History & Staff

Earl W. Darby is a native of Cherokee County. As a child he attended Canton Elementary School and went on to graduate from Cherokee High School. After high school, Earl attended and graduated from Gupton Jones College of Mortuary Science. In addition, he is a graduate of Georgia Coroner’s Training through the Georgia Police Academy, a Medicolegal Death Investigation Course at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, and Emergency Medical Technician School at Pickens Technical School. Since 1994, he also attends Georgia Coroner’s Annual Training.

Earl began working in the funeral industry while attending Cherokee High School in 1972. It was then that he learned the importance of providing quality service with the utmost integrity. Through his education, he became a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in 1980. His dedication to the profession led him and his wife Olene to purchase the funeral home in 2009. The business they purchased is now known as Darby Funeral Home located on Main Street in Canton, Georgia.

From January of 1993, until Dec 31, 2021 Earl served the citizens of Cherokee County as the elected position of Cherokee County Coroner.

His professional involvement includes:
• Appointed to Georgia Coroner’s Training Council from 2004 to 2019
• Member of Georgia Coroner’s Association from 1993 to present
• Served in several offices of the Georgia Coroner’s Association including President in 2005-2006
• Served as Chairman of the Georgia Coroner’s Association Legislative Committee
• Served on the Cherokee County Child Fatality Review Committee
• Awarded Georgia Coroner of the Year by the Georgia Coroner’s Association in 2006
• Awarded LeRoy Simms Distinguished Service Award by the Georgia Coroner’s Association in 2006
Awarded by The Georgia Funeral Directors Association 40 Year Service award as a Funeral Director
• Selected to serve on the Georgia Department of Human Resources Vital Electronic Information System Oversight Committee

His community involvement involves but is not limited to:
• Member and President of the Canton Jaycees
• Member and Chairman of the Cherokee Community Action Committee
• Member of the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce (Past Board of Directors Member)
• Founding Member and Chairman for 5 years of the Cherokee Volunteer Aging Council
• Founding Member and Past Chairman of the Cherokee Triad / S.A.L.T. Council
• Member of the Canton Masonic Lodge #77 (Past Master 2019 & Current Chaplain)
• Member of the Cherokee Shrine Club ( Past President 2016 and Current Treasurer)
Graduate of Leadership Cherokee
• Past Chairman of Leadership Cherokee
•Former Member of the Advisory Board for Life Link of Georgia
• Served as Volunteer Coordinator for President George Bush visit in 1992
• Served as Chairman for Relay for Life
• Former member of the Cherokee County Cancer Society
• Volunteered at the Cherokee County Senior Center for over 20 years
Current Member of Imperial Shrine 2025 Public Relations Committee
Past Member of the Canton Downtown Development Authority

Earl and Olene have two children, two granddaughters, and two great granddaughters. They reside in The Keithburg Community of Canton, GA.

Olene McFarland Darby was born and raised in the Keithsburg Community in Cherokee County, Georgia. She is the daughter of Olin and Inez Mashburn McFarland. Olene and her husband Earl Darby are the owners of Darby Funeral Home in Canton, Georgia.

Olene attended Clayton Elementary School, Cherokee High School, and Atlanta Business College. She also completed and received certificates from Georgia Southwestern University (Rosalyn Carter Center) Caregiving Management and Education for Family Caregivers.

Early in her career, Olene was employed by Western Electric. Before becoming an owner of Darby Funeral Home in 2009, Olene spent 27 years working in senior services to include the Meals on Wheels Program. She retired in February of 2009 from Cherokee County Senior Services as a certified Information and Referral Specialist and Director of the Caregiver Program in which she developed. Olene is also a Certified Ombudsman in addition to being active with the Title V Senior Employment Program.

Olene’s community involvement includes but is not limited to:
• Cherokee County Fan Drive for Seniors
• Cherokee Community Action Committee
• Relay for Life
• Cherokee County Triad
• White Christmas / Cherokee Christmas
• Cherokee County Senior Network
• AIRS
• Senior Olympics for North Georgia
• Cherokee Learning Center
• Cherokee Family Violence Center
• Northwest Georgia Alzheimer’s Association
• Advisory Council for Geriatric Activity Place
• Speaker for Family Caregiver Groups
• Canton Jaycees
• Woodstock Jaycees
• Georgia Council on Aging
• Advisory Council for Elder Abuse Program

Olene and Earl have two children, two granddaughters, and one great granddaughter. They reside in Holly Springs, GA.

