Jim R. Edwards

Jim R. Edwards is Vice-President and General Manager of Edwards Funeral Homes, and is a third generation funeral director and embalmer. Jim graduated from Southside High School in 1977, received his Associate degree from Westark Community College in 1979, and graduated from Dallas Institute of Funeral Service in 1980. He is past board President of Project Compassion, Vice-President of The Regulus Club for University of Arkansas Fort Smith Athletics, and is member of The Oak Cemetery Commission. Jim and his wife Micki have two children, Erin and Kelsey. Jim's interests include basketball, golf, fishing and quail hunting.

Delmar "Butch" Edwards III

Delmar "Butch" Edwards III is President of Edwards Funeral Homes and is a third generation licensed funeral director and embalmer. He is a 1963 graduate of Northside High School, and attended Westark Community College prior to earning his Batchelor degree from the University of Arkansas in 1968. He is a 1969 graduate of The Dallas Institute of Funeral Service. Butch's community involvement include: Member of Christians Business Men's Committee and former chairman of The Mayor's Prayer Breakfast, Charter member and Trustee of Community Bible Church of Fort Smith, supporter and member of The Fellowship of Christian Athletes Golf committee, member of the Fort Smith Exchange club, charter member and Co-Chairman of The First Tee of Fort Smith, past board member of St. Edward Mercy Medical Center foundation and advisory board, past board member of The Fort Smith Boy's Club, past president of The Arkansas Funeral Directors Association, and past Chairman of The Arkansas Burial Association Board. Butch and his wife Cheri have three children, Daxon of Nashville, Tennessee, Esti Corcoran of Rogers, Arkansas, and Emberli Edwards of New York City. Butch's interests include golf, elk and deer hunting, and trout fishing.

Gilbert Quinalty

Gilbert Quinalty has been with Edwards-Fentress Funeral Homes since 1976, as an assistant funeral director. He has been married for over 29 years to his wife Anita, and they have two daughters and three grandchildren. Gilbert is member of New Life P.C.G. Church is Van Buren and he enjoys restoring antique cars and participating in local car shows.

Janna Hunter Chronister

Janna grew up in Lavaca, Arkansas and graduated from Lavaca High School. Following graduation she attended the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service. She has been in the funeral industry for over fifteen years and has had the opportunity to work for funeral homes in Austin and Dallas Texas. She has been affiliated with Edwards Funeral Home since 1996 where she is currently a licensed funeral director. Janna lives in Central City, Arkansas with her husband Steve and two daughters. When not working she enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

Randy Smith

Randy Smith is a lifelong resident of Crawford County and has been the manager of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home since 1987. He is a graduate of Van Buren High School and Westark Community College. Randy entered the funeral industry in 1974 working at Fentress Mortuary, and became a licensed funeral director in 1976. Randy lives in Alma, Arkansas with his wife Stacey Leigh (Barnes), who is branch manager of First Community Bank of Van Buren. Randy's interests include gardening, cooking, bird watching, drawing and painting.

Ray E. Stewart

Ray grew up in Fort Smith and attended local schools. He has been married to his wife Shirley for 50 years, retired from the grocery business and has held the position of City Director and Vice-Mayor. He is currently the Justice of the Peace and a Licensed Funeral Director and has been with Edwards Funeral Home for four years.

Renata Sinclair

Renata Sinclair grew up in Ft. Smith where she graduated in 1999 from Southside High School. She is currently attending the University of Arkansas Fort Smith, and is seeking a degree in Forensic Science. Renata is also a certified emergency medical technician and member of Harvest Time Tabernacle. She has been with Edwards Funeral Home since 1998 where she performs many different office duties.

Richard Longmate

Richard Longmate has been with Edwards Funeral Home since 1980. A 1980 Graduate of Dallas Institute of Funeral Service, Richard and his wife Kim and their twins Trent and Rachel make their home in Alma, AR where they are also active in the First Baptist Church of Alma.

Robert Kaelin

Robert Kaelin is the manager of Fentress Mortuary, and has been with Edwards-Fentress funeral homes since 2000. Robert was born and raised in Fort Smith, and is a graduate of Northside High School, Westark Community College, and Dallas Institute of Funeral Service. Robert and his wife Tammy have three children, Hunter, Andrew, and Emily. Robert’s interests include golf and fishing.

Tamara Sinclair

Tamara Sinclair has been with Edwards Funeral Home for twelve years where her duties are bookkeeping and general clerical work. In June 2003 she became the office manager for Fentress Mortuary, yet still assists all locations with bookkeeping. She was born and raised in Fort Smith and was in the third graduating class of Southside High School. After college she moved to San Diego, California where she met her husband of twenty-five years. Terry and Tamara have one daughter, Renata who is attending college while working full time at Edwards Funeral Home. Prior to working at Edwards, Tamara worked as a cemetery representative for U.S. National Cemetery and Woodlawn Memorial Park. In her spare time Tamara enjoys working in her yard.

