Meet Our Staff

Mike Conner

Managing Partner

Mike, a native of Griffin, Georgia, graduated from Griffin High School in 1980 and from Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service 1985. He started his career in the funeral business in 1981 in Griffin, having worked and managed local funeral homes until 2001, when he became co-owner what is now known as Conner-Westbury Funeral home. In 2012, Conner-Westbury Funeral Home partnered with Carraige Services, where Mike remains as Managing Partner for the firm. Mike is a member of Griffin First Assembly of God, the Griffin Ambus Club, and the Griffin Kiwanis Club. He is married to Jeanie Bunn Conner, also a lifelong resident of Griffin, and they have one son, Morris, who works full time at Southern Company and part-time at the funeral home.

Floy Copeland

Executive Assistant/ Funeral Home Administrator

Floy joined the Conner-Westbury team in 2013. She has an Associate’s Degree in Business Management and several certificates in Human Resources and Accounting.  She and her wonderful husband, James Copeland, have two beautiful daughters, Jessica Henderson and Emily Copeland.  They also have two precious grandchildren, Lexie and Hunter.  She enjoys camping, spending time with family and helping others. 

Adam Brown

Assistant Managing Partner/ Funeral Director/ Embalmer

Adam is a native of Griffin, Georgia, where he graduated high school in 2005. In 2007, he graduated from Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service, where he became a licensed funeral director and embalmer. He is a member of West Sunny Side Community Church, Kiwanis Club and a member of the Academy of Graduate Embalmers. He is married to Kristen Brown, and they have two children, Aiden and Aubrey. He has been employed at Conner-Westbury Funeral Home since August 2011.

Lee Wilson

Funeral Director/Embalmer

Lee is a native of Griffin, and is a 1989 graduate of Griffin High School, an honor graduate of Gupton-Jones Mortuary College. He is the son of the late Donnie Wilson and Faye Fox Wilson. Lee started his Funeral career with Pasley-Fletcher Funeral Home in Thomaston, Georgia in January 2009. In June 2012, he began his employment with Conner-Westbury Funeral Home. Lee and his wife, Donna Hudson Wilson share a wonderful life with their blended family; Hayden, Brittany, Ashlee, Caylee and Daniel. Lee is a member of  the Griffin Exchange Club, The Cadillac-Lasalle Club, and the Peach State Cadillac-LaSalle Club of Atlanta.

Jeff Dodd

Funeral Director/Embalmer

Jeff and his wife Michelle live in Griffin, GA.  He graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with both a Master’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Public Health. After spending 27 years working with nursing homes and hospitals, Jeff felt called to work in the funeral home profession. He completed his funeral service education at Ogeechee Technical College in Statesboro, Georgia, and joined Conner-Westbury in October 2016, Jeff’s focus has been to serve families and this community. He is a member of Rock Springs Church, and a proud father to Zack and Justin (wife Jessica).

Dr. Keith Wesley

Staff Pastor/Assistant Administrator

Keith, a native of Griffin, graduated from Griffin High School in 1964. He received a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Agronomy from the University of Georgia and a Ph.D. in Plant Physiology from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He is a former agronomist with the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service and farm machinery dealer. He has served Eagles Way Church of Griffin as an Associate Pastor since 1986. Keith has worked part-time at Conner-Westbury Funeral Home since 2007. Keith and his wife Penny have two children, Susan and Doug, and seven grandchildren.

Michelle Dodd

Preneed Services/Monuments

Michelle has been serving families for 23 years both at funeral homes, and cemeteries in Spalding and surrounding areas.   She joined our staff at Conner-Westbury in 2020.  She and her husband Jeff live in Griffin and attend Rock Springs Church.   Her focus has always been on helping families, whether it be before, during and after they have experienced loss. Being a certified life coach specializing in the grieving process has been an asset to both families we serve, and her own family.  She has 2 children, Tomas (wife Madison) and Kayla (husband Robert) and 3 adorable grand-girls, Indigo, Scarlett and Jade. 

Amanda Whitley

Administrative Assistant

Kym Chambers

Administrative Assistant

Kymberli Chambers, a native of Griffin, wanted to give families the kind of care and comfort her and her family received from Conner-Westbury after each of her parents had passed away. When a position became available, she took advantage of the opportunity to apply and joined Conner-Westbury in 2021 as an Administrative Assistant. Her previous experience in office management, customer service and various other administrative positions has been an asset for her as she assists the directors as they assist families in need. She and her husband, Brad, share two children and two grandchildren. She is an active member of Griffin Moose Lodge 1503, Griffin Moose Lodge Ladies Auxiliary Chapter 1288 and has served as secretary for the Jonesboro American Legion Post 258 Auxiliary for the past three years. In her spare time she enjoys reading, camping and traveling.

