 2015.

LaNeah is married to Jeff Dyson. She has a daughter, Amy Marshall and 2 wonderful grandsons, Hank and Kohen. In her spare time, she loves quilting, scrap booking, going to the lake, and spending time with her family.

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Ronnie Bryant Funeral Assistant

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Byron Davis Funeral Assistant

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Jena Brown Funeral Assistant

Jena is a 2020 graduate of Tuscola High School and studies Forensic Anthropology at Western Carolina University.  She is the daughter of Caroll Ray Brown, Jr. and Marcia Brown. She enjoys going to the lake, snowboarding, going to concerts, and spending time with her family and friends.

Jena is committed to helping families and assist them in any way she can.

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Kelli Allen Ray Funeral Assistant

Kelli was born and raised here in Haywood County. She has worked for Dr. Michael Gillespie, DDS for 24 years fulltime and has helped out at the funeral home since it opened in 2014. She has been married to Burton Ray for 13 yeas and they have a 12 year old daughter, Maggie.

Kelli likes to spend her spare time at the lake and with family and friends.

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Burton Ray Funeral Assistant

He has been living in Haywood County for most of his life. He is very knowledgeable and easy to talk with. Burton is committed to his work and possesses a strong work ethic. His wife, Kelli is a dental assistant for Dr. Michael Gillespie. They have one daughter, Maggie who attends Waynesville Middle School.

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Emaline Frady Visitation Staff

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Nina Messer Visitation Staff

Ronnie Surrett

Owner & CEO
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Marcia Messer Brown

Funeral Director FD 4235 & General Manager
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A native of Haywood County, Marcia has strong roots in the community. She is a 1993 graduate of Tuscola High School and a 2018 graduate of Fayetteville Tech. Before becoming a Funeral Director, Marcia worked a career in healthcare at Haywood Regional Medical Center, Haywood Community College, and LabCorp.

Marcia is married to Caroll Ray Brown, Jr. and has 2 daughters, Jena who attends Western Carolina University and Calli who attends Pisgah High School. In her spare time, she enjoys going to the lake, concerts, and being with family and friends.

Marcia has a passion for the funeral industry and takes pride in providing meaningful services to comfort and help families during one of the most challenging times in their lives.

 

Kimberly Stanley Henson

Funeral Director FD 3421
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Randy Nelson

Funeral Service Licensee FSL 2673
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Randy grew up in Fargo, ND and has been a licensed funeral director since 1971. He graduated from University of Minnesota Medical School, Division of Mortuary Science. He was the manager at a funeral home at the age of 24 and has managed several large establishments over the years. When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, he was managing a mega funeral home there, but left to come to Haywood County soon after that.

He is married to Connie Nelson and they have three children. Together they are the proud grandparents of 7 grandkids and 4 great grandkids. He and Connie have 2 fur babies, Caesar, a 136 lb. great pyrenees and Rio a 14 lb. poodle mix.

Randy brings great knowledge and experience to our team. He is compassionate about is work and ejoys helping familes get through the most difficult times of their lives.

Case Cody

Accounting & Funeral Apprentice
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Case is a 2021 graduate of Pisgah High School. He is the son of Billy and Patty Cody. He enjoys skiing, horseback riding, going to concerts, and spending time with his family and friends. Case is currently enrolled in the Funeral Service Education program at Fayetteville Technical Community College.

Case is very compassionate and goes out of his way to help families. He brings a bright smile and caring heart to our team. 

LaNeah Dyson

Accounting & Funeral Assistant
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A native of Haywood County, LaNeah is deeply rooted in the community. She is a member of Panther Creek Baptist Church and serves as the pianist and a Sunday School Teacher. She retired from Haywood County Local Government with 30 years of service. She was also the manager at Haywood Christian Ministry Thrift Store for 8 years before joining the staff at Smoky Mountain in 2015.

LaNeah is married to Jeff Dyson. She has a daughter, Amy Marshall and 2 wonderful grandsons, Hank and Kohen. In her spare time, she loves quilting, scrap booking, going to the lake, and spending time with her family.

Ronnie Bryant

Funeral Assistant
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Byron Davis

Funeral Assistant
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Jena Brown

Funeral Assistant
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Jena is a 2020 graduate of Tuscola High School and studies Forensic Anthropology at Western Carolina University.  She is the daughter of Caroll Ray Brown, Jr. and Marcia Brown. She enjoys going to the lake, snowboarding, going to concerts, and spending time with her family and friends.

Jena is committed to helping families and assist them in any way she can.

Kelli Allen Ray

Funeral Assistant
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Kelli was born and raised here in Haywood County. She has worked for Dr. Michael Gillespie, DDS for 24 years fulltime and has helped out at the funeral home since it opened in 2014. She has been married to Burton Ray for 13 yeas and they have a 12 year old daughter, Maggie.

Kelli likes to spend her spare time at the lake and with family and friends.

Burton Ray

Funeral Assistant
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He has been living in Haywood County for most of his life. He is very knowledgeable and easy to talk with. Burton is committed to his work and possesses a strong work ethic. His wife, Kelli is a dental assistant for Dr. Michael Gillespie. They have one daughter, Maggie who attends Waynesville Middle School.

Emaline Frady

Visitation Staff
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Nina Messer

Visitation Staff
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