Jeffery F. Wakefield is a native of Arlington, Georgia. He is the son of Dianne Wakefield. Jeffery is a member of Gethsemane Freewill Baptist Church of Arlington. He is a 2001 Graduate of Gupton Jones College of Funeral Service where he earned an Associate of Science degree in Funeral Services. Jeffery is Licensed as a Funeral Director and Embalmer in the state of Georgia and Alabama. He spent many years working as a trade embalmer for W.M. Murray & Sons Funeral Home in Arlington and numerous firms throughout, Southwest Georgia, Central Georgia, and Southeast Alabama and upon the demise of Willie M. Murray Jr., Jeffery, along with his mother, Dianne, acquired W.M. Murray & Sons Funeral Home and renamed it Wakefield Mortuary. He is also the owner of Poteat Funeral Home LLC. of Albany. Jeffery is a member of the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association, The Georgia Funeral Service Practitioners Association (G.F.S.P.A.) which he presently serves as First Vice President, Fourth District of G.F.S.P.A and Academy of Graduate Embalmers of Georgia among other civic organizations. Jeffery has nineteen years of experience in funeral service.
Dianne Wakefield is a lifelong resident of Calhoun County. She is the mother of one son, Jeffery F. Wakefield of Arlington. Dianne is a member of the Gethsemane Free Will Baptist Church of Arlington, GA. She is a graduate of Calhoun County High School in Edison, GA. In 1988 she graduated from Georgia Southwestern State University, receiving a B.S. Degree in Middle Grades Language Arts and Social Studies. She later received a Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction of Reading from Grand Canyon University of Phoenix, Arizona. Dianne and Jeffery shared the vision of one day serving the people of Arlington and surrounding areas. On December 18, 2013 their vision came to fruition when they jointly purchased the former W.M. Murray and Sons Funeral Home and renamed it Wakefield Mortuary. Dianne serves as office manager, apprentice, and owner of Wakefield Mortuary.
Ronnie L. Williams is a lifelong resident of Calhoun County. He is the son of Alice M. Williams and the grandson of Ruth Williams and the late Pete Williams. He is married to Geraldine Williams, they have three children Marquez, J'mya and Jeremiah. He is a graduate of Calhoun County High School. He graduated from Albany Technical College with a diploma in Industrial Electrical Technology. He is a Deacon of the Ebenezer M.B. Church of Leary Ga. He serves on the Arlington Recreation and the Calhoun County Recreational Program boards.
Jeff along with his wife Annie is the owner of the funeral home. Jeff is a 1985 graduate of Wayne State University’s Mortuary Science Program.
He also holds a bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University which he earned in 1992. He enjoys exercising and spending time off with his children – Maggie, Jack and Peter.
Jeff and his family are members of the St. Basil Catholic Church. When time allows, Jeff likes to be active in our community and is a member of the Kiwanis Club, Loyal Order of the Moose, Sons of the American Legion, and the Knights of Columbus. In 2013, Jeff and his family were the St. Basil Knights of Columbus Family of the year.
Jeff was recognized by the Bobby Walker Administration with their Leadership Award in 2010. He was also recognized by the First Spiritual Church of Covert for his role in community leadership in 2015.