GFDA 2018-2019 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
We are proud to announce the 2018-2019 GFDA Executive Committee Members. These gentlemen were elected during our 2018 Annual Convention.
From left to right - Jason Wommack, Secretary; Rob Roberson, Treasurer; Nathan Stanley, President;
Bill Hightower, President-elect & NFDA Policy Board Member; and David McLeighton, Past President.
GFDA President
Stanley Funeral Home & Crematory
Dublin, GA
Richard N. Stanley, IV is a third generation licensed funeral director and embalmer. Nathan, as friends and family call him, is a 1998 graduate of Dublin High School and also a 2000 graduate of Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service in Atlanta. Having grown up in and around the funeral home his entire life, he knew what he wanted to do as a career. His understanding demeanor and thoughtfulness toward the families we serve make him an asset to the business. He is a member and currently serves as President of the Georgia Funeral Directors Association and he is also a member of the Academy of Graduate Embalmers of Georgia. From 2013 until 2015, he served as President of the the Independent Funeral Directors of Georgia. In addition to his duties as a funeral director, he has also served as Deputy Coroner of Laurens County since 2005. He was the recipient of the 2015 "Harry Pippin Award" Deputy Coroner of the Year for the Georgia Coroner's Association. He has one daughter, Janna Kathleen Stanley, one son, Nathan Chandler Stanley and is married to the former Brooke Evans Stanley of Macon. He is an a active member of Marie Baptist Church in Dublin, Georgia where he currently serves as Chairman of Personnel. He enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, hunting and fishing.
Telephone: 1-478-272-5855
GFDA President-elect & NFDA Policy Board Member
Hightower Family Funeral Homes
Bremen, GA
William “Bill” Hightower is a lifelong resident of Haralson County. Bill began working in his father’s business when he was sixteen years old – washing cars and driving ambulances. He graduated from Bremen High School in 1985, Carroll Technical School as an Emergency Medical Technician in 1986, Metro Paramedic Program in 1987 and Gupton Jones Mortuary College in 1989. He is a licensed Funeral Director, Embalmer, Cardiovascular Technician and Critical Care Paramedic and is fully involved in the funeral business, ambulance service and the cemetery. Bill married Susan Adams of Buchanan in 1993. They have four children: son, Chris Wright, a graduate of Bremen High School and Auburn University; son, Ryan Smith, a graduate of Bremen High School and West Georgia College, son, Tyler Smith, a graduate of Bremen High School and a daughter, Jacquelyn Hightower, a graduate of Bremen High School and currently attending Auburn University.
Telephone: 1-770-537-2375
Email: BH1196@aol.com
GFDA Treasurer
Shepard-Roberson Funeral Home
Folkston, GA
Telephone: 1-912-496-7388
GFDA Secretary
Lord and Stephens Funeral Homes
Athens, GA
Jason Wommack is a 1994 graduate of Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service. He has been employed with Lord and Stephens since 1995. He and his wife, Mandy live in Oconee County. In his spare time, Jason enjoys traveling, motorcycle riding and UGA sports.
Telephone: 1-706-546-1587
Email: jwommack@lordandstephens.com
GFDA Past President
McLeighton Funeral Service
Reynolds, GA
David McLeighton has been a part of his community since 2001, originally from South Georgia. He is married to Donna and they have two children, Adam (Tiffany) Osteen and their children, Jesse, Laynee, Kate and Mila and a daughter, Kara McLeighton (deceased, January 5, 2016). David was a 1995 graduate of Gupton – Jones College of Funeral Service in which he was salutatorian of his graduating class. He has served as president of the Pi Sigma Eta National Morticians Fraternity and he received the Daniel E. Buchanan Award. David and Donna are members of the Reynolds First Baptist Church and Taylor County Kiwanis Club. He is Deputy Coroner of Taylor and Crawford County, President of the Roberta-Crawford County Chamber of Commerce, served in numerous positions with the Taylor County Kiwanis Club, and is serving on the Taylor County Development Authority.
Telephone: 1-478-847-4181
Email: davidmcleighton@gmail.com