Our staff's commitment to you

Our staff is committed to providing support, compassion, information, and direction as needed to all members of our community, their families, and friends who are dealing with loss and grief.

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Kevin W. Roper Owner/Funeral Director/Embalmer

Kevin is the owner and operator of Roper Funeral Home and Crematory.  He began working in the funeral service at the age of 13.  After graduating from Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service in 1998 he became a licensed funeral director and embalmer.  He purchased the funeral home from the Chapman Family in February of 2001.  He later completed his bachelors degree in Business Communication from Ottawa University and is currently attending Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. Kevin served as Coroner in Pickens County from 2005-2016, Past President of the Georgia Coroner’s Association, and is Past Master of Blaine Masonic Lodge #534. He is a member of the Georgia Funeral Director’s Association, the National Funeral Directors Association and First Baptist Church Woodstock. He is married to Leslie McGhee Roper where together they have three sons, William, Trey and Thomas.  

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Brent Chastain Funeral Director/Embalmer

Brent Chastain is a 2018 graduate of Jefferson State Community College in Birmingham, Alabama, a 2000 graduate of Gilmer High School and has worked at Roper Funeral Home since 2009.  Brent is a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer.  He married Trina Roper in September of 2011 and moved to Pickens County.  He and Trina are members of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Ellijay. 

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Michael R. Smith Advanced Planning Director revmichaelsmith@hotmail.com

Michael is a graduate of Gilmer High School, Class of 2003; a graduate of Jefferson State Community College with a degree in Mortuary Science, Class of 2012. He is a licensed life agent, funeral director, and embalmer.  Michael specializes in helping families to make funeral arrangements in advance.  Michael and his wife Kirbi live in Ellijay and are members of River Hill Baptist Church.

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Susan Roland Taylor Administrative Assistant

Susan is a lifelong resident of Pickens County.  She along with her husband, Phillp, live in the Jerusalem Community.  They have two children, Lindsey (A. J. Hammond) and Colby (Brooke); and three granddaughters, Lottie, Riley and Eloise.   She is a graduate of Pickens High School and North Georgia College.  She taught Business Education in Gordon County for one year and at Pickens High School for thirty-four years.  Susan began her second career at Roper Funeral Home in July, 2014.  In her spare time, she enjoys reading and spending time with her family. 

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Mark Godfrey Funeral Assistant

Mark has been with Roper Funeral Home as a full time employee since November of 2015.   He is a lifelong resident of Pickens County having lived in the Refuge Community for the past 23 years and is married to Karen Griffin Godfrey. They have one son, Matthew.  Mark is a graduate of Georgia Southwestern State University, the University of Georgia, and Pickens High School.  He is a member of the Free Hope Baptist Church.  Mark was elected Coroner of Pickens County in 2016. 

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Erin Lohr Funeral Assistant

Erin lives in Pickens County, where she has been a resident for over a decade.  She and her family attend Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Jasper.  She graduated from Gupton Jones College of Funeral Service in January of 2000 and has worked in the funeral industry off and on for several years.  She is currently serving as Deputy Coroner in Pickens County.  While she is not at work she enjoys family time with her husband, Clint, and son, Elijah.

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Jerry Walker Funeral Assistant

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Von Headrick Funeral Assistant

Von started working with Roper Funeral Home in the spring of 2015.  He is a lifelong resident of Pickens County.  Von currently serves as the Assistant Fire Chief for the City of Jasper Fire Department, where he began his career in May of 1993.  He and his wife, Tracy, along with their two children, Lindsey and Lucas, live in Jasper.  In his spare time he enjoys traveling, the outdoors, and spending time with his family.

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Thomas Roper Funeral Assistant

Kevin W. Roper

Owner/Funeral Director/Embalmer
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Kevin is the owner and operator of Roper Funeral Home and Crematory.  He began working in the funeral service at the age of 13.  After graduating from Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service in 1998 he became a licensed funeral director and embalmer.  He purchased the funeral home from the Chapman Family in February of 2001.  He later completed his bachelors degree in Business Communication from Ottawa University and is currently attending Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. Kevin served as Coroner in Pickens County from 2005-2016, Past President of the Georgia Coroner’s Association, and is Past Master of Blaine Masonic Lodge #534. He is a member of the Georgia Funeral Director’s Association, the National Funeral Directors Association and First Baptist Church Woodstock. He is married to Leslie McGhee Roper where together they have three sons, William, Trey and Thomas.  

Brent Chastain

Funeral Director/Embalmer
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Brent Chastain is a 2018 graduate of Jefferson State Community College in Birmingham, Alabama, a 2000 graduate of Gilmer High School and has worked at Roper Funeral Home since 2009.  Brent is a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer.  He married Trina Roper in September of 2011 and moved to Pickens County.  He and Trina are members of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Ellijay. 

Michael R. Smith

Advanced Planning Director
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Michael is a graduate of Gilmer High School, Class of 2003; a graduate of Jefferson State Community College with a degree in Mortuary Science, Class of 2012. He is a licensed life agent, funeral director, and embalmer.  Michael specializes in helping families to make funeral arrangements in advance.  Michael and his wife Kirbi live in Ellijay and are members of River Hill Baptist Church.

Susan Roland Taylor

Administrative Assistant
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Susan is a lifelong resident of Pickens County.  She along with her husband, Phillp, live in the Jerusalem Community.  They have two children, Lindsey (A. J. Hammond) and Colby (Brooke); and three granddaughters, Lottie, Riley and Eloise.   She is a graduate of Pickens High School and North Georgia College.  She taught Business Education in Gordon County for one year and at Pickens High School for thirty-four years.  Susan began her second career at Roper Funeral Home in July, 2014.  In her spare time, she enjoys reading and spending time with her family. 

Mark Godfrey

Funeral Assistant
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Mark has been with Roper Funeral Home as a full time employee since November of 2015.   He is a lifelong resident of Pickens County having lived in the Refuge Community for the past 23 years and is married to Karen Griffin Godfrey. They have one son, Matthew.  Mark is a graduate of Georgia Southwestern State University, the University of Georgia, and Pickens High School.  He is a member of the Free Hope Baptist Church.  Mark was elected Coroner of Pickens County in 2016. 

Erin Lohr

Funeral Assistant
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Erin lives in Pickens County, where she has been a resident for over a decade.  She and her family attend Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Jasper.  She graduated from Gupton Jones College of Funeral Service in January of 2000 and has worked in the funeral industry off and on for several years.  She is currently serving as Deputy Coroner in Pickens County.  While she is not at work she enjoys family time with her husband, Clint, and son, Elijah.

Jerry Walker

Funeral Assistant
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Von Headrick

Funeral Assistant
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Von started working with Roper Funeral Home in the spring of 2015.  He is a lifelong resident of Pickens County.  Von currently serves as the Assistant Fire Chief for the City of Jasper Fire Department, where he began his career in May of 1993.  He and his wife, Tracy, along with their two children, Lindsey and Lucas, live in Jasper.  In his spare time he enjoys traveling, the outdoors, and spending time with his family.

Thomas Roper

Funeral Assistant
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