Staff

Richard Tetrick
Owner and Funeral Director
Richard Tetrick remains active with the firm that bears his name, waiting on families and directing funerals on a regular basis. Richard and his wife, the former Norma Jean Green are the parents of a son, Tyler. Richard is a member and past president of the Rotary Club of Elizabethton, is a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow, and is a past member and past chairman of the Tennessee Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers. The Tetricks are members of First United Methodist Church of Elizabethton, where Richard serves as Chairman of the Administrative Council.

S. Joe Taylor
Manager
Joe Taylor is the manager of Tetrick Funeral Home’s Elizabethton and Roan Mountain Chapels. Joe was born in Carter County and is a graduate of Elizabethton High School. He attended East Tennessee State University while working nights at Tetrick Funeral Home. He was in the Dental Corp of the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam. He is a graduate of the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science where he was on the Dean’s List and top 10% of his class. He and his wife Shirley have a daughter, Jessica Leanne who is a graduate of the Furman University and is currently employed for Politico.com where she reports on the national political scene. The Taylors are members of Grace Baptist Church

Charlie Bowman
Assistant Manager
Charlie Bowman is a native of Greeneville, Tennessee, and attended Walters State College before receiving his B.B.A. Degree from East Tennessee State University and his B.A. in Funeral Service from Central State University in Edmond, Oklahoma. Charlie is a member of the Elizabethton Rotary Club and is married to Lynnea Kerley Bowman, who teaches Seventh Grade Language Arts at T.A. Dugger School in Elizabethton, and is the father of two sons, Trevor and Logan, and a daughter, Rachel. The Bowmans are members of the Calvary Baptist Church

Ken Arnold
Funeral Director
Ken Arnold is a native of Buchanan County, VA. He is the Manager of Tetrick Funeral Home Bluff City Chapel and a funeral director at Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton. He is a 1978 graduate of Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science in Atlanta, GA, past president of Southwest Virginia Funeral Directors Association, past president of Tazewell Russell Shrine Club and a member of Zofficoffer Masonic Lodge #444, 32 Scottish Rite and Jericho Shriners. He is married to Gwen Sawyers Arnold and has one daughter, Amber Arnold.

David Blackburn
Funeral Director
David Blackburn, a licensed funeral director and embalmer, is a native of Damascus, Virginia. He is a 1990 graduate of Gupton-Jones Mortuary College and married to the former Traci Ellis. They are members of Poplar Grove Baptist Church where they are very active, and David serves as trustee. He and Traci also help with the youth and children’s church. David and Traci enjoy sports and spending time with each other and with family. David is an avid outdoorsmen and turkey hunter.

Derek Cornett
Funeral Director
Derek Cornett is a native of Elizabethton, TN and a 1993 graduate of Elizabethton High School. He is a licensed funeral director and embalmer as well as being an ordained minister. Derek earned his A.A.S. Degree in Business Management in 1995 from Northeast State Technical Community College and his B.S. Degree in Mortuary Science in 1996 from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. Derek began his first stint with Tetrick Funeral Home in 1996. In 2004, he moved to Knoxville, TN to attend Johnson Bible College graduating in 2006 with a B.A. Degree in Bible and Preaching. Derek began a second stint with Tetrick Funeral Home in Elizabethton in 2010. Derek is married to his childhood sweetheart, Tricia Fair Cornett; they have two children, Steven, a graduate of Sullivan East High School and Abby, a student at T.A. Dugger Junior High School.

Freddie Cross
Funeral Director
Freddie Cross, a licensed funeral director and embalmer in both Tennessee and Virginia, is a native of Blountville, Tennessee. He is a 2005 graduate of John Tyler Community College in Richmond, Virginia. Freddie served families at Oakley-Cook Funeral Home for 10 years before joining our staff at Tetrick Funeral Home. He is married to the former Wendy Oliver. They are members of Highlands Fellowship, where they are very active, and Freddie serves as the First Impressions Leader. Freddie and Wendy enjoy spending time with their family and friends.

Mary Etta Elliott
Administrative Assistant
Mary Etta Elliott is a native of Johnson City and has lived in Elizabethton for the past 30 years. She is a graduate of University High, and attended East Tennessee State University. Before joining the staff of Tetrick Funeral Home in May of 2006, Mary Etta worked for 23 years at Mapes Piano String Company. She is actively involved with Holston Habitat for Humanity where she serves on their Family Selection Committee and has served as a Family Sponsor. Mary Etta is a member of First United Methodist Church in Elizabethton where she sings in the Chancel Choir and is a member of UMW Circle #6

Missie Barnett
Administrative Assistant
Missie Barnett, a native of Carter County, is a graduate of Unaka High School. Missie joined the staff of Tetrick Funeral Home in August, 2000. She and her husband Allen have three daughters and a son-in-law; Sara, Diana, Melissa and her husband Brad, and a son, Shane. Missie and Allen are members of Valley Forge Freewill Baptist Church.

Gary Kemp
Funeral Assistant
Gary Kemp is a native of Johnson City, Tennessee and now resides in Carter County. He graduated from Sullivan East High School. Gary and his wife, the former Jill Wilson, have two sons, Kevin and Kurt. They are members of Blue Springs Christian Church, where Jill serves as pianist and Gary as a Deacon. They also enjoy working with the youth group

Deborah Reeves
Advance Funeral Planning Counselor
Deborah Reeves is a native of Shady Valley, Tennessee. She is a 1979 graduate of Johnson County High School and is also a graduate of Milligan College with a B.S. degree in Business Administration. Deborah has one daughter and son-in-law, Bridget and John Jeter of Marion, Virginia, and one grandson, Larenzo Jeter. Deborah is a member of the Forethought Life Insurance Pre-Need Advisory Board, and has been with Heritage Family Funeral Services since 1999.

Jo Ann Whitehead
Part-Time Funeral Assistant
Jo Ann Whitehead lives in Carter County and is employed full-time with Citizen’s Bank in Elizabethton as a receptionist. She has two daughters and a grandson and is an active member of Lynn Valley Baptist Church. In her spare time Jo Ann loves crafts and working her flowers. She works part-time at Tetrick Funeral Home in Elizabethton and considers working for the funeral home very rewarding.

Jeff Turner
Part-Time Funeral Assistant
Jeff Turner is a native of Bluff city and now resides in Elizabethton. He works part-time at both the Elizabethton and Bluff City Chapels of Tetrick Funeral Home. Jeff is a graduate of Sullivan East High School and also attended Tri-Cities State Tech majoring in business. He attends Blessed Redeemer Baptist Church in Bluff City.

Joe Fortune
Part-Time Funeral Assistant
Joe Fortune is a native of Carter County and currently lives in Gray, Tennessee. He graduated from Hampton High School and attended East Tennessee State University and is a veteran of the United States Army. Joe attends Grace Fellowship Church in Johnson City and is single. He also works at the auto auction in Fall Branch during the week and for Ed Street Development. Joe works at Tetrick Funeral Home in Elizabethton on the weekends as a part-time funeral assistant.

Charlotte Smith
Part-Time Funeral Assistant
Charlotte Smith is a part-time funeral assistant at Tetrick Funeral Home, Rhododendron Chapel in Roan Mountain, where she also serves as staff organist. She is a life-long resident of Roan Mountain, Tennessee and is married to Jim Smith. Charlotte and Jim are members of Magill Presbyterian Church in Roan Mountain.