stevec@tds.net
Steve has been a lifelong resident of Fannin County, living in Morganton, Georgia. He graduated from East Fannin High School where his interest in funeral service began. He served his apprenticeship at the Henry Funeral Home under the direction of Oscar Henry. Steve later earned his degree at the Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a licensed funeral director for North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. He married his wife Debra in 1974, and they have three sons, Joshua, Gabriel, and David. Debra teaches 4th grade at East Fannin Elementary School. Steve is a very caring person who is devoted to the community. Steve believes strongly in the task of ensuring that Cochran Funeral Homes and their staffs continue to instill trust in their area families.
Tami Cochran
Max and Tami live in Blairsville and are members of First Baptist Church of Blairsville. They met in East Fannin High School in Morganton, Georgia, where they were high school sweethearts and have been married since 1977. Their children are Anna Gladdin, Allison (married to U.S. Army Sgt. Brandon S. Burkhead) and U.S. Air Force Airman First Class Daniel (married to Allison Gasser Cochran); and they have a granddaughter, Ava Grace Gladdin. Max attended Oxford College, Emory University, and Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science. Max is a member and past president of the local Kiwanis Club. Max is also a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, the Cremation Association of North America, the International Order of the Golden Rule, a member of the Georgia Funeral Directors Association, and the Georgia Cemetery Association. Since 1981, Max has been serving the families of the community of Blairsville as funeral director and embalmer for Cochran Funeral Homes. He and Tami have worked side-by-side for 27 years at Cochran Funeral Home in Blairsville, doing what they believe is the work that God has given them to do.
Ray, a native and lifelong resident of Blairsville and graduate of Union County High School, married to the former Sue Cheeks of Towns County in 1969, started working with Akins-Nix Funeral Home in January of 1969. They have one daughter, Tracy, who is a nurse at Union General Hospital. He received his Funeral Director’s License in 1975, and continued working with Steve and Max Cochran. Ray is an ordained Baptist minister, and began pastoring churches in 1984. He has served on the Blairsville City Council and as Mayor of Blairsville.
Randy, a native of North Carolina, has lived most of his life in Murphy, where he graduated from Murphy High School in 1974. Randy graduated from Gupton-Jones Mortuary College in 1989 and worked in funeral homes in Murphy and Asheville, North Carolina, before joining Cochran Funeral Homes in 2004. Randy brings 17 years of service to our firm. Randy has two children, Derek and Rebecca Jefferies. Randy is friendly and compassionate with the families he serves.
A certified crematory operator, Gabe is the second son of Stephen and Debra Cochran. He literally grew up in the funeral service, helping his father and learning the family business. He earned a degree at Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science; he is licensed as a funeral director and embalmer in Georgia. Gabe enjoys serving families.
Oscar grew up in Fannin County, where he established the Henry Funeral Home on January 1, 1968, serving as owner and manager for 21 years. After selling the funeral home to the Cochran's in 1988, he established yet another Henry Funeral Home in Fairmount, Georgia. He is now enjoying his retirement while still staying busy in the funeral business that he loves, working part-time on funerals and family visitations at the now Henry-Cochran Funeral Home in Blue Ridge. He and his wife, Clara, reside in Blue Ridge.
Buddy and his father, Millard, established the Finch Funeral Home in McCaysville in 1956. Buddy obtained his degree in mortuary science at the Cincinnati College of Embalming. After the passing of his father, Buddy continued in the funeral business until 1991 when he sold the funeral home to the Cochran's. Buddy helps as needed with funeral services. He and his wife, Sandra Quintrell Finch, reside in McCaysville, where Buddy serves as the mayor. They have two daughters and three grandchildren.
Wes is a native of Florida, and he moved to Blairsville several years ago following his retirement as principal at Apopka Junior High School in Apopka, Florida. He and his wife Joyce have three sons. Wes and Joyce are members of First Baptist Church of Blairsville, and Wes is also a member of Union County Rotary Club. In Apopka, he had served as past-president of the Rotary Club there. Many times, Wes is one of the first members of Cochran Funeral Homes that the family has contact with, meeting the families at the hospitals and homes. Wes is friendly and compassionate with the families he comes into contact with, and we are happy to have him on our team.
