Life Celebration Team

Coburn Hartsell, president of Hartsell Funeral Homes, grew up around the family funeral business. He graduated from The Citadel with a BS in Business Administration and a BA in Modern Language. His parents, Jane and Jeff Hartsell devoted their lives to serving the community through their family business. He and his siblings are the proud fifth generation of family members at the funeral home. Coburn is dedicated to his father’s vision of serving families with the highest standard of service, as well as providing the funeral directors and staff with a great place to work that not only provides income, but also a greater purpose. Coburn is married to the love of his life, Ayla Hartsell, and they have three beloved children: Ana Louise, Benjamin, and Olivia. Coburn enjoys time with his family, hosting a bible study YouTube channel, teaching bible study at Mission Church in Locust, home improvement projects, and occasionally he does CrossFit.

Joshua joined the Hartsell Funeral Home team in 2016 as a licensed Funeral Director and Crematory Operator. Since that time, he has accepted the role of General Manager and continues his education, working to complete his degree through the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice. He enjoys classic cars and spending time with his wife, Kristy, and their 3 children in Norwood. Joshua firmly believes in treating every family as if it were his own and is extremely passionate about the work that he does.

Jason joined the Hartsell Funeral Home family in 2014. Born and raised in Oxford, NY, he received his Funeral Service License in 2012. He is both a licensed funeral director and embalmer, as well as a certified crematory operator. Jason and his wife, Heather, have enjoyed living in the Carolinas since 1997, along with their two children, Grace and Jack. Their family has been members of Parkwood Baptist Church in Concord since 2016, where Jason currently serves on the Personnel Committee. In his spare time, Jason enjoys coaching his son's baseball team, attending his daughter's dance competitions, playing golf, traveling with his family and date nights with his wife, Heather. He is honored to be able to help families uniquely celebrate their loved ones' lives and encourage them to continue telling their stories.

Mason was born and raised in Cabarrus County. He started working for Hartsell Funeral Home in high school. Mason has been an integral part of Hartsell Funeral Homes for more than 35 years. Jeff Hartsell was his mentor and truly influenced Mason’s career. Over the years, Mason has made many friends and has had the unfortunate privilege and honor of taking care of several of those friends, and their families, through funeral services. In his spare time, Mason enjoys gardening, playing golf, and traveling with his wife of almost 30 years. Together, they have 2 beautiful daughters.

Jeff joined the Hartsell Family in January 2018 as Director of Advance Funeral Planning. A native of central Virginia, Jeff has been involved in funeral service for over 40 years. He graduated from The College of William and Mary with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration. He also graduated from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, where he served as Class President. An avid golfer, canoeist and carpenter, Jeff and his wife, Lisa, live in the Georgeville community.

Jennette joined our Hartsell family in 2017. Born and raised in Caldwell County, she received her associate degree in Funeral Service in 2005. She is both a licensed funeral director and embalmer, as well as a certified crematory operator. Jennette and her husband, Rob, enjoy living in east Charlotte with their two dogs. In her spare time, Jennette loves going to the movies, listening to rock music in her Tacoma, and seeing the country on long road trips. She is involved in many charitable organizations, including University City Kiwanis and Carolina Christmas Angels. Jennette also served on the Board of Directors for Cabarrus Civitan. She also enjoys volunteering with the children’s grief camps through hospice (Chameleon’s Journey and Wings to Soar). Jennette is honored to help bereaved families create meaningful funerals and personalized tributes because every lifetime has a story.

Erik joined the Hartsell team in the fall of 2019. He was born in the Southwestern region of Virginia in Roanoke and spent most of his early years growing up in the Myers Park area of Charlotte. Erik attended the Charlotte Mecklenburg school system and graduated from Myers Park High School. From an early age, Erik always had an interest in funeral service. Upon graduating from high school, he relocated to Raleigh at the age of 19 to enter the funeral service profession for the first time. It was in Raleigh that Erik served his internship in funeral service and lived on premises in a family-owned firm. He has been a bi-vocational minister for 33 years. He helped manage his family’s real estate business and was a senior pastor at two different churches, before going back to finish mortuary college in mid-life. Erik is a graduate of Fayetteville Technical Community College and graduated with honors. “I have a real passion for the funeral profession, and it is my highest priority to maintain the trust the families place in me to memorialize their loved ones.” Erik’s interests include regional road trips, spending time outdoors in the mountains of Southwest Virginia, and nature photography. He is known as an avid collector and student of books on history, genealogy, and world religions, who enjoys quiet times and meditation. Erik has one son, Forrest, a graduate of NC State with a degree in psychology. Forrest lives in Durham, NC. Erik is a NC licensed funeral director, an ordained licensed minister who is an active certified funeral celebrant, chaplain, and wedding officiant. He also continues to hold his NC real estate broker’s license. “As a Funeral Director and Chaplain, I have given my life in service to others.”

