Our Staff

R. Kent Marcum
Owner and Funeral Director

Kent Marcum serves as President of the firm and is active in assisting families and directing funerals on a regular basis. Kent and his wife, the former Cathy Calloway are the parents of two children, Andrew and Whitney. A licensed funeral director and embalmer in the State of Tennessee, Kent is a graduate of the Kentucky School of Mortuary Science and attended the University of Tennessee and Lincoln Memorial University. An employee of Rose Mortuary since 1976, he is a member of the McKinney Lodge, Northside Kiwanis Club, North Knoxville Business and Professional Association and Halls Business Professional Association. Kent enjoys golf, reading, and traveling. The Marcum’s attend Smithwood Baptist Church.

Robert O. Starkey, III
Owner and Funeral Director

Robert Starkey serves as Vice-President and Secretary/Treasurer of the firm and is active in assisting families and directing funerals on a regular basis. Bob and his wife, the former Anne “Kitzi” are the parents of three children, Beth Starkey Duncan, Brian Starkey, and Adam Starkey. A licensed funeral director and embalmer in the State of Tennessee, Bob is a graduate of the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, a member and past president of the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association, the National Funeral Directors Association, and Rotary International. The Starkey’s attend First Baptist Church of Concord.

Arthur H. Pickle
Funeral Director

Arthur Pickle is the great grandson of E.B. Mann who was the founder of E.B. Mann Undertaking Company, now known as the Mann Heritage Chapel of Rose Mortuary, is active in assisting families and directing funerals on a regular basis. A licensed funeral director and embalmer in the State of Tennessee, Mr. Pickle is a graduate of the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. He is a member of the Rotary Club of West Knoxville, the Greater Knoxville Funeral Service Associates, Tennessee Funeral Directors Association, National Funeral Directors Association, the Knox County Juvenile Court Review Board and the Knox County Juvenile Court Advisory Board. He has one daughter and four grandchildren. Mr. Pickle attends Concord United Methodist Church.

Bill G. Adcox
Funeral Director

A native of Kingston, TN, Bill is a graduate of Roane County High School and attended John A Gupton College of Funeral Service. He is a licensed funeral director in the State of Tennessee and is a member of the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association and the National Funeral Directors Association. Bill and his wife, the former Charlotte Steelman are the parents of two sons, Bryon and Travis. The Adcox’s attend Victory Baptist Church in Kingston.

Don Akers
Funeral Assistant

Don Akers serves the firm as a funeral assistant. A Knoxville native, is a retired teacher in the Knox County School System having taught for 35 years at Holston High, Fulton High and Powell Middle School. He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy and the Marine Corps and served during the Korean Conflict. Don also has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Education Association and the National Education Association. Married to Willeen Akers, they have six children. Bill and Willeen are active members of Central United Methodist Church where he is a member of the Chancel Choir and is Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Brian A. Daniel, CFSP
Funeral Director and Embalmer

Brian Daniel serves as a funeral director and embalmer for the firm. A licensed funeral director and embalmer in the State of Tennessee, Brian is a graduate of Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science and attended Carson-Newman College. An associate of Rose Mortuary since 2004, Brian is a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner with the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice, a member of the British Institute of Embalmers, a member of the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association and a member of the National Funeral Directors Association. In his spare time, Brian enjoys music and traveling. Brian and his wife Debby have two children, Kristin and Tyler and they attend First Baptist Church of Knoxville.

Robert A. Cooper
Funeral Director and Embalmer

Robert A. Cooper is employed by the firm as a funeral director and embalmer. He is a graduate of Halls High School and the Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service. A native of Fountain City, Robert is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in the state of Tennessee and is a member of the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association. He served as a volunteer in 2005 in Mississippi and New Orleans for the Hurricane Katrina Relief efforts. In his spare time, Robert enjoys gardening and is a part-time antique dealer in the Knoxville area.

Barbara S. Davis
Staff Instrumentalist

Barbara Davis has served the firm as our staff instrumentalist for nearly forty years. She is proficient in both piano and organ accompaniment with all styles of music. She has served as organist in several Knoxville churches for more than 45 years. Barbara is married to James Davis and they have 2 children and 2 grandchildren. Barbara enjoys oil painting, traveling and cooking. She and James are active members of Smithwood Baptist Church.

