Russell Friberg

Founder / Licensed FD & Emb, TN & GA

Russell Friberg founded Heritage Funeral Home in 1993 along with Ross and Thelma Lane.  He has served the Chattanooga, North Georgia area through funeral service for nearly 50 years.  He and his son, Ben Friberg, continue serving families in the Chattanooga, North Georgia area through the Heritage Battlefield Chapel in Fort Oglethorpe, GA.  Russell stays involved in numerous civic organizations that serve the Chattanooga, North Georgia communities. 

Telephone: 1-423-400-6132

Ben Friberg

Managing Partner /Ga. Director / Embalmer

Ben Friberg is the Managing Partner of Heritage Funeral Home and Crematory, Battlefield Parkway. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville as well as Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science. Upon graduating from UT in 2000, Ben joined Heritage Funeral Home to work alongside his father, Russell Friberg.

Telephone: 1-423-605-7410

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Ross C. Lane

Founder

Ross Lane is one of the biggest contributors to the funeral profession in Chattanooga and North Georgia. He began his career as a young man with Coulter Funeral Home and Bryan Funeral Home. In November 1958 he started Lane-McCormick Funeral Home on Chickamauga Avenue. As the business grew, it changed to Lane-Routh then Lane Funeral Home, South Crest Chapel. Throughout the successful years that followed, Ross built and purchased several other locations such as Valley View Chapel, Summerville Chapel, R.J. Coulter Chapel, Tennessee-Georgia Memorial Park and other ventures. The funeral business flourished under the leadership of Ross; he decided to retire in 1986. He wanted to travel a bit and enjoy his farm in Burning Bush while tending to his prize possessions, his beautiful Belgian and Clydesdale horses and cattle. In 1993, he decided to re-enter the funeral profession as a partner with Russell Friberg and launch Heritage Funeral Home on East Brainerd Road. In 1996, the construction of our Battlefield Parkway Chapel began. It was during this time we faced the untimely death of Ross. Although his presence is greatly missed, the work of Ross Lane continues yet today.

Thelma Lane

Founder

Mrs. Lane was the backbone of Heritage Funeral Home, Battlefield Parkway Chapel for many years. She drew upon her years of experience that dated back to 1958 at Lane Funeral Home serving all families with love and compassion. Mrs. Lane served as a licensed funeral director for over 50 years. She remained active in her church's activities at Burning Bush Baptist and enjoyed time with family.  She lived on her family farm in Burning Bush until her passing.  She is greatly missed and remains close at heart to the staff at Heritage Funeral Home. 

David Cummings

Georgia Director/Embalmer

David is a familiar face to the funeral industry, having started with Lane Funeral Home in 1984. He has served with Heritage Funeral Home since the Battlefield Chapel opened in 1997. He is a graduate of Dalton Junior College and received his degree in mortuary science from Gupton-Jones Mortuary College. He is a member of the Cremation Association of North America. David is past president of North Georgia Civitan Club, member of the Quitman Lodge #106, Ringgold Kiwanis Club, and Georgia Academy of Graduate Embalmers, and co-chairman of the Down Home Christmas Committee in Ringgold for the past 15 years. He has been co-coordinator in the 1890s Day Jamboree for more than 30 years, having been instrumental in starting the family gospel night. David and his wife Marlene reside in Ringgold, Georgia.

Dewayne Gravley

Georgia Funeral Director/Embalmer

Dewayne is a native of Marietta, Georgia and currently makes his home in Ringgold, Georgia. He has been in the funeral industry since 2003 and joined Heritage Funeral Home in July, 2012. Dewayne has served countless families at Heritage and we are thrilled to have him as a member of the team.  Dewayne is a 2017 graduate of Jefferson State Community College. He is a Georgia Licensed Funeral Director/ Embalmer, Certified Crematory Operator and Notary Public. He is a member of Catoosa Baptist Tabernacle and is married to Shelley Smith Gravley, together they have 3 children, Noah, James and Hannah. Shelley is a teacher at Ringgold Elementary School. Dewayne enjoys reading and watching the New York Mets, Atlanta Hawks and Nashville Predators. 

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John Lifsey

Director/Embalmer TN & GA

John is a graduate of John A. Gupton College and Middle Tennessee State University. He has been a licensed funeral director and embalmer since 1968, having 10 years teaching and administrative experience in an American Board of Funeral Service Education accredited Mortuary College. John served as representative to the Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards and as Secretary of the University Mortuary Science Education Association. He is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association and the Georgia Academy of Graduate Embalmers. He is Past Master of the East Ridge Masonic Lodge, Past Sovereign of Knights of Red Cross of Constantine, Thirty Third Degree Scottish Rite Mason, and member of the Alhambra Shrine Temple, the Royal Order of Scotland and the Royal Order of Jesters. He and his wife Ellen reside in Flintstone, Georgia and have a son, Griffin, and four grandchildren. They are members of First Centenary United Methodist Church and the Chattanooga/LaFayette Emmaus Community.

Payton Vaughn

Apprentice (Funeral Director & Embalmer)

Payton Vaughn joined the Heritage team in February 2018. He grew up in Wildwood, GA and graduated from Dade County High School.  Payton possesses an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice and Technology and is currently pursuing his career to become a licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer. Boxing and reading are his favorite ways to pass the time and God, family and friends are the forces that keep his heart beating and his feet moving. He loves working with people to achieve their goals and also enjoys being part of the team at Heritage.

Sue Humble

Ambassador (non licensed)

Sue is our Administrative Assistant/Insurance person here at the Battlefield Parkway Chapel of Heritage Funeral Home. She is a retired mother of three sons and the proud grandmother of four. Sue is a member of Boynton United Methodist Church and enjoys music, baking, decorating, and volunteering at a local nursing home. She especially loves time spent with her grandchildren and friends. Sue makes her home in Ringgold, Georgia with her husband, David.

