our staff

Fred Coggins

In Loving Memory

Fred Coggins is a native of Pike County, Georgia, but has spent most of his adult life in Thomaston serving the needs of families here for over 50 years. Mr. Coggins served his country in the United States Army during WWII. He graduated from Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science in Nashville, Tennessee, and immediately returned to Georgia to begin his life's work of serving those in need.

Jason B. Thornhill

Owner

Coggins Funeral Home Staff is pleased to announce that Jason B. Thornhill is now part of our funeral home family.

Jason comes to us through Wilbert Funeral Services INC/Pierce Chemical Company, where he served as the Georgia and North Florida Sales Representative for several years.

Born and raised in Albany, GA, Jason started his career in funeral service as an apprentice in 1989 at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary in Columbus, GA. He worked for Terry Daviston at McKoon Funeral Home in Newnan, GA while in mortuary school and graduated from Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science in 1992.

Before his sales career, Jason worked at Kimbrell-Stern Funeral Directors in Albany, GA for 18 years

Jason has worked in funeral homes in both Georgia and North Carolina.

He is a licensed funeral director in Georgia and North Carolina and a licensed life insurance agent in Georgia.

Jason is very excited to be part of the Thomaston community. He and his wife are members of Christ Chapel Community Church-Zebulon. Jason is a member of the Thomaston Kiwanis Club, serves on the Thomaston Hospice Foundation Board, and looks forward to serving the families in our area.

He is married to his wife Marty and has two children and three grandchildren.

Ryan Fulghum

Owner

Ryan joined the staff of Coggins Funeral Home in 2005. He is a 2007 graduate of Ogeechee Technical College with a degree in Funeral Service. He is married to Casey McCollum Fulghum, and they have one son, Cooper, and a daughter, Raegan, and are members of Fellowship Baptist Church. Ryan is a licensed insurance agent. In Ryan's spare time, he enjoys flying, playing golf, camping, and spending time with his family.

Mike Birdsong

Funeral Director/Embalmer

Mike is a retired U.S. Army First Sergeant with 23 years of active duty service, with multiple combat tours including the Gulf War and Iraqi Freedom. He is a 2013 graduate of Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science and a 2012 graduate of Central Texas Community College. He and his wife Angie live in Upson County and have 4 children and 11 grandchildren whom they love and adore. He is a member of Shiloh Baptist Church, where he serves as a deacon. He loves the outdoors, fishing, and the wildlife around their home.

Anthony Wayne Barnes

Funeral Director/Embalmer

Tony is a native of Upson County. He graduated from Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service in 1993 and has been employed with Coggins Funeral Home since 1993. Tony is married to Debbie Hilton Barnes. Tony and Debbie are members of Mountain View Baptist Church. They have 2 grandchildren.

Kenneth E. Coggins

Funeral Director/Embalmer-Former Owner

Kenny Coggins is the son of Fred and Virginia Avery Coggins. Kenny is a second-generation funeral director and embalmer. He graduated from Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science in 1974 and has served the funeral services profession faithfully throughout his career. Kenny has served as President of the Georgia Funeral Directors Association and has served on the National Funeral Directors Association Political Action Committee. He currently serves on the NFDA Pursuit of Excellence Committee. Kenny is married to Janie Wall Coggins. Kenny and Janie are members of First United Methodist Church of Thomaston.

Katy McGouirk

Funeral Service Assistant/Office Manager

Jack E. Butler

Funeral Director/Embalmer

Jack is a native of Fort Valley, GA. He graduated from Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science in 1972 and has been employed with Coggins Funeral Home since 1997. Jack is married to Patty Moseley Butler. He is a member of First United Methodist Church of Thomaston.

Marc Baggett

Funeral Assistant

Larry Stallings

Funeral Assistant

Eddie Mathews

Funeral Assistant