Frank R. Davis
Funeral Director

Frank Davis serves as a funeral director for the firm. An associate of Mann Mortuary since 1978 and Rose Mortuary since 1996, Frank is a member of the Burlington Masonic Lodge #763 F&AM and is a Knoxville Scottish Rite 32-degree Mason. A licensed funeral director in the State of Tennessee, Frank is a member of the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association and the National Funeral Directors Association. Frank and his wife Bashie enjoy traveling and music in their leisure and spending time with their pets.

Bill M. Hall
Funeral Assistant

Bill M. Hall serves the firm as a funeral assistant. A Knoxville native, has been employed in the funeral industry in the Fountain City area since 1994 following 38 years of employment at Rohm and Haas of Tennessee. Married in 1955 to Claudette Willis, Bill and Claudette have two children and five grandchildren. Bill and his family are active members of Central Baptist Church of Fountain City where Bill serves as a Church Deacon. He attended Carson-Newman College and is a veteran of the United States Army, having served in the Korean Conflict.

Whitney M. Hunthrop
Administrative Assistant

Whitney Marcum Hunthrop serves the firm as an administrative assistant specializing in death certification and insurance services at our Broadway Chapel. She is a graduate of Knoxville Catholic High School and attended the Tennessee Technology Center and Carson-Newman College. Whitney is the wife of Justin Hunthrop and they attend Smithwood Baptist Church. Whitney enjoys horseback riding, writing and watching movies.

Ray Jenkins
Funeral Assistant

Ray Jenkins serves the firm as a funeral assistant and is president of Edgewood Cemetery. He is a member of the Cherokee Lodge #728 F&AM and the Bearden Eastern Star He and his wife Velma have two children and are active members of First Baptist Church of Concord.

Linda L. Johnson
Advanced Funeral Planning Coordinator

Linda Johnson serves the firm as our Advanced Funeral Planning Coordinator. A native of Naples, Florida, Linda is a graduate of Edison Community College and is a licensed insurance agent in the State of Tennessee. She has one daughter and grandson and Linda attends First Baptist Church of Knoxville. Linda enjoys stained glass artistry, gardening, scuba diving and nature photography.

Andrew K. Marcum
Apprentice

Drew Marcum serves the firm as an apprentice funeral director and apprentice embalmer. An associate of Rose Mortuary since 2001, Drew is a graduate of Knoxville Catholic High School, Carson-Newman College and attended Nashville School of Law and is currently a senior student at Jefferson State Community College of Funeral Service Education. Drew is engaged to Kathryn Nottingham of Kingsport and attends Smithwood Baptist Church. Drew enjoys golf, traveling and cooking.

William A. Martin
Funeral Director and Embalmer

Bill Martin serves as a funeral director and embalmer for the firm. An employee of Rose Mortuary since 1979, Bill is a graduate of Gibbs High School and the Mid-America College of Mortuary Science. A licensed funeral director and embalmer in the State of Tennessee, Bill is a member of the Burlington Lodge #763 F&AM, the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice, the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association, the National Funeral Directors Association and is a Pre-Need Sales Agent. Bill and his wife Debbie have two daughters, Kayla and Brooke and attend Corryton Church. He enjoys softball and basketball.

Daniel J. Miller
Funeral Director and Embalmer

Dan Miller serves as a funeral director and embalmer for the firm. An associate of Rose Mortuary since 2006, Dan is a graduate of Cypress College School of Mortuary Science and is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in the State of Tennessee. He is also a graduate of the California firefighter/EMT certification program and holds his crematory certification. Dan is active in charity golf events and enjoys biking, camping and boating.

Bill R. Nelson
Funeral Assistant

Bill Nelson serves the firm as a funeral assistant. He is a graduate of South Knoxville High School and is also a part-time usher at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum. Bill is married to the former Carol Lintner and they have one son. The Nelsons attend North Knoxville Baptist Church. Bill’s hobbies include scroll sawing and fishing.

V. Dean Perry
Funeral Director and Embalmer

Dean Perry serves the firm as a funeral director and embalmer. An associate of Rose Mortuary since 2007, Dean is a graduate of Farragut High School and the Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science. He is a member of the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association and the National Funeral Directors Association and has been active in the funeral profession in the Knoxville area for 25 years. Dean and his wife Linda have one son, Hans and attend Park West Church of God. Dean enjoys golf and traveling.