Terry Campbell

Terry Campbell was born April 13, 1950 in Fort Smith and has lived here since 1963. He attended Ramsey Jr. High and graduated from Southside High School in 1968. He has been employed by Edwards-Fentress Funeral Homes since March of 1971. Terry attends Southside Baptist Church. He is married to Cathy E. Boone and they have one son, Brandon, and Terry has a son Robby. Terry enjoys watching his youngest son participate in baseball, basketball, roller hockey, and golf, and he also enjoys camping and fishing. Terry and his wife are very active in First Tee of Fort Smith where they are volunteers and members of the Parents' Advisory Board. He enjoys going to local elementary schools and presenting Escape School to the kids, and is also active with the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 467 and members of the 188th non-commissioned Officers Club in bringing the Vietnam Wall Experience to Fort Smith.

Tim Chilcott

Tim Chilcott started to work for Edwards-Fentress Funeral Homes in 1986 as an apprentice funeral director. In 1994 Tim and his wife Marla, purchased a retail wine and beer makers supply store, and in 1996 Tim left the funeral industry to run his business full time. Tim sold the business in 1998 and rejoined Fentress Mortuary, becoming a licensed funeral director in 2000. His hobbies include homebrewing, wine making, and practicing martial arts.

Tim Hess

Tim grew up in Van Buren, Arkansas, attended both Van Buren High School and the University of Arkansas majoring in Organ Performance. He is an active member of the American Guild of Organist and is currently Organist/Choirmaster of St. John's Episcopal Church and Christ The King Catholic Church. He was voted Arkansas Church Musician of the Year in 1989 by the National Federation of Music Teachers, and taught private piano and organ for twenty-seven years. He is a Licensed Funeral Director and has been with Edwards Funeral Home since 1991.

Randy Fingerhut

Randy has 35 years experience in local funeral service, with 29 years at Edwards Funeral Home and 6 years as former owner of Fingerhut Funeral Home of Fort Smith. A Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer since 1975, he has managed the Family Service Department since 1988. He and his wife Karen reside in Van Buren and have two children, Colby and Katie. A charter member of Heritage United Methodist Church in Van Buren and local Viet Nam Veterans of America, he enjoys family, creative business ventures and watching baseball and basketball.

Tamara Speaker

Tamara grew up in Fort Smith where she graduated in 1999 from Southside High School. She studied in France and attended Westark Community College. She married Jared Speaker in May 2006. She has worked at Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home since 2001, where she began as a part-time receptionist. She has been the office manager since February 2005. She attends Community Bible Church and enjoys decorating and traveling.

Gwen Burton

Gwen has worked at Edwards Funeral Home since 1989 as a Family Service Counselor, assisting families before and after a funeral. Gwen and her husband Jim have been married 36 years, and have two children and four grandchildren. Natives of Texarkana, they moved to Fort Smith in 1972 and are active members of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, as well as other community activities.

Ova Peters

Ova has been with Edwards Funeral Home since June 2004. He is a native of Kansas City, MO where he graduated in 1977 from Westport High School. (Famous alumni : Walt Disney) Ova served in the U.S. Army from 1977-1986 where he had two tours of Germany. He was stationed in Ft. Hood, TX, Ft. Campbell KY, and Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD. Ova's hobbies are fishing, college sports, Pro football, cooking, and reading. He is married to the former Deborah Tinkshell of Fort Smith, AR

Danny Cross

Danny grew up in Fort Smith and graduated from Northside High School in 1964. He attended Westark Community College on a baseball and basketball scholarship. Danny and his wife of over 40 years, Terry, have four children, Michelle Cole, Donnie Cross, Dr. Brian Cross, and Danna Rodebush along with four grandchildren. They attend East Side Baptist Church and Terry is involved in the Pet Therapy Ministry and Danny take yearly medical mission trips to Senegal, West Africa. Danny is a licensed Funeral Director and has been with Edwards Funeral Home since 2005. He enjoys being involved in his grandchildren's activities, gardening, prison ministry and singing in The Jesus Man Gospel Band.

George Brasuell

George grew up in Van Buren and graduated from Van Buren High School in 1993. Then attended The Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service in Houston, Texas where he graduated with honors in 2005. While at the Commonweath Institute George received the Waltrip award. George and his wife Gina have two children Zack and Jacob, they attend Butterfield Assembly of God Church in Van Buren. George is a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer and has been with Edwards Funeral Home since 2003. He enjoys playing golf and spending time with his family.