Our Staff

Alan Blevins has been a licensed funeral director and embalmer for over 44 years, holding a license in Arkansas and Tennessee.

He grew up in Mountain Home, Arkansas and attended the University of Arkansas before receiving a scholarship to the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science where he was Valedictorian of his graduating class. He is a member of Pi Sigma Eta Scholastic Fraternity. Alan purchased Williams Funeral Home, Columbia and Mt. Pleasant, TN, from the Williams family in 1982. Under his leadership, the Williams Funeral Home operation has expanded to include an on-site crematory, Polk Memorial Gardens, Pinecrest Memorial Gardens, Cemetery Memorials of Tennessee and Family PALS, the pet and animal loss division of Williams Funeral Homes and Crematory. Alan has served on various boards and charities in Columbia and has been elected as secretary/treasurer and two terms as president of the Cemetery Association of Tennessee and now serves as the Past- President of the Southern Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association. Alan resides in Columbia, TN and has two children, Lauren Ashley and John Alan. He enjoys golfing, fishing and spending time with his family.

Lauren Blevins is a native of Columbia, Tennessee. Lauren went to Belmont University in Nashville, where she graduated with a bachelor's in business administration. During her early years at Belmont, Lauren decided to follow in her father's footsteps of service and currently serves as a licensed funeral director, a licensed crematory operator, and a certified celebrant. Her role as the Chief Operating Officer expanded her passion into cemetery, memorialization, planning in advance, and caring for pets.

Lauren has always had a passion for this industry and a love for technology and strives to continue to look for new ways to serve families in a more personal way.

In 2013 she completed her Master's degree in business from Trevecca Nazarene University. Lauren is a current member of the board of directors for the International Cemetery, Cremation, and Funeral Association (ICCFA), The President of the Southern Cemetery, Cremation, and Funeral Association (SCCFA), President of The Cemetery Association of Tennessee (C.A.T), as well as a sitting member of the United Way Board of Maury County, The Youth Educational Foundation and The Maury Alliance. She also holds the title of Certified Cemetery and Funeral Executive issued by the ICCFA.

Lauren speaks in various parts of the country within different organizations on subjects ranging from wow factors and motivational seminars, to the importance of pre-planning and relationship building.

John Alan Blevins was born and raised in Mt. Pleasant and Columbia, Tennessee. He attended Zion Christian Academy from Preschool until graduation in 2007. Following high school, he attended Lee University and later transferred to the University of Tennessee Knoxville graduating in the spring of 2012, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. He married the love of his life Ashlyn White Blevins, in July of 2013. Currently, Ashlyn practices as an Associate Attorney with Whatley and Associates in downtown Columbia. John obtained his Funeral Director's license after years of watching his father care for others during the most trying of times, he felt that he would be able to carry on his father’s care and compassion for those in need. He is currently the youngest member sitting on the Board of the Cemetery Association of Tennessee.

Pete is the furriest member of the Blevins family. Having one of the most important jobs at Williams Funeral Home of providing snuggles, pets, picking up any dropped food, and warming the laps of those who come into Williams, but luckily, he loves his job.

Some of Petes’ favorite activities are the classics: playing fetch, munching down treats, and chasing that pesky tail that’s always just out of reach. Still undecided about cats.

Pete is one of the hardest working employees of Williams and is always ready to get to work, providing snuggles. Just stop by and ask for him.

Jessica Clawson was born and raised in Columbia, TN. She attended Columbia Central High School and graduated in 2010. A year later, she found her interest in Mortuary Science. She attended John A Gupton and graduated in December 2015. Jessica is a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer.

Jessica is the daughter of Rick & Beth Clawson of Columbia. She is a member of The First Family, First Baptist Church. Jessica likes to spend her free time with her family and friends. She loves racing, four wheeling and the outdoors.

Raised in Sumner County, Tennessee.
Daughter of Gabriela and Foster Vanderpool.
Graduate of John A. Gupton College, a licensed funeral director, and embalmer: Valeria Vanderpool found her calling in providing comfort to families during the most difficult times in their lives.
She found a place to call home at Williams Funeral Home, dedicating herself to serving the families of Columbia, TN.

