STAFF

Michael McNeal is the President and owner of McCullough Funeral Home. In this, he follows in the footsteps of his late uncle, and business namesake, Jimmy McCullough, and those of his mother, Carol McCullough McNeal, who purchased the funeral home shortly before her brother's passing. Because planning is an important part of every family-owned business, in early 2012 the McNeal family began reviewing and planning for estate and business succession purposes. After much consideration and prayer, Michael purchased his mom's interest in both McCullough Funeral Home and Magnolia Park Cemetery. Prior to this transition, Michael had been in charge of the day to day operations of the firm for many years. With this natural progression, he looks forward to many more generations of his family serving this community. He feels honored to be able to continue in the legacy his Uncle Jimmy began and that his mother extended.

Michael had been involved in the family business since before college, when he worked here in the funeral home part-time for his Uncle Jimmy. It was during that time that he became interested in the business as a possible career for himself. As he continued to work in the funeral home, he realized that serving families and ministering to people in need offered a great deal of personal satisfaction and he has been proud to work at McCullough since the early nineties. His vision for us continues to be that we will provide the very highest standard of professional care to the families we are blessed to serve and that we will provide a workplace where our team feels like family, united by a common purpose to serve others.

Born in 1970 to Carol & the late Larry M. McNeal, Sr., Michael is proud to be a lifelong resident of Houston County. He graduated from the Westfield Schools in Perry, and then went on to the University of Georgia and also attended Macon State College. He is a graduate of the Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science in Atlanta.

Michael is married to Shannon Shepherd McNeal, a Warner Robins native and former English teacher here in the Houston County School System. They have three children: Anna Lynn, Larry Michael McNeal III ("Mac"), and Ella. Along with his wife, he enjoys an active role in his church, Central Baptist. When away from the business, he enjoys spending time with family and anything involving his children and their many activities. Michael also enjoys spending time outside, and his interests include hunting, fishing, kayaking, mountain biking and, of course, Georgia Bulldog football.

Carol McCullough McNeal, President Emeritus and former owner of McCullough Funeral Home is a lifelong native of Warner Robins and a guiding force here at McCullough Funeral Home. She was born to Mr. & Mrs. James Miller McCullough, Sr in 1944 at the Robins Air Force Base Hospital and was sister to the late Jimmy McCullough, from whom she purchased the funeral home prior to his death in 1997. Carol graduated from Warner Robins High School and attended Tift College until she married Larry McNeal, also a Warner Robins native. Sadly, her husband Larry passed away in March of 2013 following a complicated illness. Carol and Larry have three children; Jill McNeal Adams (Bo), Michael McNeal (Shannon), and Tom McNeal (Brandie).

In early 2012, and in the midst of Larry's increasing illness, the family wisely began considering the succession planning of McCullough Funeral Home. Her son, Michael, has been at the helm of the funeral home for many years, and ultimately in September of 2012 Carol made the decision to sell her full interest in the family business to him. By no means can this be confused with anything resembling retirement! Since this transition, Carol remains fully active in the day to day activities of the funeral home with no signs of slowing down. She is a constant presence and an integral part of the leadership of the McCullough Funeral Home family. Her vision, which was and is a continuation of her brother Jimmy's outstanding legacy of service, remains the guiding principle in how our company operates and how we view our mission to serve this community.

Outside of her involvement in McCullough Funeral Home, she is an adored "grandmama" to eight beautiful grandchildren and spending time with this active bunch keeps her extremely busy! Carol has a green thumb and is a lifelong gardener who loves spending time outside. In fact, the gorgeous arrangements in The Farmhouse (our event and gathering venue located here on the property) are often her handiwork and lovingly put together with cuttings from her own gardens. She is a long-time member of Central Baptist Church where she has served on numerous committees and she has also previously served on the Board of Directors for the Salvation Army.

Jill was born in 1969 to Larry & Carol McNeal. A lifelong resident of Warner Robins, Jill graduated from Northside High School, attended Georgia Southern and then received a degree in Visual Merchandising from American InterContinental University in Atlanta. After several years working in that field, Jill decided she wanted to be involved in the family business here at McCullough Funeral Home. It was in 1993 that she came to work for her uncle, Jimmy McCullough. Since that time, as the business has grown, she has served in various capacities throughout the company.

Currently Jill oversees the operation of The Farmhouse, our gathering and event venue, located on the property of the funeral home. She is also responsible for the IT needs of the funeral home as well as of our cemetery, Magnolia Park. Additionally, she oversees several other human resource functions throughout the businesses.

