Staff

Our dedicated staff are here to provide support, compassion, and information to help you through your journey of grief and the celebration of your loved one’s life.

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David S. Miller President
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Gary T. Barber, Jr. Vice President/Treasurer/Manager
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Robert "Bob" Adams Funeral Director/Embalmer
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Taylor Barnes Funeral Director/Embalmer/Crematory Manager
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Joseph Cooper Funeral Service Apprentice/Crematory Operator
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Kimberly Viers Funeral Service Apprentice/Crematory Operator
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Stephanie Leonard Office Manager
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Lisa Viers Barber Administrative/Funeral Assistant
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Jackie Gilreath Funeral Assistant
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Devin Marlow Chaplain/Funeral Assistant/Crematory Operator
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Edwin Taylor Funeral Assistant
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Patsy Mastin Funeral Assistant
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Devin Teague Funeral Assistant
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Richard Spriggs Funeral Assistant
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Darrell R. Blevins Funeral Assistant/Crematory Technician
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Craig Tidline Funeral Assistant
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Arwen Taylor Funeral Assistant
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Mark Whittamore Preneed Specialist
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Trevor Parks Parks Excavating - Grave Service

David S. Miller

President
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David is a second generation Owner and Funeral Director of Miller Funeral Service. Although he has worked many facets of the funeral business since childhood he officially joined the staff in March of 1986. He is a native of Wilkes County, NC and graduated from Wilkes Central High School. In 1988, he earned his degree as Funeral Director/Embalmer from Gupton-Jones School of Funeral Service in Atlanta, GA.

Gary T. Barber, Jr.

Vice President/Treasurer/Manager
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Gary joined Miller Funeral Service in 2007 and resides in North Wilkesboro. Gary is a native of Ashe County, NC, where he graduated from Ashe Central High School. He continued his education in Atlanta, GA, by attending Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service where he received his degree for Funeral Director/Embalmer. He was a member of Pi Sigma Eta Honors Fraternity. In 1992, he began his career when he joined the staff of Ashelawn Memorial Chapel and Badger Funeral Home.

Gary served as Ashe County Coroner from 1994 - 1998. He also served as Ashe County Commissioner from 2006 - 2010, serving two years as Vice-Chairman. Past boards in which he has served are as follows; Ashe County Airport Advisory Board, New River Behavioral Health Care Board, Former President of West Jefferson Lions Club, Blue Ridge RC & D Board, Blue Ridge Electric Advisory Board, Blue Ridge Opportunity Commission Board, North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, North Carolina Airports Association, North Carolina Funeral Directors Association, and the National Funeral Directors Association.

Robert "Bob" Adams

Funeral Director/Embalmer
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Bob joined the Miller Funeral Service staff in 2001. He received an Associate’s degree from Dallas Institute of Funeral Service with awards for Scholastic Achievement and perfect attendance. Bob has served in the US Navy and attends St. John Baptist de LaSalle Catholic Church.

Taylor Barnes

Funeral Director/Embalmer/Crematory Manager
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Taylor joined the staff of Miller Funeral Service in 2018, she is a native of Wilkes County and currently resides in Purlear, NC. She is married to Daniel and they have three children; Chloe, Landon, and Carter. She graduated from West Wilkes High School in 2011. She graduated with Honors from Fayetteville Technical Community College in 2020, with an Associates Degree in Funeral Services.  She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.  Taylor is the Crematory Manager and holds a Crematory Operator certification through the Cremation Association of North America.

Joseph Cooper

Funeral Service Apprentice/Crematory Operator
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Joseph is a Wilkes County native and joined Miller Funeral Service in 2021; fullfilling a life long goal of working in the funeral industry.  He is serving as a Funeral Service Apprentice and attending Fayetteville Technical Community College for an Associates Degree in Applied Science.  Joseph is a Crematory Operator and holds a certification through the Cremation Association of North America.

He has twenty three years experience in the telecommunications industry, techincal service, customer service, vendor relations, inventory management, as well as employee supervision.

Joseph and his wife, Amy, have two wonderful sons; Jack and Ben.  

 

Kimberly Viers

Funeral Service Apprentice/Crematory Operator
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Kimberly joined our staff in 2022.  She is a Funeral Service Apprentice and Crematory Operator.  She holds a certification through the Cremation Association of North America and is attending Fayetteville Technical Community College for an associates degree in Funeral Services.  She is an Ashe County native and currently resides in North Wilkesboro; she has two children and two grandchildren.   

 

Stephanie Leonard

Office Manager
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Stephanie joined the staff of Miller Funeral Service in 2006. She is a native of Wilkes County, NC and graduated from West Wilkes High. She is married to David Leonard. She has one son, Matt Leonard and wife Tiffany. She also has two grandchildren, Bailey and Tripp. Her special K-9 friend is, Utah. She loves camping and spending time with her family.

