Fred is a fourth-generation funeral director, serving the Knoxville community since the early 1980s. After graduating from Doyle High School, Fred earned a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Tennessee and an associate degree from John A. Gupton Mortuary College in Nashville.

Distinguished in the field, Fred was appointed by Gov. Bill Lee in February 2020 to serve a four-year term on the Tennessee Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers. In addition to leading our team, he is also a funeral director with LHT Consulting Group, which specializes in providing funeral and memorial consulting, comprehensive event planning, and services that celebrate the lives and legacies of distinguished individuals. Fred has had the honor of caring for the families of several religious and political leaders, including a former U.S. president.

Fred is also deeply involved in the community. A member of the Kiwanis Club of Knoxville, he has served as the group’s Key Club advisor and on its board of directors. He served several years on the Knoxville Metropolitan Planning Commission, both as a commissioner and chairman. For several years, Fred sat on the Governmental Affairs Committee for the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association; he is currently secretary/ treasurer of the Cemetery Association of Tennessee. He is also a member of the Knoxville Center for the Deaf board of directors.

Fred and his wife married in 1987. They have three sons, two daughters-in-law and three precious grandchildren. In his spare time, Fred loves to run, bike, garden and travel. He is a member of Northstar Church – South Campus.

Jeffrey is a fourth-generation funeral director and embalmer with a family history of funeral service spanning more than a century. Jeff has been a funeral director at Berry Funeral Home since 1987 and is currently general manager for Berry Funeral Home, Berry Highland South, McCarty Evergreen Funeral Home and Weaver Funeral Home.

Since its beginning in 2011, Jeff has been chairman of Knoxville’s Dignity Memorial ® Homeless Veteran Burial Program, which has cared for more than 50 homeless veterans. He is a trainer in the Knoxville market for interment verification and is certified by the Hospice Foundation of America to instruct two continuing education classes on customs, rituals and demystifying the funeral experience.

Jeff has a passion for veterans, and his community involvement includes serving as a board member for the East Tennessee Veterans Memorial Association and member of the East Tennessee Military Affairs Council. He has researched, collected and submitted photos of East Tennessee Vietnam soldiers memorialized on the Vietnam Veterans Wall in Washington, D.C. He has been awarded certificates of recognition from the American Legion and the Scottish American Military Society for his work with the veterans community in Knoxville.

A 1991 graduate of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a 1994 graduate of Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service in Decatur, Georgia, with an associate degree in funeral service, Jeff supports his other alma mater, South Doyle High School, by organizing workdays to improve school grounds..

Archie Thomas Buchanan is the location manager for Berry Funeral Home in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he has served since 1997. Archie's original career path was in the coal mines of Eastern and Western Kentucky and also Southern Illinois. After deciding to change careers, he graduated from Southern Illinois University Mortuary School and began his work as a funeral director and embalmer.

Archie has been married since the 1970s and has 3 children, 4 grandsons and 1 great-grandson. He also has a precious and beloved dog named Baxter. In his free time Archie loves to ride his bicycle and encourages others to bike for their health.

Patricia has served families in the Knoxville market since 1992. She began by helping families with pre-arrangements, serving as the department manager for 10 years, before becoming a funeral director. In 2015 Patricia retired as the location manager of Sherwood Chapel and Memorial Gardens and now serves many Knoxville locations as a part-time funeral director, enjoying her service to community families.

Since 2000 Thomas King has been serving families in the Knoxville area. Tom grew up in South Knoxville and graduated from Young High School in 1970. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Tennessee Knoxville in 1978 and Master of Divinity degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky, in 1981.

Tom began his funeral career on a part-time basis in February 1995. He became full-time in February 1998 and entered the funeral director apprentice program at the same time. He became a licensed funeral director in 2000 and was promoted to his current position of assistant location manager at Berry Funeral Home in 2002.

Tom says, “My greatest satisfaction is bringing comfort to families during the most difficult time in their life: the loss of a loved one. I take my responsibility to the family during the planning stages and carrying out of the services as my ministry to those families.”

Married since the early 1970s, Tom resides in the South Knoxville community with his wife and loves spending time with his 3 grandchildren.

Kelly has served families in the Knoxville area for 33 years, wearing many hats. As customer service director, community relations representative, LIFT director, grief support and aftercare director, and decorator, she’s devoted her life to caring for those who’ve lost loved ones. A member of the board of directors of Bereavement Services of East Tennessee, Kelly also works with hospice chaplains, social workers and other grief counselors to bring support and knowledge to people in Knoxville and surrounding communities.

A 1986 graduate of the University of Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, Kelly married Fred in 1987 and has worked alongside him ever since. They have been blessed with three sons, two daughters-in-law, two sweet grandsons, one precious granddaughter, a little dog and lots of granddogs. She loves to meet new people, exercise, read, explore and travel, travel, travel.

Born and raised in Blount County, Joel graduated from William Blount High School and American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service. He worked in graphic design in the automobile industry for 20 years prior to becoming a funeral director/embalmer. When a close friend passed away in 2015, Joel decided to pursue a career in funeral service as a way to honor his friend and help others.

Joel is a lifelong musician and loves spending time with his wife and their daughter. They live in Louisville with their four dogs and a cat.