Jill is the wife of Houston County Superior Court Judge G.E. "Bo" Adams. They have two very active children, Andrew and Caroline. Jill and Bo are active members of Bonaire First Baptist Church. In her spare time she enjoys attending the myriad of events in which her children are involved, as well as spending time with family and friends. 

Chris was born and raised in Statesboro, Georgia, and is a graduate of Statesboro High School. In 1993 he graduated from Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science and began his career working with Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home in Brunswick, Georgia. After a few years, he moved to Macon and became the co-manager of Macon Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery. He joined the McCullough Funeral Home family in 2004 and in 2018 he celebrated 25 years in funeral service. Also in 2018, Chris was promoted to Director of Funeral Operations here at McCullough. As DFO, in addition to his continuing duties as a director, he plays a vital part in the day to day management of areas of the business related to funerals and cremation, as well as oversight of the staff who make up our Funeral Director, Funeral Apprentice, and Funeral Assistant teams. Chris is an excellent funeral director who understands the importance of celebrating lives well lived; his families tell us that he has a way of making the most difficult time so much easier. Chris appreciates that it is a privilege to serve our community and finds great personal satisfaction in doing just that. We are fortunate to have Chris on our team and as a leader in our organization.

Chris lives in Perry and has two children—a daughter, Makenzie, and a son, Hatcher. In addition to spending time with his family and friends, Chris looks for any opportunity to go hunting, fishing, or just spend time outdoors. An avid fan of Georgia Southern University football, he is a member of Southside Baptist Church and the International City Optimist Club. 

James is a native of Houston County and first began working with us in 2010 on a part-time basis after the loss of his grandmother. At that time he was a full-time Sheriff's Deputy with the Houston County Sheriff's Office, where he spent 10 years. In 2013 he became a full-time Funeral Director Apprentice with us. He graduated from Gupton Jones College of Funeral Service and became fully licensed in 2018. In April of 2019, James was promoted to the position of Sr. Funeral Director. At McCullough we have teams who are on-call together on a rotating basis. In his role as SFD, James has the responsibility for overseeing the funeral operations and any funeral staff serving during his team's duty weeks. 

James recalls that it was after his grandmother's passing when he truly began to see this business as a ministry and to feel his future would be in funeral service. He loves that his work gives him the opportunity to serve families during their most difficult times and he is devoted to creating highly personalized services that uniquely reflect the life of the person being honored. His relentless attention to detail and desire to go the extra mile are a blessing to families. Additionally, he continues to serve in law enforcement as a Deputy Sheriff for Houston County on their reserve unit and he also volunteers his time with various annual events in support of area first responders. 

James is passionate about our community and is an active member of both Warner Robins Civitan and the Bonaire Boys Club. He has three children: James, Logan and Katelyn. In addition to spending time with them he also enjoys hunting, fishing, and being outdoors in general. He is an avid Georgia Bulldog, Atlanta Falcons, and Atlanta Braves fan. James attends Southside Baptist Church.

Jeri Lea is a lifelong resident of Houston County.  She graduated from Northside High School, and then went on to graduate from Macon State College with a degree in Dental Hygiene.  She worked as a Dental Hygienist for 27 years, before deciding to change career paths into funeral service.    After serving McCullough on a part time basis for 3 years, Jeri Lea discovered her calling to serve families of our community in their time of need.   She graduated from Ogeechee Technical College and received her Funeral Director License in May 2024.

Jeri Lea, a Warner Robins native, is a proud parent to Jackson and Avoly.   In addition to attending her children’s sporting events, Jeri Lea likes to travel, watch Georgia football and spend time with friends and family.   She attends Central Baptist Church where she has been an active member for 20 years.  Jeri Lea genuinely loves helping people and has volunteered over 20 years with migrant health fairs and the Rehoboth free dental clinic. 

Danny is a native of Ocilla, Georgia, where he first began working in funeral service as an apprentice. After graduating from the Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science in 1976, Danny continued his career in the funeral business as a licensed funeral director. Danny came to the Warner Robins area in 1990, where he first worked at Christopher Smith Funeral Home. When the corporate ownership of that firm decided to leave the area in 2003, McCullough Funeral Home agreed to acquire their remaining assets and files and fortunately for us Danny joined the McCullough Funeral Home family. As a member of the Academy of Graduate Embalmers, Danny has been a very instrumental part of our team since his arrival. His guidance and leadership have served as an inspiration to all of us in different ways. 