Torez joined the Hartsell Family in 2020. Born and raised in eastern NC, Torez has had a passion for funeral service since he was young. He started working at a funeral home part-time at age 18 and became a licensed funeral director in 2019. He completed his associate degree in Funeral Service and became a licensed embalmer in 2023. Torez and his wife, Valerie, enjoy living in east Charlotte with their two sons. In his spare time, Torez enjoys playing golf and piano and spending time with his family. He is a member of the Uncommon Church of Charlotte. Torez believes that grief is not only something you experience but something you process through and he takes pride in helping families navigate a difficult journey.

Born and raised in Mint Hill, Alaina became a member of our Hartsell family in 2020 and now resides in Albemarle with her husband, Miller, and their son. Alaina began working in funeral service in 2016. She is both a licensed funeral director and embalmer and completed her associate degree in Funeral Service in 2022. In her spare time she enjoys weightlifting, cooking and baking, and spending time with her family and friends. Alaina considers it a privilege to guide families through such a difficult and uncertain time in their lives and to create a peaceful sense of closure through a meaningful celebration of life.

Kenny is a native of Cabarrus County and graduated from Northwest Cabarrus High School. He is married to the love of his life (Amanda), and they have 5 teenage children. He has spent the majority of his life as a public servant. Kenny spent many years in the fire service and achieved the rank of Captain at the City of Salisbury Fire Department. After leaving the fire service, he still looked for a way to help families in their time of need and suffering. This led him to the funeral service, where he became dual licensed as a funeral director and embalmer. His passion to help others is what drives his love for the funeral industry. Kenny has a degree in Fire Science Engineering, and a degree in Mortuary Science. Kenny furthered his education and chose to specialize in post-mortem reconstructive surgery, focusing on head trauma and facial restoration. He is incredibly active in his community and stays involved with Cabarrus County. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, and working outside.

Daniel joined Hartsell Funeral Homes in 2020 as an apprentice and is honored to serve both the Hartsell Family and the community. He has always had a strong desire to help grieving families in their most difficult times and believes that his spiritual background has prepared him to serve in this capacity. Daniel completed his associate degree in funeral service to become a licensed funeral director and embalmer, so that he can further serve the needs of the families that rely on us. In his spare time, Daniel and his family spend their time together in a wide variety of activities such as swimming, resistance training and studying the Bible. It is one of Daniel’s strongest beliefs that every cloud, no matter how dark, has a silver lining and he desires to share this hope with those he connects with.

Scott resides in Randolph County. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts after attending Brigham Young University and the University of Utah. Scott joined the Army National Guard, retiring as a major after 23 years of service. Later in life, he became a licensed funeral director and embalmer and has worked in the profession for over 10 years. Scott is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He served a two-year mission for the church in Southern Africa after his high school graduation. Scott’s greatest joy is spending time with his wife, Dawn, and traveling with her on their various “adventures,” especially to the mountains. He has a son, Ian, and a daughter, Leslie, and two grandchildren, Addie and Owen.

Charlene joined the Hartsell family in 2017. She grew up in a small town in WV, moving to NC in 2000. She graduated from West Stanly High School in Stanly County. Charlene is the mother of two precious boys, Brayden, 13, and Caiden, 3. Charlene enjoys spending time with her family going to the beach when she can, or just enjoying a night at home. Charlene knew at a young age that she wanted to spend her career helping others. She started out in Home Health Care (10 years) supporting families and their loved ones in the final years of life, showing compassion, and and treating them like her own family. After joining the Hartsell family, Charlene found her true calling of helping families with final arrangements for their loved ones and helping with the grieving process. She is currently a student at Fayetteville Technical Community College.

Greg joined the Hartsell Team in 2020 after a nearly 35 year career in the medical field. He was born and raised in Concord, a graduate of Concord High School. He has been married to Cindy 31 years, and together they have 5 children, 4 daughters, a son, ad 2 son in laws. His favorite time is time spent with family and the beach is their crowd's favorite yearly destination, the mountains a close second. He is an active member and past Board Member of Multiply Church, formally Concord First Assembly. His hobbies include metalworking, especially stainless steel, and home construction projects.

Aubrey and her husband, Martin, live in Mount Gilead with their dog, Tex. She enjoys reading and spending time with family. Aubrey is a graduate of Montgomery County Early College and currently takes funeral service classes through Fayetteville Technical Community College.

