J. Barrett Nelson
CEO / Licensed Funeral Director
J. Barrett Nelson
CEO / Licensed Funeral Director
Danny Gill
Vice President / Licensed Funeral Director
Danny Gill is the Vice-President and Co-Owner of Marion Nelson Funeral Homes and Johnson-Nelson-Gill Funeral Home in Lake Wales and Frostproof. He is a native Floridian, raised in Lake Wales and a graduate of Lake Wales High School. Danny graduated in 1991, with honors, from Miami-Dade State College with an Associate of Science degree in Mortuary Science. He has been a licensed funeral director since 1992 after successfully passing his national and state board exams. In 1997, he received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Finance from Webber International University. After many years in business, Danny decided to return to further his education and received a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) in 2017 from Warner University and was inducted into Sigma Beta Delta Honor Society. He has served on many local boards, including Lake Wales Family YMCA, Lake Wales Little League, Lake Wales Amphitheatre, LWHS Athletic Booster Club, and LWHS SAC and previously on the Lake Wales Charter Schools Board of trustees from 2010 until 2018 with two of those years as the board Chair. Danny has rejoined the Lake Wales Charter Schools Board of Trustees in 2019 serving as the Board Chair. He and his wife, Lisa, have two children, Aaron and Zach, two grandsons, Kasen and Brogan and a granddaughter, Jernie Rayne. Other than his family, a proud accomplishment is being selected to umpire in the 2018 Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA.
Danny Gill
Vice President / Licensed Funeral Director
Danny Gill is the Vice-President and Co-Owner of Marion Nelson Funeral Homes and Johnson-Nelson-Gill Funeral Home in Lake Wales and Frostproof. He is a native Floridian, raised in Lake Wales and a graduate of Lake Wales High School. Danny graduated in 1991, with honors, from Miami-Dade State College with an Associate of Science degree in Mortuary Science. He has been a licensed funeral director since 1992 after successfully passing his national and state board exams. In 1997, he received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Finance from Webber International University. After many years in business, Danny decided to return to further his education and received a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) in 2017 from Warner University and was inducted into Sigma Beta Delta Honor Society. He has served on many local boards, including Lake Wales Family YMCA, Lake Wales Little League, Lake Wales Amphitheatre, LWHS Athletic Booster Club, and LWHS SAC and previously on the Lake Wales Charter Schools Board of trustees from 2010 until 2018 with two of those years as the board Chair. Danny has rejoined the Lake Wales Charter Schools Board of Trustees in 2019 serving as the Board Chair. He and his wife, Lisa, have two children, Aaron and Zach, two grandsons, Kasen and Brogan and a granddaughter, Jernie Rayne. Other than his family, a proud accomplishment is being selected to umpire in the 2018 Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA.
Kristina Nelson Richels
Office Manager
Kristina Nelson Richels
Office Manager
Joy McCartney
Licensed Funeral Director
Joy McCartney
Licensed Funeral Director
Barry Werner
Retired Licensed Funeral Director
Barry Werner
Retired Licensed Funeral Director
Lisa Hatch
Preneed Agent
Starting at Marion Nelson Funeral Home in 1998, Lisa has helped thousands of families with pre-planning for funeral or cremation as well as assisting them with continuing care after a death has occurred. She and her husband Jim live in Bartow.
Lisa Hatch
Preneed Agent
Starting at Marion Nelson Funeral Home in 1998, Lisa has helped thousands of families with pre-planning for funeral or cremation as well as assisting them with continuing care after a death has occurred. She and her husband Jim live in Bartow.
Brenda Wilbanks
Funeral Directors Assistant
Brenda Wilbanks
Funeral Directors Assistant
Chelsey Bryan
Funeral Directors Assistant
Kaylee Morris
Funeral Directors Assistant/ Apprentice Embalmer
Landon Morales
Crematory Operator
Rick Shaw
Funeral Associate
Rick Shaw
Funeral Associate
Stephen Bolden
Funeral Associate
Pastor David Durham
Funeral Associate / Local Clergy
I have been Married to Diane for 35 wonderful years. We have three children: Jessica, Shana, & David Jr. I have been the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Waverly since 1996. Also serve as Regional Facilitator for the (ERC) Evangelism Response Center for North American Mission Board. For information or training regarding ERC you can email me or call 863-439-3400. My favorite desert is banana pudding. I Love to hunt, fish and welcome any opportunity to be invited on a good hunt.
Pastor David Durham
Funeral Associate / Local Clergy
I have been Married to Diane for 35 wonderful years. We have three children: Jessica, Shana, & David Jr. I have been the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Waverly since 1996. Also serve as Regional Facilitator for the (ERC) Evangelism Response Center for North American Mission Board. For information or training regarding ERC you can email me or call 863-439-3400. My favorite desert is banana pudding. I Love to hunt, fish and welcome any opportunity to be invited on a good hunt.
Pastor Denny Cothern
Funeral Associate / Local Clergy
Funeral Associate / Local Clergy Denny and his wife Denise moved to Lake Wales from Green Cove Springs, FL in 1994, after being transferred by their church there to serve as pastors of The Golfview Church of God here in Lake Wales. Denny is a native of Alma, GA, but got to Lake Wales as soon as he could! Whenever anyone asks Denny where he lives, you will hear him say proudly..."Beautiful" Lake Wales, FL! "We have fallen in love with the city and the people, and we are so very honored to be of service to the community."
Pastor Denny Cothern
Funeral Associate / Local Clergy
Funeral Associate / Local Clergy Denny and his wife Denise moved to Lake Wales from Green Cove Springs, FL in 1994, after being transferred by their church there to serve as pastors of The Golfview Church of God here in Lake Wales. Denny is a native of Alma, GA, but got to Lake Wales as soon as he could! Whenever anyone asks Denny where he lives, you will hear him say proudly..."Beautiful" Lake Wales, FL! "We have fallen in love with the city and the people, and we are so very honored to be of service to the community."
Tom Morse
Funeral Associate
Tom Morse
Funeral Associate
