Our Staff

Jeremy grew up between Coosa, GA, and Centre, AL, and he was 8 years old when he decided he wanted to be a veterinarian and an undertaker.

He is an Auburn alum, where he worked hard for and received a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Sciences and a Doctorate degree in Veterinary Medicine. Jeremy also holds licenses as a funeral director, cremationist, and preneed sales agent. He has been in the funeral industry since 2004. “The sacred honor of caring for a family member is something that I hold dear to my heart.”

When elected as Cherokee County Coroner, he proudly served the community during his term. Then in November 2024, Cherokee Memorial Funeral Home opened its doors. Jeremy also owns Deaton Veterinary Services, located in Cedar Bluff. Alongside these two full-time offices, Jeremy runs two non-profit organizations: Trinity Animal Foundation and Breaking Chains International.

He firmly believes Nehemiah 6:3: “And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?” He will do his best work for you and your family!

Ruby Jo attends Centre Middle School and is involved in the gifted program as well as the middle school band. Ruby’s passion in the funeral home is creating flower arrangements and small tokens of sympathy to share with our families that are in care. Ruby is an owner by proxy until she is old enough to assume her position in the funeral home.

Tona, otherwise known as “T-Maw” to everyone at the funeral home, is the glue that holds Dr. Deaton and his staff together. She also is better known as Dr. Deaton’s mother. While she entered the funeral business, unwillingly at first, she has discovered the true joy in serving others during their time of grief. Tona retired after 40 years of working for the Rome News Tribune to be the full time manager of the veterinary clinic and the funeral home. You will rarely ever find T-Maw around the funeral home without her sidekick, Ruby Jo. Together, these two ladies keep Dr. Deaton and the staff on task at all times.

Cody is a native and resident of Nances Creek, Alabama, just south of Piedmont. He is a 2008 graduate of White Plains High School. He began working in funeral service during his junior year of high school in 2007. In 2011, Cody became a licensed funeral director and in 2018 graduated with an Associate of Applied Science in Funeral Service Education from Jefferson State Community College. He currently holds a funeral director, embalmer, cremationist, and pre-need sales agent license with the State of Alabama and is a notary public. Cody entered the funeral service ministry to help people and to give back to the community.

Whitney is a proud mother of her two children, and has been married to her husband for 15 years. She graduated from Jefferson State in 2014 as a licensed Funeral Director and embalmer. Whitney loves knowing she can help a family at one of the hardest times of their lives, while grieving. She loves to volunteer in various organizations as a board member for children in her community, as well as her own. 

Don was born in Bowling Green, KY, and raised in Fairborn, OH. After 47 years in the wholesale hardware business, he has returned to his roots as a Funeral Director and Embalmer. Mr. Skaggs is a graduate of the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science of 1972. Mr. Skaggs and his wife recently moved to Cedar Bluff from Cedartown, GA about a year ago to enjoy their retirement on our beautiful Weiss Lake. God had different plans, and brought him back into the funeral business after his family started using Dr. Deaton for their sweet dachshund, Teddy. After 50 years of marriage and the blessing of 3 beautiful children and 10 lovely grandchildren, he has walked through the loss of a granddaughter, both parents, and a son- which has helped him in understanding grief with families. God has called the Skaggs family to a ministry right here in Cherokee County, serving the community not only in the funeral business, but also in their local church, Pine Grove Baptist.  Don loves being out on his new pontoon in Weiss Lake and spending time with his family.

“In the senior years of my life, I’ve realized that I want to give back to the community and to support those who are walking through the same grief my family and I have endured over the past few years. The funeral industry is a ministry to me, to be able to serve others with deep understanding of their emotions and loss.”

A Cherokee County native, Haylee started her career in funeral care back in 2011. She received her associate degree as a Medical Lab Technician in 2017, and she worked alongside our owner, Dr. Jeremy Deaton, during his term as the Cherokee County Coroner.

She has found that working with grieving families is very near and dear to her heart, especially after the passing of her husband in 2023.

Haylee says, "To me, working at the funeral home is not a job, it is a God-given opportunity that allows me to treat each family as they are my own, with the respect and dignity they deserve.”

Haylee is now remarried and a proud mother to her daughter and two chosen/step-children. She lives on her hobby farm in Leesburg.

Haylee works as the Operations Director, Licensed Apprentice Funeral Director and Embalmer.

Doug Machleit enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1964, at the young age of 17 years old, where he earned his very first stripe during Bootcamp. In 1965 on Christmas Day, at the age of 18 years old, he was wounded in combat and awarded the Purple Heart, among several other medals.

Mr. Machleit is honored and privileged to participate in supporting families of all military branches by providing folding of the U.S. flag and recognizing the importance of paying well-deserved final respects to our dedicated Veterans.

After the profound loss of his father in 2020, Robby felt a strong desire to help others navigate their grief. While exploring job opportunities, the role of funeral assistant fell right into his lap after meeting Dr. Deaton and his team at the Vet Clinic.

Robby shares, “The most meaningful part of my job is making sure that all families get the same care that I would want my family to have!" He lives in Cedar Bluff with his three dogs and three cats. In his free time, he enjoys exploring the outdoors and relaxing by the lake.

After losing a loved one, you need caring people around you every step of the way. Rickey Roberts, Funeral Assistant, is committed to ensuring that every family receives the compassion and support they need.

With 14 years of experience in the funeral industry, Rickey dedicates himself to providing excellent care during times of loss. As a lifelong native of Centre, he is passionate about serving the people in our community.

When fall arrives, you can find him cheering on the University of Alabama and yelling "Roll Tide!" alongside his wife and children.

Sharon grew up in a military household in North Carolina, as her father was a US Marine. They traveled and lived in 9 different states. She is a proud mother of 3 grown sons. Sharon has known our owner, Jeremy Deaton, for 4 years and currently works as an intercessor at the funeral home and at his vet clinic. She is a member of Clearview Worship Center and part of their Food Ministry Outreach.

Passionate about her job as an intercessor, which includes lifting up prayers for protection, financial ease, peace, and comfort. She particularly is proud to be an important part of the families we serve at the funeral home to feel the peace of God over their lives as they go through grief and feel the comfort of the holy spirit after a loss. At the Vet clinic, she intercedes for peace, unity, and togetherness. She enjoys ministering to people & putting it into action in their daily lives. Initially, she donated the first set of chairs that have been used in the services of all the families we have hosted. She prayed over the sanctuary, anointed the chairs with oil and prayers for finding peace and comfort in God, and prayed for every family and friend to feel the presence of the Lord during time here. She is comforted in praying for each and every member of the community that walks through our doors.