Don joined The Hartsell family in December 2018 as a funeral service assistant. He retired from Duke Energy in December of 2018 after a 37-year career in Information Technology. Over the past 24 years Don also served as a bi-vocational minister at Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church in Kannapolis. He holds an Associate of Applied Science in Data Processing from Rowan Cabarrus Technical Institute and a Bachelor of Science in Divinity from Andersonville Theological Seminary. Don now serves as the aftercare coordinator reaching out to all the families that the funeral home has served. Don and his wife, Jan, live in Albemarle and together they have four children, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He and Jan worship at Lakeview Baptist Church in Albemarle where he serves as a Sunday School teacher and Deacon.

Cora became part of the Hartsell family in 2017. Growing up in Rushville, IL, she earned a bachelor's degree in marketing from Western Illinois University. She started her professional journey in the funeral industry in Ormond Beach, FL, back in 2004 with Lohman Funeral Homes. Married to Brad for more than twenty years, they have two cherished children, Alyssa and Wyatt. Brad's work with NASCAR led them to the Charlotte area in 2008. Cora finds joy in traveling with her family, as well as attending concerts and musical theater. She sees assisting families as a privilege, aiming to offer a personalized tribute during their most challenging moments. Cora embraces her position in Community Outreach with enthusiasm and dedication, working diligently to connect with the community and organize events that bring people together. Cora wants the community to know us before they need us, fostering trust and connection long before services are required.

Jessica began her rewarding journey with Hartsell Funeral Home in August of 2017 as a Funeral Director's Office Assistant by assisting families during an emotionally trying period in their lives. Since working with us, Jessica has transitioned to become an Advanced Planning Assistant, where she aids Jeff Thaxton and families with pre-planning their funeral arrangements. She is also our Norview Gardens Cemetery Coordinator and assists families with their final resting place. Jessica adores the time that she spends with her wonderful husband, Dewayne, their beautiful daughter, and their family.

Judy became a member of the Hartsell Funeral Home team in 2019. Being a Navy brat, she had the privilege of living up and down the east coast. After her father retired from the service after 27 years, they settled in his hometown of Albemarle, NC. After graduating from high school, Judy knew at an early age what she wanted to do with her life. With an associate degree in business, she worked in Pharmacy until retirement, staying home a couple of years, but missing working with the public, so back to work was the perfect solution. Judy is on the OASIS board and a long-time member of First Baptist church, where she has worn many hats over the years. She is an avid reader, and enjoys cooking, and spending time with her family and grandchildren. Working with families and helping them find closure during the most difficult time of losing a loved one has been most rewarding. Judy truly enjoys her job at Hartsell Funeral Home and feels so fortunate to be part of the Hartsell Family.

Karen is a native of Stanly County. She joined Hartsell Funeral Home in February of 2022. She’s married, has 3 children, 3 stepchildren, 5 granddaughters and one step-granddaughter. She and her husband have 3 dogs, Cayo (10 yr. old Great Dane), Lucy (5 yr. old Shih Tzu) and Darcy (1 yr. old Labradoodle). In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and making floral cupcakes.

Jennifer joined Hartsell’s team in March of 2021 as a member of the office staff. She is a loving mother to four amazing children: Aaliyah, Benjamin, Hunter and Gage of Albemarle. They range in age of 10-16. She was born in Indiana but has lived in Stanly County since 1991. Prior to Hartsell’s, Jennifer was working in the home healthcare field for almost three years. It was in home health care that she found her calling and a strong desire to help people and their families. She had no reluctance to go above and beyond the call of duty for her clients to make their lives easier in their difficult situations. In Jennifer’s free time, she loves spending quality time with her children. Together, they enjoy cooking, being in nature, or looking for small adventures to make lasting memories. In addition, she loves to travel to exotic places whether it’s by plane ride or cruise ship. One day, she hopes to travel to Europe and explore diverse cultures. Jennifer has been a member of House of Hope Ministries in Norwood for the past five years. She is an active member of their praise team and also assists in church activities along with church sponsored events. She loves her church and considers them to be her second family.

Jane joined Hartsell Funeral Home in 2003. She was born and raised in Stanly County and graduated from North Stanly High School and attended both Central Piedmont Community College and Stanly Community College. Jane is married to Oron Huneycutt (who also works part-time here) and has 2 children, Ryan Huneycutt and Susan Arnold, 5 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, and a very special pet dog, Willow. Jane and Oron are members of Canton Baptist Church. They are both retired from Endy Volunteer Fire Department after 32 years of service. Jane’s love for her family and friends extends to the family and friends she has made on mission trips to Roatan, Honduras with Live Again Ministries. Showing God’s love and caring for our families at Hartsell Funeral Home is what makes Jane happy.