Mary Jo McCoy

Pianist / Music & Sound Coordinator

Mary Jo joined the Heritage staff part-time in 2013 and became our full-time pianist and music coordinator in November 2014. She is retired from Hyyti Associates, where she worked as an Administrative Assistant and Office Manager for 34 years. Mary Jo and her husband of 52 years, Robert, have two children, four grandchildren and one great-grandson. She is an active member of Temple Baptist Church, where she has also been the pianist for 52 years, as she was offered the position only two weeks prior to her wedding!

Mike Sims

Ambassador(non licensed)

Mike has been with Heritage since the spring of 2007. He is a retired minister, having pastored for 30 years and also trained and educated aspiring ministers. He and his wife Flonnie have three children and nine wonderful grandchildren. When not at the funeral home, Mike enjoys fishing, hunting, and spending time with his family and grandkids. He and his wife live in Ringgold, Georgia.

Dr. Keith McLeod

Ambassador (non-licensed)

Keith McLeod joined the staff at Heritage Battlefield in December 2015. He is a graduate of Southern Bible Institute and Seminary, earning his Doctorate in Ministry. Keith retired from the United States Navy with 20 years of faithful service. He has been Pastor of Boynton Baptist Church in Ringgold for almost 22 years. Keith also serves as Chaplain of Catoosa County Sheriff's Office. Keith and his wife, Joan, have one daughter and four grandchildren.

Bill Lowery

Ambassador (non-licensed)

Bill joined our team in 2018 as an Ambassador. He is a Doctor of Ministry and a retired Minister, having pastored for 20 years in Chattanooga, TN and Sparta, TN. Bill is blessed with 3 children, 5 grandchildren, and 1 great grandchild. In his free time, he likes to fish, hunt, and ride four wheelers. He resides in Ringgold, Ga.

Pat Hamil

Ambassador (non-licensed)

Pat Hamil is one of the kind faces greeting visitors here at Heritage Funeral Home. She has been with us since 2016. She resides in Rock Spring, Georgia with her husband Steve. Pat and Steve have been married for 33 years and greatly enjoy bass fishing together. Pat is also blessed with two children, two granddaughters, and four great-grandchildren.

Liz Wright

Ambassador (non licensed)

Liz is a greeter as well as a hair stylist. Liz has been working in the funeral profession for some 30 years. Liz was former owner and operator of the Beauty Nook Salon in East Ridge for many years. She is a member of New Haven Baptist Church. She lives in Ringgold, Georgia and has a son and daughter, two grandsons and two great-grandsons.

Steve Clark

Family Services

Steve Clark joined the staff at Heritage Battlefield in November 2015. He is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in Business Finance. Steve has assisted individuals in prearranging their funerals for over 15 years in the Cleveland and Knoxville, Tennessee areas. Steve and his wife, Michelle, have three children and one grandchild.

Dr. Danny Williams

Ambassador (non-licensed) / Pianist

Danny has joined the Heritage team as an ambassador and pianist. He recently retired from his position of 28 years as a counselor at Lafayette Middle School. Danny received his bachelors and masters from UTC and his doctorate from UTK. He has played piano almost all of his life, as his father owned a local piano shop. Presently, Danny plays piano for First Cumberland Presbyterian Church as well as the auditioned men’s chorus inSpirit. He also enjoys composing music of his own. Danny and his wife Cindy reside in Ringgold, and they have two sons Richard and Jason.  

Barbara Schrimsher

Ambassador (non-licensed)

Barbara Schrimsher is another kind face greeting visitors here at Heritage Funeral Home. She is a Ft. Oglethorpe native, and lived in Atlanta for eight years. She now resides in Ft. Oglethorpe with her husband Dell. Barbara and Dell enjoy traveling and spending time with family. They have two children and seven grandchildren. They also enjoy sports, and are proud Alabama fans. 

Julia Ellison

Ambassador (non-licensed)

Julia Ellison is a lovely addition to our team of ambassadors here at Heritage Funeral Home. She is a Tennessee native, and has lived in Ft. Oglethorpe for three years. Julia is widowed, and has one daughter and two grandchildren. In her free time, she enjoys working in her yard, traveling, and sports. Staying true to her roots, Julia is a Tennessee Vols fan. She attends Catoosa Baptist Tabernacle.

Cheyanne Kilgore

Ambassador (non-licensed)

Cheyanne is one of our caring Ambassadors. She has a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Georgia, along with a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology. Cheyanne grew up in the Catoosa County area, and you’ll find she’s incredibly passionate about serving others in the community. In her free time, you will find her reading a good book or enjoying the outdoors. One of her greatest passions is animals, as she has a home filled with dogs, and grew up riding horses. She resides in Ringgold, GA with her husband Daulton and their three dogs.

Danny Pinter

Ambassador (non-licensed)

Danny Pinter became a part of the Heritage staff in August of 2019. Originally from Jackson, MS, he is a graduate of Mid-America Christian University, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Warner University, Lake Wales, Florida. Danny has been in full-time Christian ministry for over 40 years, serving churches in Mississippi, Florida, and Tennessee. He is currently pastor of Ridgeline Church of God in East Ridge, TN. Danny is married to his wife and best friend, Linda, and will celebrate their 43rd anniversary in December. The Pinters have 2 adult children and 3 grandchildren.

Shane Apostol

Office Manager

Shane joined the Heritage Family as our Office Manager in July of 2023. He graduated from Ridgeland High School in 2014. In his free time, he likes to go hiking and explore the outdoors and spend time with his wife, Erica and his son, Archer. He and his wife are also animal lovers, to which they have four Chihuahuas. Shane resides in Ringgold, Georgia. 

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