David is the third son of Stephen and Debra Cochran. David is a 2006 graduate of Mountain Christian Academy in Fannin County GA. David is now employed full time with Cochran Funeral Homes, and plans to further is education at a later date.
eulala@cochranfuneralhomes.com
A Korean War veteran, Marvin retired from the funeral business in 1990, but continues to work part-time at the Cochran Funeral Home in Murphy. His wife, Eulala also works part-time. She retired in 1992 from the Murphy local telephone company where she began as a telephone operator, later becoming a service representative and finally head teller. They are life-time residents of Murphy, North Carolina.
Jim was born and raised in West Virginia. Upon high school graduation, he left West Virginia and moved to Washington, D.C., where he worked for various companies holding various positions - E-Systems, 10 years; Electro Therm, 20 years, Butler Paper, 3 years, and Land Rover/Ford Motor Company, 13 years. Jim chose early retirement and moved away from the city and all its congestion and stress, to the beautiful mountains of Blairsville, Georgia. Having a desire to work and help people, Jim went to work for Cochran Funeral Homes, where he serves primarily in Blairsville and in Hiawassee. He is married to Gale, and they have three grown children in the Atlanta area, with eight grandchildren. He enjoys yard work, church activities (First Baptist Church of Blairsville), and attending plays and concerts.
Junior began working for Oscar Henry in 1977 as an EMT and also aiding in funeral services. He continued working under the Cochran's new ownership in 1989 as a funeral director associate in every aspect of the funeral home. Junior takes pride in his work, never leaving a job undone or unperfected. To honor their memory, Junior works hard on the loved one's appearance, to make them look their absolute best. Although he retired in June of 2004, he continues to assist when needed. He and his wife, Jeanette, reside in Mineral Bluff. They have one daughter, Melinda, and one granddaughter, Lakota.
Gary is a native of Towns County, and has lived there all of his life. He graduated from Towns County High School in Hiawassee, and he is married to the former Janie Cothren. They have two children, Derek and Kim. The family attends North Mt. Zion Church of God in Hiawassee. Gary is committed to serving the families and community he cares so much about.
Linda joined our staff in February, 1998, as a secretary in our Hiawassee office. In July, 1999, she became a part-time employee, filling in whenever needed at various locations in the office and being with the families during visitations. She was pianist at churches for many years, playing for gospel groups and for weddings and funerals as needed. She is a loyal employee and remains available to assist in any capacity. Linda is the mother of three sons: Alex, Tony, and Mike, and a daughter, Kristi Coltrane. She has four grandchildren: Gina, Gabriel and Brandon Davenport, and Connor Coltrane.
bettyf@tds.net
Betty is a Fannin County native, graduating from East Fannin High School. Before coming to work for the Cochran's, Betty was employed by Sears Roebuck and Company Service Department in Blue Ridge for 20 years. After the closing of the service center, she returned to school and obtained her LPN license. She has been with the funeral home for the past three years, still practicing as an LPN part-time. Betty is the office manager at Henry-Cochran Funeral Home in Blue Ridge. She has a loving personality and cares deeply for the families she assists. She and her husband, Chuck, have one son, Luke, and they reside in Epworth, Georgia.
Margaret came to work for the Cochran's in April 2004, assisting the families during visitations. Margaret works as a beautician and substitute teacher. She and her husband, Jim, have two children, four grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.
juanita@cochranfuneralhomes.com
Bob created his radio personality 56 years ago in Gainesville, Georgia, following World War II. Bob traveled around the North Georgia Mountain area, which he came to adore. He purchased WLSB in Copperhill, Tennessee in 1962. Bob established several radio stations in North Georgia: WPPL in Blue Ridge, WLEJ in Ellijay, WYYZ in Jasper, and the translator station in Blairsville which was an extension of WPPL radio. Bob provides funeral service information to the obituary phone lines of Henry-Cochran and Finch-Cochran Funeral Homes. His wife, Juanita Collis McGill Schwab owned and operated a local business while working for the radio stations. She has worked for the Cochran Funeral Homes for the past two years as office personnel. They reside in Blue Ridge.
Myron and Brenda Turner came to work for Cochran Funeral Home in June of 2004, assisting with visitations. Myron also now works as a funeral assistant, where he is needed. He graduated from Georgia State University in 1967, with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration. His education career with the Union County School System came to a close in 2004, when he retired as the School-to-Career Coordinator. As a retiree, he remains active in many community programs, being the long-time announcer (the Voice of the Panthers!) for the Union County Football Games and the community parades.
