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Our Staff

Our Caring Staff

We have years of experience caring for families, from all walks of life. Each family comes to us because they know we are leaders in our profession, dedicated to excellence in service, and have the highest integrity.

Lanny J. Funchess
Lanny J. Funchess
Location Manager/Funeral Director
Lanny J. Funchess
Location Manager/Funeral Director

Lanny has been the location manager of Harrelson’s since 2006. He calls Rutherford County his home and has enjoyed developing community friendships during the since 2006. Lanny is a Licensed Funeral Director with the State of North Carolina. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma Baptist College and an Associate degree in Business and a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from American Intercontinental University. He is also a graduate of Fayetteville Technical Community College and has an earned Master’s in Social Work from Liberty University. He has pastored three churches in his 37 years of ministry and considers the funeral home an extension of God’s calling in his life. He has been married to Laura since 1984 and they have four children, Kent, Autumn, Chad and Summer. He also has four adorable grandchildren. Lanny loves to read and writes an article called “Points to Ponder” which appears in the Daily Courier and Rutherford Weekly each week. He is a “workaholic” and loves family getaways to the mountains.

Laura Funchess
Laura Funchess
Office Manager
Laura Funchess
Office Manager

Laura has been with Harrelson Funeral Home since 2008. Laura holds a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education from Oklahoma Baptist College. She is active in her church where she teaches a Ladies Sunday School class and enjoys helping her husband in the ministry. Laura is an excellent homemaker and especially enjoys decorating. She has worked in various positions teaching school and many years as a church secretary. She is the proud mother of four children, Kent, Autumn, Chad and Summer. She is “Grammie” to her four grandchildren.

 Winford Gordon
Winford Gordon
Funeral Service Assistant
Winford Gordon
Funeral Service Assistant

Winford has served at Harrelson Funeral Home since 2008 as a funeral service assistant. He has lived in Rutherford County his entire life and worked for Burlington Industries for 30 years before retirement. He is a graduate of Chase High School, class of 1960. He and his wife, Judy, have two adult children and four wonderful grandchildren. He is an active member of Caroleen Baptist Church where he has served in many capacities including Deacon. Winford loves to travel, rebuilding old cars and sport shooting.

Sharon Edwards
Sharon Edwards
Administrative Professional
Sharon Edwards
Administrative Professional

Sharon has been an office assistant at Harrelson Funeral Home since 2011. She has lived in Rutherford County for over fifty-one years. She worked for Rutherford County Public Schools (Harris School) for thirty-three years before retirement. She is a graduate of Brevard High School, class of 1965 and a 1967 graduate of Gardner-Webb University. She is an active member of Sandy Mush Baptist Church where she serves as 


Secretary/Treasurer and Pianist. She was married to Clark for 48 years and has four adult children, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Sharon enjoys music.

Ron Mauney
Ron Mauney
Funeral Service Assistant
Ron Mauney
Funeral Service Assistant

Ron has worked as a funeral assistant at Harrelson Funeral Home since 2015. Ron is a native of Rutherford County and worked at the Rutherford County Board of Education for thirty-three years. He is a 1970 graduate of Appalachian State University. A 1979 graduate of Western Carolina University and a 2012 graduate of Fayetteville Technical Community College. He has an earned Bachelor of Science degree, a Master of Arts degree, an Education Specialist degree and a Funeral Service diploma. Ron is a member of the First United Methodist Church in Forest City. He was married to Jane Hall Mauney for forty-five years before her death in 2015. He has two adult daughters and three grandchildren. Ron’s favorite pastime is reading.

Brenda Scovill
Brenda Scovill
Office Assistant
Brenda Scovill
Office Assistant

Brenda is our newest addition to our office staff at Harrelson Funeral Home. She has been a resident of Cleveland County since 1995. She is a graduate of Fourth Baptist Christian School in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and attended Pillsbury Baptist College. She worked for Ambassador Baptist College in Lattimore for twenty-three years as the Music Department Secretary. She is a faithful member of Grace Baptist Church where she and her husband, Todd work with the youth. She also serves in the church choir, orchestra and teaches the children’s Sunday School class. She and her husband have five adult children and five grandchildren. She loves family gatherings and music.

Joyce McCain
Joyce McCain
Funeral Service Assistant
Joyce McCain
Funeral Service Assistant

Joyce is a funeral assistant that has been with Harrelson Funeral Home since 2017.  She holds an Associate Degree in Allied Health and is a Registered Respiratory Therapist.  Joyce retired from healthcare in June of 2017 after 41 years, from Rutherford Regional Medical Center.  She leads the ladies group at her church, Pleasant View Community Church where her husband pastored and she has served for the last 24 years. Joyce and her husband, the late Reverend Danny McCain who lost his life to Covid-19, on February 26, 2021, have served the Lord together for nearly 42 years.  Joyce enjoys cooking, singing, playing the piano and spending time with her family.  They have two adult children, Danielle Barnett, husband Heath and Adam McCain, wife Katie. Two precious grandchildren complete her family, Makinley and Jackson Morgan bringing her much joy.

Roy Hall
Roy Hall
Funeral Service Assistant
Roy Hall
Funeral Service Assistant

Roy has been with the funeral home as a funeral assistant since April of 2021. He is a native of Rutherford County. Roy previously worked for Spindale Mills/ Dan River for 30 years and Spartanburg Regional Hospital for 16 years prior to retirement. He and his wife Karen have 4 adult children and 7 beautiful grandchildren. He is a member of Christian Fellowship Missionary Church. His hobbies include fishing and spending time with his family.

 Howard Gordon
Howard Gordon
Funeral Service Assistant
Howard Gordon
Funeral Service Assistant

Howard joined Harrelson Funeral Home as a funeral service assistant in 2021.  He has lived in Rutherford County his entire life and graduated from Chase High School.  He worked for 30 years as a Police Officer, 18 of those years as the School Resource Officer at East Rutherford High School. He now mentors students at East High for the Robert and Janice McNair Education Foundation. Howard has been singing Bass for the In His Glory Quartet since it started in 2000.  He attends Caroleen Baptist Church and is a Deacon there.  Howard is married to Robyn and they have 3 children, Andrew, Victoria and Jacob. His hobbies include shooting and watching football and baseball.

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