Rev. Gene Luke

Staff pastor/ Funeral Assistant

Reverend Luke, born in Jacksonville, Florida, was the oldest child of four born to Reverend Milton Luke and Reverend Nancy Luke. He graduated from Five Points High School in Five Points, Alabama. Gene has pastored churches in Georgia, Florida and Alabama. He has been the pastor of the North Griffin Congregational Holiness Church since 1998 and has worked part time at Conner-Westbury Funeral Home since 2002. He is married to Leah and they have three daughters and four grandchildren.

Rev. Gene Walton

In Memory of

Rev. Walton was born in Carroll County, Georgia, graduated from Fulton High School, Atlanta, Georgia in 1950, and attended Georgia State University. He was president of a Construction Equipment Company in Atlanta, Georgia for 25 years. Gene (better known as Mr. Preacher) is a United Methodist Minister who retired after 44 years of service to his churches. He has worked at Conner-Westbury Funeral Home since 2003. Gene and his wife Janet have four children, ten grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Gene transitioned on November 9, 2022. He will be dearly missed by the Conner-Westbury staff,  many churches and friends.

Ralph Bubba Westmoreland

Funeral Assistant

Ralph, a Griffin native, graduated from Griffin High School and the University of Georgia. He is a retired Senior Vice President of Regions Bank (formerly known as Griffin Federal), where he worked for 38 years. He has worked at Conner-Westbury Funeral Home since 2005. Ralph and his wife Kathi have three children and one grandchild.

Gene Buice

Funeral Assistant

Robert (Gene) Buice, born in Alpharetta, Georgia, moved to Griffin in 1950. He was educated in Griffin and entered the U.S. Army in 1963, serving until 1966. Gene retired from Stowe-Woodward Company in 2007 after over 40 years, having served as Quality Assurance Manager and Plant Superintendent. During this time, he continued his education at Clayton Junior College, Griffin Technical College and Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton, Wisconsin. He has been employed with Conner-Westbury Funeral Home since December 2009. Gene is married to Janice Long Buice. They have two children, seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren. He is a member of Griffin First Assembly of God Church, having served in the media, bus and usher ministries.

Bill Gates

Funeral Assistant

Bill was born in Waltham, Massachusetts and graduated from Waltham High School in 1960 and East Coast Aero Tech in 1965. Bill worked for Northeast Airlines prior to moving to Griffin, Georgia in 1972 following the merger of Delta Airlines. Bill retired from Delta after 35 years of service and is a member of St. John Lutheran Church. Bill has worked at Conner-Westbury Funeral Home since 2005. His wife's name is Kathy, and they have three daughters.

Hoby Davenport

Funeral Assistant

Hoby was born in Nashville, Tennessee. He received an undergraduate degree from Middle Tennessee State University and a graduate and post-graduate degree from West Georgia College. In 1974, Hoby began a teaching career in the Griffin-Spalding County School System and retired in 2008 after 34 years of service. He is an avid outdoorsman and has served in many civic and community organizations. He and his wife Sandra have one son, Jeff, and are members of First Baptist Church of Griffin, where Hoby serves as an ordained deacon. Hoby has worked part-time at Conner-Westbury Funeral Home since March 2011.

Eddie Frank Stephens

Funeral Assistant

Eddie Frank, native of Oglethorpe County, Georgia, attended school in the Spalding County School System and graduated from Spalding High School in 1950. He retired from Delta Air Lines after 28 years. He is a veteran of the United States Army and has worked with Conner-Westbury Funeral Home since 2002. He is an active member of the North Griffin Congregational Holiness Church. He married Glenda Harrelson Stephens in 1962. They have one daughter and three grandchildren.

Morris Pike

Funeral Assistant

Morris Pike proudly joined Conner- Westbury in 2016 after retiring as a Lieutenant with the Griffin Police Department.  He is a native of Griffin and has a passion to serve others and the community. Morris and his wife Jennifer live in Griffin and have two grown daughters, April (Todd) Spradlin and Brandi Pike. Morris and Jennifer are members of Carver Road Baptist Church, where he serves as a deacon. Morris enjoys spending time with his 3 grandbabies (Connor, Colby, and Anna) and family.