In mid-2017, after 40 years in full-time service as a licensed funeral director, Danny decided it was time to scale back. While he technically retired, he is no less a part of our team. He still serves alongside us, only in a part-time manner. He still meets with families and functions as a funeral director, just with a lot more time for golf!  

Danny is married to Kendra Hudson, a former first grade teacher at Russell Elementary and graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill. Kendra also retired in 2017, and she and Danny are enjoying a well-earned break and a lot of time playing golf. They have one daughter together, Marley. Danny has two other children, his eldest daughter Melissa, and a son, Garrison. He is also the proud grandfather of five grandchildren. 

Danny and Kendra attend Shirley Hills Baptist Church here in Warner Robins. In addition to his part-time work with our families, Danny enjoys cooking on the grill, watching NASCAR, and playing golf as often as possible.

Born in Perry and a long-time resident of Houston County, Rick is a graduate of Dodge County High School in Eastman and Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science.  Rick began his funeral service career with McCullough Funeral Home in 1976.  Through the years he worked in other firms in Atlanta, LaGrange, and Macon, before returning to McCullough in 1984.  After 17 years with us, he spent several years working elsewhere but in 2016 Rick returned home to McCullough where he is an active member of our part-time staff.

In his spare time, Rick enjoys most anything outdoors whether it be hunting, fishing, or playing a round of golf.  He and his late wife, Janet, have three sons—Jason, Corey, and Adam—and seven grandchildren.  Rick is a member of Second Baptist Church.

Larry has been a valued member of the McCullough Funeral Home team since March 2022. A graduate of Westside High School, Macon State College, and Ogeechee Technical College, he found his calling to funeral service after experiencing personal loss. Inspired by the care his family received from McCullough Funeral Home, Larry pursued a career in funeral service, graduating with an associate's degree in Funeral Service in 2019.

As our Chief Embalmer and Crematory Operator, Larry is dedicated to making a difficult time easier for the families he serves. He lives in Perry with his wife Brittany and daughter Lyla. In his free time, Larry enjoys music and cheering for the Atlanta Braves.

A native and lifelong resident of Warner Robins, Jeff Cleghorn has been a part of the McCullough Funeral Home family since April 2009. He is a graduate of Warner Robins Christian Academy, Mercer University, Luther Rice Seminary, and Ogeechee Technical College.

In addition to being a part of the McCullough staff on a part-time basis as a Licensed Funeral Director, Jeff is a full-time Music Evangelist and Concert Pianist. His concert and music ministry has carried him into many churches of varied denominations in eleven different states. He also takes part in a number of conferences each year, and hosts several senior adult retreats annually. Working at the funeral home provides Jeff with yet another outlet for ministry as he helps families move through the grieving process both as a funeral director and an ordained minister, preaching many funeral services in our facility as Funeral Home Chaplain. He has his own recording studio in Bonaire, GA where he produces his own music CDs as well as full recordings and demos for other artists. In addition to his solo music ministry, Jeff also travels with his mother and brother performing about 20 Southern Gospel music concerts each year as The Cleghorns. He is a member of Second Baptist Church in Warner Robins.

With everything going on in Jeff's life, it is hard to believe that there is room for anything more. But, he is quick to tell you that his number one priority is being Daddy to his beautiful daughter. Her name is Clarissa Jane Cleghorn, but Jeff nicknamed her C.J. when she was less than a week old—and the name stuck! An honor roll student, she enjoys traveling and singing with her Daddy whenever she can and is becoming proficient as a violinist. She is definitely the apple of her daddy's eye!

Jeff is a native and lifelong resident of Reynolds, GA. He began his career in funeral service in 1981 and worked for McCullough Funeral Home from 1983 until 1985.  After working for other firms in the central Georgia area, he returned to the McCullough family in 2012 and serves as an assistant to the funeral directors.

Jeff is married to the former Angie Wilder and has three sons and two grandchildren.  He enjoys spending his free time relaxing on his farm with his family.

Chad is a native of Houston County, Georgia, and has been a part of the McCullough Funeral Home family since June 2017 when he began serving as a Chaplain and Funeral Director Apprentice. In April of 2018 he transitioned into the role of Family Service Counselor. Chad is available to work with families who want to make their wishes known by pre-arranging their funeral services. We are excited to have him on our team and helping families who make this valuable and loving decision. 

After graduating from Warner Robins High School, Chad received a degree in Speech Communication from Valdosta State University, and then went on to receive his Masters of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. 