My name is Deborah, and I am very happy to be a part of the Williams Funeral Home team as a Family Service Counselor. I have lived in 7 different states in my life, but I always had a feeling that I would end up back home in Tennessee. I got my bachelor and Masters's degrees at Middle Tennessee State University in Math education. While I enjoyed teaching, I decided later in life to make a change in my career path. When my mom passed, I was so impressed with the care the local family owned funeral home provided for my family and I. When a large company reached out to me a couple of years later to offer me an opportunity serving families in this compacity, I readily accepted. I relocated to Tennessee in 2019. My desire was to work for a funeral home that was family-owned and showed real care for their community and families. As a result, I ended up at Williams and am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the families in the Columbia/ Mt Pleasant area.

Melicent has been a part of the Williams family since August 1984 and has seen many changes in funeral service over the years. She is a Licensed Funeral Director and works part-time now as an Administrative Assistant. She is the mother of two grown daughters and Nana of 5, ranging in age from age 10 to 3. She is very active, enjoying walking, hiking, and loves to travel.

I am a native of Hohenwald, Tennessee, and graduated from Lewis County High School several years ago. My husband is Don, and we have two fabulous children, Andrew, who works as a welder. He is married to Megan, and they have one daughter, Lilliana, for which I am “Nonna.” Lilly brings much joy and blessings to our family. My daughter, Ashley, graduated from Lipscomb University and now lives in Nashville. I came from a large family of 8 children. Having grown up poor like many other families at the time I did not have the opportunity to go to college.
I worked in a few sewing factories before getting a position in an office. Soon after, my husband and I started a family. I always said I would stay home with my kids, and I did. When my daughter started kindergarten, I signed up at the school to be a substitute teacher. Eight years later, my son got his driver’s license and could be responsible for himself and his sister, so I applied for a full-time job. I started out doing data entry and worked up to office manager at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. Several years later, as life would have it, I decided it was time to move on. I worked as a Medical Receptionist for almost two years when I saw a job posting for Office Administrator for Williams Funeral Home. I felt like this would be a better fit for me. I lost a sister-in-law to cancer just a few years earlier and my mother-in-law after that. It was a difficult time for my family. I wanted to use these life experiences and the things I learned over the years working in an office to help people. It makes me very happy to be able to assist families with writing obituaries, filling out all the information in the online database for death certificates so the families can take care of their personal business. I also like working in the company to help make things go smoothly for everyone.

Maria was born and raised in Utah. Having grown up at the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains, the love for the outdoors runs through her blood. She grew up hiking, swimming, camping, four-wheeling in the summer months, snowboarding in the winter.

She moved to Tennessee 7 years ago. She is the proud mother of three beautiful children; Amrika, Davin, and Titus. She enjoys spending her free time with her kids and hiking and running, with her best four-legged Buddy aka “Frankie Roseletti”.

Brad O’Neal is a native of Mt. Pleasant, TN, and lives in Columbia. After High School, he attended Columbia State Community College where he received his Associates's degree in Commercial Entertainment. After a time in bi-vocational music ministry, he completed his Bachelor’s in Religion from Liberty University. Brad, having a passion for music, voice, and loving people, began his career as a Worship Pastor to churches from Nashville to Oklahoma City. After 15 years of leading people in worship, Brad moved back to Columbia.

His passion for investing in others and in the community led him to Williams Funeral Home. As the Community Outreach Coordinator, he works to connect the many entities of Williams Funeral Home to the community.

Brad loves spending time with his family and two boys, Luke and Jude. They enjoy traveling, camping, and exploring new places. They also have two dogs, Maya and Lexi, that often accompany them on their many adventures.

A native of Muncie IN, Jerry Strahan graduated with a bachelors degree in Psychology from Ball State University. He served with the Indiana National Guard 151st Rangers as an infantry paratrooper and medic... Airborne!

As a member of Grace Nazarene Church, Columbia TN, he has served as a board member, Sunday School teacher, and currently serves on the building committee. He is a past president of the Zion Christian Academy PTO. He and his wife, Rebecca, have owned a graphic arts business in Columbia since 1989. He retired with 38 years service from GM in 2004.

The proud father of two sons; Matthew and Joshua, he most enjoys spending time with his wife and family.

Lane Stephens is a long-time resident of Columbia, Tennessee. She graduated from Columbia Central High School in 2016. She currently has an Associate’s Degree in Graphic Design and would like to continue her education. Lane loves to bring her creativity in designing tributes for families. Some of these tributes include creating DVD slideshows, memorial folders, laser engraving pet and human urns, cutting boards, and more. Lane is one of the youngest employees at Williams Funeral Home and is vastly experienced with technology: specifically programs such as Photoshop and In Design. She also works on various design projects to make WFH more modernized.