Brenda is a graduate from Towns County High School in Hiawassee, Georgia, and is currently employed as a Para-professional in the Union County Middle School, and has plans to retire in 2005.
Myron and Brenda previously operated the Sears Catalog Store in Blairsville, Georgia, for 23 years.
Both are active in the First United Methodist Church of Union County, and view their employment with Cochran Funeral Homes as a personal ministry for those bereaved families in their time of need. They have 3 sons: Burton, Barry and Bretney.
Patsy is a native and resident of Fannin County. Patsy says the best Christmas present she ever received was when she married (the late) Roy Beaver on December 25, 1949. Patsy is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Morganton Chapter, #394. She has a daughter, Sharon Kisselburg, a son, Mike Beaver, and three granddaughters: Allison Kisselburg, Amanda Beaver, and Rebecca Beaver. Patsy has a way of making everyone feel comfortable and welcome; she is loved dearly.
A three-year U.S. Army veteran, Bob retired from Tri-State EMC as Superintendent of Operations after 43 years with the company. However, his service to the community is never ending. He currently serves as chairman of the deacons at First Baptist Church of McCaysville/Copperhill, where he is also the director of the Brotherhood and he serves on the board of the Fannin County Department of Family and Children's Services. Lifetime residents of Fannin County, he and his wife, Sherry, reside in McCaysville. They have two sons, Jeffery and Zachary, and two grandchildren.
Kelly Messer is a native of Florida and moved to Morganton, Georgia in May of 2007 with her husband David and two kids, Brittany and Jacob. Kelly and her family are active members of Appalachia Baptist Church of Morganton. Some of their hobbies are camping, fishing, visiting theme parks, and going for long drives along Georgia's beautiful mountain roads. Kelly is proud to be with Cochran's Funeral Home for the comfort and help they bring to others.
Carl W. Steiger- Married to Audrey A. Steiger. 2 sons Carl and Scott, both of Marietta, Georgia. Carl received his professional education at Miami Dade Community College, and Barry University in Miami, Florida. He is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. He is a new resident of Blue Ridge, formerly of Marietta, Georgia, and a long time visitor and property owner in Blue Ridge. He is also a car, motorcycle, and boat hobbiest.
Albert and Martha Davenport are both natives of Blairsville and graduates of Union County High School. Albert owned and operated Davenport's Body Shop for 35 years before turning it over to his sons. He was also a volunteer fireman and EMT. Martha has just retired from 30 years of teaching at Union County Primary School. They have six children: Brian, Sheila, Sherry, Bret, Justin, and Julie. After retiring, Albert joined the staff of Cochran Funeral Homes in 2004. Albert and Martha do long distance transfers for all five Cochran Funeral Homes. Albert also assists with funerals as needed.
Elizabeth worked at our Blairsville location, serving as hostess for the family, for many, many years. She was a lifelong resident of Union County, and attended the House of Prayer Interdenominational Church, where her son, Jerry, currently pastors. Elizabeth was married to Clarence Helton, and they had four children: Janey Dyer, Trudy Baker, and Jerry and Terry Helton. We miss Elizabeth so much, the friendliness and the warmth she always brought with her as she came to the office. Elizabeth knew about Southern hospitality, and she had a way of making people feel at ease, here at the funeral home.
Roy worked part-time at Cochran Funeral Homes. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, #67, in Blue Ridge, joining in 1957. He was a member of O'Zion Baptist Church, and the VFW, Blue Ridge Chapter. He and Patsy had been married for 54 years, when the Lord called Roy home. The smiling face, the double-handed handshake, the pat on the back...we miss him so. He will be forever in our hearts and memories. Roy is survived by his wife, Patsy, daughter, Sharon Kisselburg, a son, Mike Beaver, and three granddaughters: Allison Kisselburg, Amanda Beaver, and Rebecca Beaver.
Mr. William Alvin "Bill" Collins, age 74, of McCaysville, Georgia, was born June 10, 1933, and passed away Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at the Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, GA. Bill was a member of the Masons and was very involved with the Shriners.Before coming to work for the Cochran's in 1992, Bill worked in the construction business. He and his wife, Wanda, resided in McCaysville. They had five children: Terry Collins, Shelly Bell, Jeffie Barnes, John Todd, Jr., and Tony Todd, and nine grandchildren.