In addition to being the Family Services Counselor at McCullough, Chad is also an ordained minister who enjoys speaking and preaching in various churches, organizations, civic groups, parachurch ministries, and clubs.  Prior to working at McCullough, Chad had served in numerous roles of vocational ministry. He is the former Pastor of First Baptist Church of Warner Robins, he served as the Area Director of the Flint River Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and as a church planter serving on staff at The River Church in Kathleen. 

Chad enjoys sports, traveling, and being outdoors, but his greatest joy is his family.  Chad has been married to his beautiful wife, Shana, since 2005, and they are blessed with three children, Asher, Anabelle, and Hudson, who keep their lives in a wonderful state of chaos! 

Kris joined the McCullough team in 2015 as our Family Benefits Coordinator. She considers it a privilege to help families work through the maze of necessary paperwork to receive their insurance proceeds, retirement or other types of benefits that may be available to them as a surviving spouse, child, or beneficiary. Many of the families we serve are connected to Robins AFB or are retired from the military and Kris is familiar with the OPM, FEGLI, and VA processes. This can be a difficult task for families who are grieving the loss of a loved one and Kris says she finds her job very rewarding. We know our families certainly appreciate the services she provides!

Kris was born in Wilmington, Delaware and grew up in Oxford, Pennsylvania in dairy farm country! After high school, she graduated from East Stroudsburg University, located in the foothills of the Poconos. After earning her degree in Health Sciences, she joined the U.S. Air Force where she was an enlisted aircrew member on the AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) aircraft. While in the USAF she met her husband, Paul, whose last duty station was Robins AFB; after his retirement they decided to make Warner Robins their permanent home. They have two children, Nathan and Lauren. Nathan is a graduate of Houston County High School and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Lauren is also a graduate of Houston County High School and currently attends Auburn University.

Having worked with senior adults most of her life, Joyce Hutcherson has a heart for service and gift for helping those who are grieving. Whether through talking, listening, or offering resources to find individuals the specific help they need, she is tireless in her efforts to help people navigate the serious work of grieving. Joyce worked for the City of Warner Robins as the Director for the Warner Robins Senior Center for decades before retiring in 2012. Shortly after her retirement, we were fortunate enough to have Joyce accept a new opportunity to come and help us build an ongoing, intensive, grief support program. Out of this vision, Seasons of Hope at McCullough was officially born. We could not imagine having done this with anyone else! 

Our Seasons of Hope programs have reached countless people, and Joyce is the at the very heart and soul of these offerings. Programs are held at The Farmhouse at McCullough and she takes great care in crafting this series of meetings that have been embraced by our community. What started as a once a month lunch program has grown into several times a month, as well as evening offerings, and more casual "coffee and conversation" type get-togethers. Whether guests are fresh in grief or are further down the road in healing, Joyce makes every person feel welcome and supported in a way that gives genuine comfort. 

Joyce is a native of Memphis, TN, but the Air Force brought her and her husband, Bill, to Warner Robins in 1975. They loved the area and quickly put down deep roots. She and her husband are devoted members of Evergreen Baptist Church and active in Evergreen's various ministries. Joyce's love of the Lord and desire to share His word is limitless. She also volunteers with Kairos Prison Ministries, an organization dedicated to sharing the love of Jesus with those who are incarcerated. Joyce and Bill have one daughter, Lisla, and three wonderful grandchildren. 

Tammy Minton, a proud native of Lizella, Georgia, brings her deep-rooted values and financial expertise to her role as the Financial Controller at McCullough Funeral Home. With a background in finance and a passion for meticulous accounting, Tammy ensures that McCullough Funeral Home's financial matters are handled with care and precision. Her attention to detail, combined with her deep understanding of financial regulations and best practices, makes her an invaluable member of our team.

Outside the office, Tammy is a loving wife to Chris Minton, who serves as the pastor of Lizella Baptist Church. They have a fun-loving daughter and son-in-law, Annie and Alec Burriss, who keep them traveling back and forth to Waco, Texas. Chris and Tammy’s partnership is a testament to their shared commitment to serving others and making a positive impact in the community. 

Beyond her role as Financial Controller, Tammy remains actively involved in her community through her husband's ministry at Lizella Baptist Church. She enjoys reading, spending time with her family and church, and she also enjoys the occasional pickleball game! Her dedication to both her family and her faith is an inspiration to all who have the privilege of knowing her.

Tammy's commitment to excellence is reflected in her work as she manages budgets, tracks expenditures, and helps us maintain the high level of service our clients deserve during difficult times.