Lisa Viers Barber

Administrative/Funeral Assistant
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Lisa joined the staff of Miller Funeral Service in 2016 and resides in North Wilkesboro. She is a native of Ashe County, NC where she graduated from Ashe Central High School. She has worked in the funeral industry since 1997 as well as thirteen years in the telecommunications industry; she has extensive experience in Customer Service, Sales, Management, and Operations Administration.

Jackie Gilreath

Funeral Assistant
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Jackie joined the staff of Miller Funeral Service in 2016 as a part-time Funeral Assistant. She lives in North Wilkesboro, NC with her husband Donald. They have one daughter, Crystal Gilreath, who resides in Charlotte, NC.

Jackie loves to travel, do yoga, and shop till she drops. She is a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church where she is active and dedicated.

Devin Marlow

Chaplain/Funeral Assistant/Crematory Operator
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Devin joined the staff at Miller Funeral Service in 2017.  He works as Chaplain, Funeral Assistant, and Crematory Operator and holds a certification through the Cremation Association of North America.  He is a father of two and husband to a wonderful wife.  In his spare time he enjoys bowling and building model cars.  

Edwin Taylor

Funeral Assistant
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Edwin Taylor is familiar with the funeral business as having been a previous employee of Miller Funeral Service several years ago.  Edwin graduated from Lenoir-Rhyne University and also attended Wilkes and Caldwell Community Colleges.  He is a retired NC State employee and served as organist at his church for 35 years.  Edwin has a strong passion for serving the community and helping others.  

Patsy Mastin

Funeral Assistant
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Patsy joined our staff in 2021 as a funeral assistant.  She is a graduate of West Wilkes High School and attended Winston-Salem Business College.  She is a mother of three, Tonya Goss, and husband Ken, Judith Lynn Simmons, and Chip Mastin, and wife Amanda.  Grandmother of two, Logan Goss and Cayley Mastin.  She is an active member of Lewis Fork Baptist Church where she is also a member of the choir, the Good News Club, and assists with the Youth Bible Drill Group .    

Devin Teague

Funeral Assistant
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Devin joined our staff in 2022 as a Funeral Assistant.  He has a wife and son.  He has been a volunteer firefighter with the Boomer Fire Department since 2019. 

Richard Spriggs

Funeral Assistant
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Richard joined our team at Miller Funeral Service in 2022.  He comes to us after 20 plus years in the home improvement industry.  He has a BS degree from Appalachian State University and has quickly become an asset to us.  Richard is the father of four sons that keep him busy and he enjoys being a dad, coaching his boys in many sports and helping others.  

Darrell R. Blevins

Funeral Assistant/Crematory Technician
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Darrell R. Blevins joined our staff in 2022.  He is a Wilkes County native.  He holds an Associates Degree from Wilkes Community College.  He is a volunteer fireman at  Cricket Volunteer Fire Department.  He has two daughters and six grandchildren.  Darrell holds a certification through the Cremation Association of North America and is Crematory Technician.

Craig Tidline

Funeral Assistant
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Craig Tidline joined our staff in 2023; he is very familiar with funerals and working with families in their times of need with the loss of loved ones. He has a long history of assisting his father, who was a minister, and working with many families and funeral homes during funeral services. Craig graduated with an undergrad and grad degree in education. He has served as an elementary school teacher and principal for more than 20 years. He serves as Minister of Music for his church and has for other churches for more than 20 years. Craig has always and continues to love serving the community and helping others.

Arwen Taylor

Funeral Assistant
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Arwen Taylor joined the staff of Miller Funeral Service in 2023.  Arwen is a 21 year old with a passion for all things martial arts, theatre and teaching. She has done martial arts for 17 years and holds 3rd degree black belts in two different styles as well as a teaching certification. She is the proud head instructor of her family's martial arts company, Common Ground Martial Arts. She received her Associates in Fine Arts Music and Vocal Performance in 2021 and became a certified EMT in 2022. Arwen is currently enrolled in Fayetteville Technical Community College for her Associates in Funeral Services.

Mark Whittamore

Preneed Specialist
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Mark has a degree in Funeral Service from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science; and has worked in the funeral industry over 40 years as a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer.  Mark was one of the first directors in the nation to receive the Certified Preplanning Consultant Designation.  He holds life insurance licenses in North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Kentucky. 

In his spare time, he is a Competition Cook in the Kansas City BBQ and National Steak Cook-off circuits.  He has won many awards for his delicious BBQ.  He is active in the Masonic bodies and is a Shriner. 

Trevor Parks

Parks Excavating - Grave Service
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