Joseph Edwin Dowda Sr. (Joe) was born on August 24, 1939 in Cherokee County, Georgia. He grew up in the Keithsburg Community between Canton and Ball Ground. Joe attended both Canton High School and Cherokee High School graduating from Cherokee in 1957. Joining the United States Army in 1958, he served until 1960. While in the army, Joe was awarded the Basic Service Most Outstanding Soldier Award. He also played on the post baseball team while stationed at the Army Chemical Center. Although Joe has owned several local businesses throughout the years, he first began in the funeral business working from 1961-1968. Joe attended and graduated from John A. Gupton School of Mortuary Science in 1964. He is licensed by the State of Georgia as a Funeral Director and Embalmer. After spending several years as an entrepreneur, he went back to work in the funeral business in1999. After the funeral home was purchased by Earl and Olene Darby in 2009, Joe remained with the business as an important part of its success.

Joe was married to Shirley Hembree-Dowda in 1964. They were married for fifty years before her death in 2014. They have two children, Jody and Kathy in addition to four grandchildren. Joe has been a member of the Canton Masonic Lodge #77 since 1964 and is a past Master. He is a member of the Cherokee Shrine Club once serving as President. He also worked at Northside Chapel in Roswell, Georgia from 1987-1999. Joe served as Deputy Coroner in Cherokee County for thirteen years. He is a member of Chalcedonia Baptist Church.

Todd Sanders was born on August 6, 1966. He graduated from Brunswick High School in 1984. After high school, Todd attended West Georgia University on a football scholarship. In 1987, he graduated from Gupton Jones College of Funeral Service. Todd is licensed by the State of Georgia as a Funeral Director and Embalmer and a Licensed Life Insurance Agent. He is married to Virginia Lee Wigington-Sanders of Jasper, Georgia. They are the proud parents of one son, Michael Gabriel “Gabe” Sanders and live in Talking Rock, Georgia. Todd also belongs to the Canton masonic Lodge #77 in Canton, Georgia.

Michael R. Smith was born February 5th, 1985 in Marietta, GA. He grew up in Woodstock where his mother was the librarian for Woodstock Elementary and his father owned and operated a CPA practice on Main Street.

After his mother's passing, Michael's family moved to Talking Rock, and he graduated Gilmer High School in 2003. By his early teens, his career goal was to become a funeral director, and he first started working at the local funeral home at the age of 15. Michael went on to graduate from Jefferson State Community College with a degree in mortuary science. He is licensed as a funeral director, embalmer, and life insurance agent in the state of Georgia. His main role is in assisting families with preplanning for their funeral and memorial services.

Michael and his wife Kirbi reside in Ellijay and are members of River Hill Baptist Church.

Dennis has been a resident of Cherokee County for the last 40 years. He is a retired mechanic that worked for North Canton Chevron for 18 years. He is married to Penny Page Crothers. They reside in Canton, Georgia.

Ray was born in March 1951, raised in Pennsauken, N.J., and graduated from Camden Catholic High School in 1969. He attended and graduated from the University of Dayton and Camden County College. He married Paula Andrews DeLuca in June 1973 and moved to Canton, Ga. in October of 1974. Together they have 2 children and 3 grandchildren. Ray worked for the Georgia Department of Agriculture as a Fuel and Measures Inspector for 22 years and 13 years in the Animal Protection Division as an inspector and field supervisor. After 35 years he retired from the GDA on March 31, 2009, and the following day began working for the University of Georgia as a Companion Animal Emergency Planning Specialist from 2009-2013. He has been a disc-jockey since 1980 and works events such as weddings, reunions, car shows, parties, etc. His hobbies include repairing old advertising clocks, collecting Coca Cola memorabilia, playing softball, picking with his brother Mike, buying and selling at auctions and farming on their farm in Dodge County. He serves as a league director for the Cherokee County Senior Softball Association, board of directors for the Canton Main Street program, president of the Rock Creek Homeowners Association, past vice-president of the Coca Cola Collectors Club, honorary member of Po Boys Car Club and teaches Emergency Management Preparedness for Animal and Human Safety throughout Georgia and adjoining states. Ray is a cancer survivor and supports Relay for Life as well as Children's Cancer Research for one of his grandchildren. He considers Rev. Charles Davis as a great help and influence to his life. Ray joined the staff of Darby Funeral Home in December of 2015.