If you have any financial inquiries or require assistance at McCullough Funeral Home, please don't hesitate to reach out to Tammy. She is always ready to assist you with care, compassion, and expertise.

Beverly has been with us since 2003. She is currently an Funeral Director assistant as well as serving as receptionist from time to time. She is enormously talented in the area of cosmetic preparation and she finds it rewarding to help families find peace in the final viewing of their loved ones and by assisting them in any other way she can. She truly has a calling and a gift in this and we are so fortunate to have her as a part of the team.

Beverly was born in Macon and graduated from Central High School. She grew up in and around the funeral business, as her mother worked with Snows Memorial in Macon for nearly 31 years! Shortly after her father's death in 1989, Beverly decided to follow in her mom's footsteps and began work at Snows Memorial in 1990 where she was employed until 2003, when she came to work with us full-time.

Beverly's hobbies include hair styling, cosmetology, interior and floral design and dancing of all kinds. She is a real people person and enjoys spending time with her friends and her family. We feel blessed to have someone with her kind and gentle nature on our staff.

Rachel is a compassionate and caring individual that goes above and beyond in her work. Always striving for excellence, her ability to connect with grieving families, commitment to detail, and talent for brightening even the darkest of days make Rachel an invaluable asset to our team. Whether it's crafting beautifully written condolences or ensuring our documentation is in order, Rachel's expertise shines through. Her dedication to her work is truly admirable and she is an essential part of McCullough Funeral Home.

In addition to her professional role, Rachel is a loving mother to three boys and one beautiful daughter. She was born in the picturesque town of Bountiful, Utah. Rachel relocated to Georgia due to her military connections. She enjoys bringing laughter to the lives of those around her and is known for her quick wit. We're fortunate to have Rachel as a member of our team.

Heather Bailey brings over a decade of experience in education to her current role, complemented by two years in the funeral business, where she has focused on operations and training. After her father passed away in 2020, Heather developed a deep interest in the funeral industry and in assisting families during challenging times. She is dedicated to helping families and offering support when they need it most.

Heather is married to Bryan Bailey, teacher and football coach at Jackson High School, and is the proud mother of three daughters: MacKenzie, Ava, and Brooklyn.

Born and raised in Lizella, GA, Heather cherishes her local roots. She loves spending time with family and friends, going to the beach, and cheering on the Georgia Bulldogs. Above all, she embraces having fun in life and bringing joy to those around her.

Kaci Carter's journey at McCullough Funeral Home started in 2018, where she brought her wealth of knowledge and ingenuity, particularly in administration, to the team. Her passion for serving families with grace and empathy is evident in the personal touches she adds to memorial folders and video tributes, as well as her skill in writing obituaries and preparing death certificates.

Alongside her professional skills, she is a talented photographer and graphic design artist, which adds another dimension to her abilities. More importantly, she is known for her kind and compassionate nature, which is undoubtedly an asset in her line of work.

Outside of her professional life, Kaci enjoys spending quality time with her family, particularly with her husband, Brandon, the love of her life. She has a strong affinity for outdoor activities, such as fishing, camping, and relaxation in hammocks. Her spontaneous and adventurous spirit makes her the life of the party, always willing to dive into new experiences.

Kaci's faith is an essential aspect of her life, as she is a dedicated Christian. Her faith shines brightly and serves as a source of inspiration and support for those around her.

Overall, Kaci Carter is an invaluable member of the team at McCullough Funeral Home, and her genuine dedication to her work makes her a blessing to the families she serves.

Mr. Ronnie Bennett is a mainstay of the part-time team of funeral attendants here at McCullough.  Ronnie moved to Warner Robins in 1946, graduated from Warner Robins High School in 1962, and married his wife, the former Jean Gunter, in 1968. They have two daughters, Kelley and Angie, and four grandchildren...Will, Kathryn, Caden, and Carson. Just keeping up with all the sporting events for the grand-kids is a full-time adventure for the Bennetts - but given the chance Ronnie enjoys an occasional round of golf, loves the beach, and is an avid reader. He is a veteran of the United States Army - and for his service to our country, we are all sincerely appreciative. 

Ronnie has been a tremendous asset to our McCullough Funeral Home family for many years now. He stays in constant motion, and he never hesitates in going the extra mile to make sure the families we have the privilege to serve are well cared for - in any way that may be needed. His dedication and endless energy are a blessing; and we are so very proud to have him serving alongside us!