 

Janice Edmondson

Funeral Assistant

Janice Edmondson of Griffin, a former Real Estate Agent, joined Conner-Westbury Funeral Home in January of 2008 as an Administrative Assistant. She retired in August of 2017 and came back in September of 2019 to serve as a Funeral Assistant. She is married, has 3 children and 5 grandchildren. She is a member of Second Baptist Church.

 

Davis Johnson

Funeral Assistant

Kenny Smith

Funeral Assistant

Kenny is a Griffin native having graduated from Griffin High School in 1981. After serving in the U.S. Navy for five years, Kenny began working for the FAA as an Air Traffic Controller. Kenny held various positions throughout his 30 year career retiring in 2020 as an Operations Manager at the FAA Center in Hampton, Georgia.  Kenny enjoys golf and has played various roles on several movie and television sets as a background actor.  Kenny has worked at Conner-Westbury since 2020. Kenny is married to Julie Wall-Smith and together they have four children. 

Wayne Rickard

Funeral Assistant

Rev. Wayne Rickard, is a retired Associate Pastor/Worship Leader.  For 25 years he served at Zion Baptist Church in Covington but lives now in Griffin and attends Oak Hill Church in Williamson. Wayne’s wife, Jo retired from the Henry County School District in 2014 as Choral Director of Ola High School. Wayne and Jo have two sons, Brian and Barry.  Both of them are married and live in Griffin also.  Brian Pharmacy Manager at Walmart here in Griffin] and his wife Allie have a 3 year old son, Asher, who adores his MiMi and PawPaw.  Barry and Christina are new to the community and are enjoying life in Griffin.  Wayne really enjoys retirement life but also ministering to families who come to Conner-Westbury in their time of loss. He is available to officiate funeral services if needed.        

Deborah Phipps

Funeral Assistant

Chad Hall

Funeral Service Director/Embalmer Apprentice

Chad Hall of Jenkinsburg, GA was born in Thomaston, GA and graduated from Milton High School in Alpheretta, GA. He graduated from Fayette Technical College in 2004 with a degree in Funeral Service Education. He is certified as a Crematory Operator. He has served in the funeral business at William’s Funeral Home in Barnesville, GA and started as a Funeral Apprentice at Conner-Westbury Funeral home in 2021. He enjoys planting flowers and collecting funeral home antiques. He is married and has seven furbabies. Chad is the son of Denise and Perry Hames of Barnesville and the grandson of the late Bobby and Bobbie Burnette.

Pat Wilkerson

Part-time Administrator

Pat Wilkerson, a native of Griffin, Georgia, has worked part-time for Conner-Westbury Funeral Home since 2010. She is married to Jim Wilkerson, and they have four wonderful children and eight precious grandchildren. Pat works full-time for Spalding County Probate Court. She and Jim are members of Crestview Baptist Church.

Rev. Gordon Tippins

Staff Pastor/ Funeral Assistant

Gordon was born in Statesboro, Georgia. His family moved to Griffin in 1965 where he graduated from Griffin High School in 1970. Gordon and his wife Jackie have been married for 50 years and have two children, Erika and Clint. Gordon retired from Bellsouth after 30 years of service as a lineman. He entered the pastoral ministry, full time, in 2001 with the Church of the Nazarene. He retired from full time ministry in 2021, having pastored Nazarene churches in Vidalia, Ga., Chester, Ga. And Griffin. Gordon has worked part time at Conner-Westbury Funeral Home since January 2022.

Keith Massengale

Funeral Assistant

Keith was born and raised in Griffin where he spent his entire life. In January of 1994 Keith decided that he wanted to serve his community at which time He started his career with the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office. He held several positions and ranks at the Sheriff’s Office. In 2018 he was promoted to the rank of Captain over the Criminal Investigations Division and the Narcotics Division. He held that position until he retired in January of 2022 after 28 years. After retiring he still wanted to serve his community and help people, therefore, he started working for Conner-Westbury Funeral Home as a funeral assistant. Keith loves the outdoors and enjoys fishing every chance he gets. He has three children Brian, Crystal and Trent.

Wesley Delay

Funeral Assistant

Wes was born in Barnesville, Georgia and moved to Griffin in the third grade. He is a 1972 graduate of Griffin High School. He worked and retired at DeKalb Co. Georgia fire department as a fire fighter paramedic with 30 years’ service.  He joined the Conner-Westbury staff in 2021 as a funeral assistant. He and his wife, Denise, have been married for 47 years and have three children and seven grandchildren. He loves working with his church, Pomona UMC, fishing and playing golf.