Robert is a life-long resident of Cherokee County. He retired as the owner of Canton Auto Repair. He and his wife Betty are members of New Hope Baptist Church where he serves as a deacon.

Rick is a lifelong resident of Canton. He was known as "Larry" in high school. Rick spent fifty years as a land surveyor. He and his wife, Diane, have three sons, and live in the Buffington community. They are members of Buffington Baptist Church.

Linda is a life-long resident of Cherokee County. She is a graduate of Cherokee High School and Berry College. She retired from Cobb Electric Membership Corporation as Director of Member Care after 30 years of service.
Linda currently resides in Canton with her husband, Russell J. Simmons. She has one son, Charles (Scooter) Burgess, and two grandsons. She enjoys spending time with family and friends and working on various community projects while actively attending Action Church in Canton.

Todd grew up in Ball Ground, Georgia. He is currently the owner of Total Data Solutions. He is a member of Jasper First United Methodist Church. Todd and his wife Kellie reside in Tate, Georgia.

John is the son of Rymon and Marlene Holaway and was born in Oneonta, Alabama. He has lived most of his life in Cherokee County. He attended Etowah and Cherokee High Schools and graduated from Cherokee in 1982. He is married to Kelly Henderson-Holaway and they have 4 children; Crystal, Isaac, Sarah, and Rebekah and 4 grandchildren. John is also an ordained minister and is currently the pastor of Siloam Baptist Church in Forsyth County. He has also served as pastor at Ophir, Four Mile, Nelson, Rock of Ages, and Zion Baptist churches. John and Kelly are members of Nelson Baptist Church and reside in Ball Ground, Georgia. John is also a die-hard Alabama Crimson Tide fan.

Doug is currently employed by Top Hat Limousine Service. He and his wife Jessica reside in Woodstock.

Jeff is a life-long resident of Cherokee County. After spending several years owning a trucking business and working for Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services, he is currently working in the trucking business. Jeff resides in Canton.

Saul Ibarra was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, graduating from McCollum High School in 2015. After graduating high school, he enrolled in the Mortuary Science program at San Antonio College while working at Porter Loring Mortuary, and later at Mission Park Funeral Chapels and Cemeteries South. After a longer than anticipated break from school, Saul moved to Canton, Georgia in 2018 to continue his education in mortuary science, enrolling in mortuary school in 2020 and graduated with the Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service class of 2022. Saul is a member of Northbrook United Methodist Church in Roswell where he is active in the music ministry.

Abigail is a resident of Woodstock, Georgia where she grew up and still lives on the family farm. She is the daughter of Doug and Jessica Owens. Abigail grew up here in Canton helping out at her family’s restaurant, Georgian Hills, where she continues to work today. Abigail graduated from high school in 2021 as a homeschooled student with three years of dual enrollment with Truett-McConnell University. She was a dancer for many years taking ballet, jazz, musical theater and tap classes at Academy of Dance Arts here in Canton from the ages of four to eighteen. When she’s not working, Abigail enjoys spending time with her family and friends and traveling every chance she gets.

Chad Hunt was born in Bogalusa, Louisiana., and grew up in Mississippi. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music education, a master’s of choral conducting, and has recently completed a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Conducting, all from the University of Southern Mississippi. He has taught high school choir and music in Mississippi and has worked in music ministry at many churches. Chad is the Director of worship and music at Northbrook United Methodist Church in Roswell, Georgia.

In addition to his work at Northbrook, currently Chad teaches music theory and aural skills at Kennesaw State University. He has a special interest in shaped note music, a tool for teaching visual learners to sight sing easily if they don’t have a musical background. Chad is proud of Georgia's rich history of teaching shaped note music and preserving it as folk art.

He is married to Randy, and they have four children: Colin, Caleb, Gracie and Chloe. In his spare time, Chad enjoys playing piano, Disney vacations, snow skiing and traveling.