We present short biographies of our staff below.

Tom Hemmerle is owner of the funeral home and is a licensed funeral director and embalmer. He is married to Natalie Clark Hemmerle and they have three children, Joseph, Matthew and Nicholas. He is a 2006 graduate of Arapahoe Community College with a degree in Mortuary Science.

He is a member of Christ the King Catholic Church and of the Knights of Columbus.

He has been with the funeral home since November 1992.

Steven E. Carson is a licensed funeral director and embalmer. He is married to Charlene Carson and is the son of Johnny and Ivy Carson of Madisonville. He is a 1969 graduate of Madisonville North Hopkins High School and a 1976 graduate of Kentucky School of Mortuary Science where he graduated with honors and was a member of Pi Sigma Eta fraternity. He is a US Army veteran.

He is a member of Second Baptist Church, Madisonville Lions Club and Madisonville Masonic Lodge #143 F & AM. He is on the Board of Directors of Community First Bank, the Board of Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens of Hopkins County and is a former president of the Kentucky Funeral Directors Association.

He has been with the funeral home since October 1968.

Charlene Carson is married to Steve Carson and is the daughter of the late Wilbur and Patricia Clark. She is a 1969 graduate of Madisonville North Hopkins High School and is a licensed funeral director. She has been with the funeral home since June 1983.

She is a member of Second Baptist Church. She and Steve have two children and two grandchildren.

Sarah Hicks Bennett is a licensed funeral director and embalmer. She is a 1999 graduate of Mid-America College of Mortuary Science in Jeffersonville, IN where she served as Master Artist of the Lambda Kappa Chapter of Pi Sigma Eta fraternity of Mid-America College. Sarah began her funeral service career in 1995 at Reid-Walters Funeral Home in Earlington.

She is a member of Buck Creek Baptist Church and resides in Sacramento with her son, Sam.

She has been with the funeral home since July 2008.

Richard Clark is an apprentice. He is married to Jennifer Davis Clark and the son of Greg Clark and Rise’ Holt. He is a 1998 graduate of Madisonville North Hopkins High School. He is a member of the First Christian Church in Madisonville and the Madisonville Elks Lodge #738.

Richard has been with the funeral home since June 2008.

Wayne Burton graduated from the Kentucky School of Mortuary Science in 1969 Magnum Cum Laude and was a member of the Mu Sigma Alpha Honor Society and Phi Sigma Eta Fraternity. He was employed by Barnett-Strother Funeral Home from 1965 to 1971. He returns to Barnett-Strother Funeral Home after working for several years at Andalex Coal Company and having owned a successful mortuary business.

He is a member of the White Oak General Baptist Church in Providence, KY. He is a Hopkins County Deputy Coroner and a member of the Fraternal Order of Police. He is a member of the Earlington Civic Club. He has an Associates degree in Bible from the School of Ministry. He is a US Navy veteran.

He is married to Cheryl Whitledge Burton and he has three children and five grandchildren.