Diane started working with Hartsell Funeral Home in the summer of 2006 and became full-time in 2008. The main reason she likes working at the funeral home is because she gets to help people. Many of our families are experiencing a death in their family for the first time and need our guidance to get through a difficult time. Diane has three children and four grandchildren. In her spare time, she enjoys camping with her family, riding her horses, and getting together for family meals.

Jenny is a Stanly County native who grew up in a household of animal lovers. She has always had pets and was taught at a very young age to show compassion to all walks of life. In 2011, Jenny adopted a puppy from the Stanly County Humane Society and began volunteering and fostering for the organization and continues to this day. Jenny has learned so much about animals from her time there. Witnessing these animals progress from the sadness & fear they feel when they first arrive, to the happiness on their faces when they are adopted is wonderful. Their personalities shine through once they start trusting again. The passion Jenny has for animals’ welfare led her to this job. She has worked for Hartsell Funeral Home since 2005 and became a full-time employee of Hartsell Pet Cremation in 2018. With the empathy Jenny has for someone who loses a pet, she wants you to please take comfort in knowing she will treat your pet with the same love and compassion that she shows her own.

Dede joined the Hartsell team in 2021. Originally from Indiana, she's lived in North Carolina since 2001, where she previously worked in manufacturing. Dede married Eric in 2020. She loves being a step-mom to Skyler. Dede is a big animal lover. She has 2 dogs at home, Isabelle and Daisy. She also volunteers for the Humane Society. Dede's hobbies include gardening and woodworking.

Brandon joined the Hartsell team in 2021. He is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps.

Jeff is a native of Oakboro and has worked part-time for Hartsell Funeral Homes for more than 24 years. Sgt. Jeff Branch retired as Deputy Sheriff after 28 years of service to both Montgomery and Stanly Counties. During his time, he has served as a DARE Officer for 27 years. Deputy Branch became a DARE officer in Stanly County in 1992 and served eleven elementary schools from 1992-1998. In 1999 he became DARE Officer for Montgomery County and taught in all three levels of DARE, Elementary, Middle, and High School. Sgt Branch not only taught DARE, but also supervised the School Resource Officers Program and handled specialized civil processes for the Sheriff. He has been involved with N.C. Dare Officers Association and received N.C. Dare Officer of the Year Award in 2011. In 2016, Jeff received the Charles Dunn Lifetime Achievement Award for DARE and the NC Law Enforcement Advanced Service Award. Since 1963, North Carolina governors have reserved their highest honor, The Order of the Long Leaf Pine award for persons who have made significant contributions to the state and their communities through their exemplary service and exceptional accomplishments. In 2019, Sgt. Branch was honored as an NC Long Leaf Pine Recipient by Governor Roy Cooper. Jeff enjoys playing “Howard Sprague” from The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry R.F.D. and driving his Mayberry Squad Car in local parades. He also loves bluegrass and organizing bluegrass festivals and concerts.

Zeb V. Starnes is a Cabarrus County native and lifelong resident of Harrisburg and a member of the first graduating class of Central Cabarrus High School in 1967. He graduated from Central Piedmont Community College with an associate degree in graphic arts. Zeb married Shirley Burnette of Charlotte in 1974 and will celebrate 47 years of pure bliss on June 22, 2021. They have one beautiful daughter, Lisa; a wonderful son-in-law, Arlo; and one grandson, Brayden, who is Zeb’s best friend and little buddy. One of Zeb’s favorite enjoyments is going fishing with his grandson and son-in-law, even when Brayden usually catches the most fish. They are members of the New Life Church of Jesus Christ, where he and Shirley have both held various positions. Zeb proudly served in the U.S. Army as a medic from 1969 until 1971, when he received an honorable discharge and several other medals and awards for his service. Zeb is proud to be an American. He retired from the United States Postal Service in 2014 after 35 years of service as a rural mail carrier. He served the same route for 29 years, and he considered his customers as family. During the construction of Hartsell Funeral Home in Harrisburg in 2017, Zeb walked in one day to take a look around the building and he’s been with us ever since. He can honestly say this is one of the most enjoyable jobs he’s ever had and looks forward to working visitations and services, always there to greet members of the community with a friendly smile and trying to extend acts of kindness toward grieving families. Zeb is honored to be part of the Hartsell team.