Jenna Harrington was raised in Gallatin, Tennessee. She graduated from Station Camp High School, class of 2016. In the fall of the same year she started mortuary school at John A. Gupton College. She graduated from Gupton in December 2019. She is an apprentice Funeral Director and Embalmer.
She is a member of North Boulevard Church of Christ in Murfreesboro, TN. She spends her free time with her friends, family, and playing trivia.

Bob Miller has currently resided in Maury County for 17 years. He and his wife of 49 years are the proud parents of 7 children, 18 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. Bob is very active at Grace Church of Nazarene church where he served as Church Secretary, Sunday School Superintendent, and served on the Board for 16 years. He started the "First Impressions" ministry and continues to serve in that ministry, as well as being a small group leader.

After the tragic loss of a 16 year old daughter in an automobile accident, he has the desire and compassion to help others through their loss.

Bob Vassar was born in Huntsville, Alabama. After graduating from Lee High School he attended the University of Alabama in Huntsville then transferred to Samford University in Birmingham, AL where he received his BA degree with a major in religion and minor in sociology.

In 1980 he received the Master of Divinity Degree from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY.

He and his wife Lisa moved to Columbia, TN in 1992. They have three daughters, Mary (Josh), Taylor, Sara Vassar and Rachel Vassar and two grandsons, Jackson and Austin Taylor.

Bob is the retired Sr. Pastor of Pleasant Heights Baptist Church having been given the honorary title of Pastor Emeritus of the Church on December 31, 2014.

Jack was born and raised in East Tennessee. Moved to Columbia in 1975 starting a new business with his wife Bobbie. They work in their Towncraft Cookware Business for almost 40 years.

Jack and Bobbie were married 50 years before her passing in December 2013.

Proud parents of one daughter (Deana) and two grandchildren. I am a member of the Pleasant Heights Baptist Church and also sings the choir.

Started working at the Funeral Home in May 2014 after Bobbies passing. I love meeting people and helping them through their time of grief. I just love people.

Barbara was born and raised in Columbia, TN. Married to Billy Garland. She is the mother of three children. She worked at General Electric in Columbia for 19 years and in Louisville, KY for 3 years. She stayed in Louisville for 17 years before moving back in 2011. She is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

Jane Jones was born in the Sawdust Community and raised in Maury County. She has lived in Mt. Pleasant for the last 42 years. Jane works full time at Maury Regional Medical Center and has been a funeral assistant for the last 21 years for the Williams Funeral Home family.

Jane loves working in her yard and raising flowers. She attends the Mt. Nebo Methodist Church.

She is the mother of three children, Byron (Connie) Jones of Mt. Pleasant, Kimpy (Bill) Collins of Franklin and Garrick Jones of Mt. Pleasant. Jane has two children, Ryan Holtsford of Franklin who attends Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro and Katelyn Jones of Mt. Pleasant who is a senior at Mt. Pleasant High School.

I am a Williams Funeral Home assistant, helping families in every possible way that I can. I have lived all my life in Mt. Pleasant. Robert and Sue were my parents they had eight children and I am the fourth. I served in the military for three years in Hawaii. In 1965 I married Mary Ann Lane and we have one daughter Kim (Jay) Baker, two grandsons Wesley and Corey and one great-granddaughter Bynlee Baker. I am a member of Allensville Baptist church and serve as a deacon. I love serving my Lord, and spending time with my family and helping others. Oh yes! And I love fishing, if anybody wants to take me!

Donna Whitley was born and raised in Columbia, TN. She attended Columbia Central High School. She is the proud mother of 3 children: Misty, Josh and Jonathan, and now that her children are grown she has 5 wonderful grandchildren: Jacob, Ashlynn, Jaxon, Emma and Brooklyn. She also has a dog named Molly.

Donna loves spending time with her family. She attends church at House of Prayer Baptist Church and has since she was 14 years old. She is very active in the little country church, teaching Sunday School there since she was 20 years old. Donna loves teaching the children, watching them grow up and then teaching their children. She also sings in a group with her sisters: Betty, Tricia and Debra they call themselves "The Kelley Family". Donna has always played the piano at church, but only by ear, she will openly tell you she doesn't know the first note. She also writes and organizes all of the Vacation Bible Schools and festivals the church puts on.

Donna has always worked in management, and also used to be the Greyhound Bus Lines agent here in Columbia for years. Her hobbies were walking , watching movies and going fishing.

She believes in God with all of her heart. Donna believes that God gave her a purpose here on earth, and that is to be able to talk with people and help them in their time of need. She always tries to make sure that she treats others the way they want to be treated.