Owen E. Petrey, Jr.
Funeral Director

Owen Petrey serves the firm as a funeral director. An associate of Rose Mortuary since 1998, Owen is a graduate of James A. Cawood High School and attended the Mid-America College of Funeral Service. A licensed funeral director in the state of Tennessee and Kentucky, Owen is a member of the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association, the National Funeral Directors Association, and the Kentucky Funeral Directors Association. A native of Harlan, KY, Owen and his wife Sherrie have four children and four grandchildren and attend the Church of God of the Union Assembly in Knoxville. Owen enjoys trout fishing and camping.

Tommy W. Petty
Funeral Assistant

Tommy W. Petty is employed by the firm as a funeral assistant. A Knoxville native, Mr. Petty has been employed in the funeral industry in the Knoxville area since 1980 following his retirement from his family business, Petty Brothers Grocery. He is a veteran of the United States Army and served in the Korean Conflict. Married in 1952 to Margie Janeway, Tom and Margie have one daughter and one granddaughter. Tom is a fifty-year member of the Mascot Blue Lodge, life member of the Knoxville Kerbela Shrine Temple, fifty-year member of the Knoxville Scottish Rite and is a 32 degree Mason. He also served as the Second District Commander of the Knoxville American Legion and was the Captain of the Kerbela Temple Shrine Ambulance Corp. Tom and his family are members of North Acres Baptist Church.

K. Keith Richards
Funeral Director

Keith Richards serves the firm as a funeral director. An associate of Rose Mortuary since 1990, Keith is a graduate of Clinton High School and the Mid-America College of Funeral Service. A licensed funeral director in the State of Tennessee, Keith is a member of the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association and the National Funeral Directors Association. He is married to the former Karen Robertson and has two children, Justin and Alyssa.

Tom Sexton
Funeral Assistant

Tom Sexton serves the firm as a funeral assistant. He has three children and is a member of Tekoa Baptist Church. Tom enjoys ballroom dancing and music.

Adam M. Starkey
Funeral Director and Embalmer

Adam Starkey serves the firm as a funeral director and embalmer. Adam is a graduate of Farragut High School, the University of Tennessee and Jefferson State Community College of Funeral Service Education. A former teacher in the Knox County School System, Adam is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in the State of Tennessee and is a member of the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association and the National Funeral Directors Association. Adam is married to the former Janna Rymer and they attend First Baptist Church of Concord (Westlake Campus). Adam enjoys coaching soccer and playing ping-pong.

Brian R. Starkey
Funeral Director and Embalmer

Brian Starkey serves the firm as a funeral director and embalmer. Brian is a graduate of Webb School, Jefferson State Community College of Funeral Service Education and the University of Tennessee. After living in California for 13 years, Brian and his family returned to the Knoxville area in 2006. A former administrator and teacher of the Viewpoint School in Los Angeles, Brian is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in the State of Tennessee and is a member of the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association and the National Funeral Directors Association. One of his claims to fame is being one of the winners on the third season of the NBC reality contest, “The Biggest Loser.” Brian is married to the former Sarah Bohm and they have twin daughters, Sophie and Maddie. They attend First Baptist Church of Concord (Westlake Campus).

Sam Ware
Funeral Director

Sam Ware serves the firm as a funeral director. Sam is a graduate of Tennessee Wesleyan College and has complete graduate work in many classes. He is a licensed funeral director in the State of Tennessee and is a member of the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association and the National Funeral Directors Association. Sam and his wife, Karen, have three daughters and two granddaughters and are members of First Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Sam enjoys music and reading.

Ann S. Wykle
Controller and Accountant

Ann Wykle serves the firm as controller and accountant. Ann is a certified public accountant and is a member of the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants. Ann enjoys hiking and reading.

Support Staff

Monuela Rodriguez-Hall (Housekeeping)

Carl Lunsford (Maintenance)

Wayne Little (Maintenance)

Terry Little (Maintenance)

Rose Mortuary

Broadway Chapel

1421 North Broadway

Knoxville, Tennessee 37917

865-523-2121

Mann Heritage Chapel

6200 Kingston Pike

Knoxville Tennessee 37919

865-588-8578