Marvin joined Hartsell’s in December of 2019. He received his Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Western Carolina University and his Master of Arts in Elementary Education from Wingate University. His career was spent teaching students in elementary school in South and North Carolina for a total of forty years. Marvin was raised in the western part of North Carolina in Hayesville. He lives in Locust where he enjoys attending church at both Providence Church of God and Oakboro Church of God. Playing the piano, singing at church, visiting rest homes, and playing with his grandsons are a few of his favorite activities during his spare time. He has a son, Stephen, daughter-in-law, Jennifer, and two grandsons, Aaron and Levi, who reside in Albemarle. Marvin was married for forty-two and one-half years to his loving wife, Christine. After her death, he desired to be of help in some way to those who were going through the struggle of bereavement. From his own experience, he has learned the importance of having compassion, love, and sensitivity while supporting those who have lost a loved one. He feels that teaching school and helping bereaved families are both a call from God.

Greg joined the Hartsell team in 2019 after retiring in 2018 from a 30-year career in law enforcement. Originally from Cabarrus County, he holds a B.S and M.A. in Criminal Justice Administration from the University of NC -Charlotte, and a Criminal Justice Law enforcement Instructor certification from the NC Dept of Justice. Upon retirement, he received an award of appreciation for his service to the State of NC from Senator Thom Tillis. He has been married for 29 years and has two grown sons: one a Kannapolis Police Officer and the other graduated from Duke University and will be starting law school in Los Angeles in the fall. Greg is a member of Canton Baptist Church in Albemarle and working with Hartsell allows him to assist people during some of the lowest points in their lives and strive to make a positive impact with them.

Eddie joined Hartsell Funeral Home with over 40 years of ministry experience and six years of working in funeral service. He brings the heart of a servant and compassion to the Hartsell Team. Eddie believes that he is able to connect with people and minister to them at their lowest times. He also has been involved in the community over the years, coaching youth sports, being a Scoutmaster, and in the fire department. Eddie presently serves as the pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Monroe and as the Locust Police Department chaplain. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Debbie, and they have been married for over 51 years. They have two children and four grandchildren. Eddie also knows the pain of losing a child. He enjoys spending time with family, watching his grandchildren in their events, and teaching them about life stories. During his free time, he loves hunting and camping with his family and friends.

Keith is a native of Concord and retired from the U.S. Postal Service. He’s been married for 42 years to Faye. They have three children and four grandchildren. Keith attends Multiply Church, formerly Concord First Assembly.

Alice joined Hartsell Funeral Home in 2019. She retired from the Clerk of Superior Court in Concord after 23 years of service. She’s been married for 50 years to Dwight. They live in Midland and have a son, a daughter, and 2 precious grandchildren. Alice attends Mission Church in Locust and delivers Meals on Wheels for Cabarrus County. She loves the beach, doing crafts, and meeting people of all walks of life.

John is a member of the Cabarrus County Honor Guard and we are proud to have him as part of the Hartsell Team.

LeAnn is our Controller at Hartsell Funeral Home. She was born and raised in Stanly County and lives in Oakboro. She started working at the funeral home 24 years ago in 1997. LeAnn feels honored and blessed to work at such a caring place. She enjoys spending time with her husband, grown son, and their two dogs, Bailey and Newton. Her hobbies include traveling to new places and countries, shopping and trying out new restaurants.

Angie joined our Accounting staff in May 2017. She is a native and lifelong resident of Stanly County. She is an active member of Homeland Baptist Church of Albemarle, where her husband serves as Pastor. Angie has two grown children, and the family enjoys being outdoors fishing and riding motorcycles. She enjoys listening to Southern Gospel music and spending time with her family, as well as her church family. Angie is grateful to God for her position at Hartsell and hopes that she can always share the love of Jesus with others when given the opportunity.

Todd joined the Hartsell family in 2018 as maintenance coordinator. He was born and raised in Albemarle and married Sue Freeman. They have two children, Zach and Caroline, and two grandsons. Todd and Sue have been members of First Baptist Church in Albemarle for 26 years and Todd is part of the church staff as facility manager. He enjoys spending time with Sue and their family, taking trips to the beach and mountains, camping and riding his motorcycle. He also enjoys giving back to the community. He has helped with many habitat houses, several wheelchair ramps and 1 trip to Puerto-Rico to rebuild roofs after a hurricane. Todd was a residential and commercial contractor for 28 years specializing in custom homes and remodeling. Todd brings 41 years of construction experience to Hartsell’s and does most of the maintenance work and special projects himself. He enjoys being part of such a caring staff and seeing the way that the families are comforted during a difficult time of loss.