Our Staff

Justin was born and raised right here in Appling County and is the son of David & Jeanene (Mullis) McLellan. Prior to graduating from Appling Co. High School in 1999, he had already began to work in the funeral industry. He went on to graduate from Brewton-Parker College and then achieve his funeral service education from Ogeechee Technical College in Statesboro. He has been a licensed funeral director and embalmer since 2003 and a licensed life insurance agent since 2008.

Justin and his wife Jessica (Kersey) were married in 2002 and their daughter, Kerstyn, was born in 2006.

Justin serves as Pastor of Riverside Baptist Church and serves on the board of directors of the Appling Co. Food Bank. Justin is a member of the Baxley Kiwanis Club, NFDA, GFDA, and the Academy of Graduate Embalmers of Georgia.

Wesley Swain was born and raised in Appling County and is a fourth generation funeral director. He has been a part of Swain Funeral Home all of his life and graduated from Gupton-Jones Mortuary College in 1974. Mr. Swain has two daughters, Myra and Emily, and three grandsons, Jackson, Prestley, and Harrison.

Larry Parlor is a lifelong resident of Jeff Davis County and has served the community for over 60 years. Larry is a 1971 graduate of Gupton Jones College. He is a former sheriff and coroner of Jeff Davis County. Larry has been married to his wife Becky for over 50 years and have two children. He and his family attend Southside Baptist Church. He has been with Swain Funeral Home since 2022.

Angelisa Hodges was born and raised in Appling County and is the daughter of the late Frank & Willie Mae Yarbrough. She is a Retired Registered Nurse, having worked in various hospitals, including Appling HealthCare, in her 30 year career. She has been at Swain Funeral Home since 2015 and continues her nursing career at the Baxley office of South Coast Nephrology: Dr. Nizar Eskandar. She has one daughter, Katie.

Joy Spell Mack was born and raised in Appling County and is the daughter of Jean (Wilkes) Spell and the late Earl Clinton Spell. She is married to Keith Mack and they have four children, Amber, Garrett, Jacob, and Natalie, and four grandchildren. Joy has been the administrative assistant and office manager at Swain Funeral Home for more than 25 years.

Lisa Gore a native of Tattnall County has called Baxley home since 2013. Lisa is married to native Davy Gore and has two children Logan and Abbigail. Lisa and her family are members of the Baxley Church of God where she is part of the praise and worship choir. Lisa started her career in Vidalia at Ronnie Stewart Funeral Home and then Roberts-Stewart Funeral Home before joining the Swain Funeral Home staff in 2022.

Ethan Hutchinson is a lifelong resident of Appling County. He is a member of Spring Branch Baptist Church. He has been a funeral assistant and apprentice with Swain Funeral Home since 2022.

Mike Redwine is a native of Appling County and is a member of First Baptist Church of Baxley. He and his wife, Margaret, have been married over 50 years and they have two sons, David Redwine and the late Brad Redwine, and six grandchildren. Mike is retired from Georgia Power and is an ordained minister and a volunteer chaplain at Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah. He has been employed as a funeral assistant at Swain Funeral Home since 1990.

Glynda Reeves was born and raised in Appling County. She and her husband, Burnette, have two sons, Shane and Stewart, and four grandchildren. Glynda is a retired school bus driver and is member of Spring Branch Baptist Church where she is involved in the many capacities, including the church choir. Glynda often volunteers as a funeral soloist and pianist and has been a funeral assistant at Swain Funeral Home for over fifteen years.

David McLellan was born and raised in Appling County. He and his wife, Jeanene, have been married over fifty years and have two sons, Jeffrey and Justin, four granddaughters, and three great grandchildren. David is a member and deacon of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church and retired from the Baxley Fire Department after 38 years of service. He has been a Funeral Assistant with Swain Funeral Home since 2005.

Rick Brown is a native of Lakeland, Florida but has called Appling County his home for over 35 years. Rick and his wife, Julie, are members of Oakland Baptist Church and have three daughters, Rayann, Heather, and Erin, and six grandchildren. Rick is known as the community pastor and is an evangelist and interim pastor. He has been employed at Swain Funeral Home since May 2006 as a funeral assistant and grief counselor.

Burnette Reeves is a lifelong resident of Appling County. He is retired from Georgia Power with 44 years of service. He and his wife Glynda have been married for over 50 years. They have two sons, Shane and Stewart and have 4 grandchildren. Burnette is a member of Spring Branch Church and has been a funeral assistant for Swain Funeral Home since 2021.

Rev. Alvin Merritt a native of Coffee County has called Jeff Davis County home since 1995. Rev. Merritt pastored the Church of God in Cleveland, TN until 1994. He is currently the pastor for the Uvalda Church of God where he has been for over 20 years. He is also employed with the Jeff Davis County Board of Education as the Transportation Director. He and his wife Tammy have two sons Brandon and Brent. Rev. Merritt has been a funeral assistant with Swain Funeral Home since 2022.

Karen Branch is a native of Appling County and the daughter of the late James Roscoe & Jeanelle (Taylor) Kimbrel. She is a member of New City Church. She and her husband, Jimmy, have one daughter, Mary Elizabeth. Karen works as an administrative assistant at First Baptist Church of Hazlehurst and is also a licensed life insurance agent. In over 20 years of service at Swain Funeral Home, Karen has served as a pre-planning counselor and funeral assistant.

Kip Davis was born and raised in Appling County. He and his wife, Rhonda, have two daughters, Nicole and Ayla, and seven grandchildren. They are members of Riverside Baptist Church, where Kip serves as a deacon and choir director. Kip has his own plumbing and electrical business and has been a funeral assistant at Swain Funeral Home since 2015.