In Memorium : Ted L. Guerry Sr.

Licensed Funeral Director/Owner: 1938-2019

Ted L. Guerry, Sr. L.F.D., 81 of Lake City, passed away on Friday evening, April 19, 2019, at the Haven Suwannee Valley Hospice Care Center in Lake City.  He was a lifelong resident of Lake City and a son to the late Theo Lee Guerry and Eloise Fralick Guerry Hewett.  Mr. Guerry was a graduate of Columbia High School class of 1956 and lettered in Football with the Tigers wearing #14.  He was born into the funeral profession, licensed for over 50 years in the State of Florida and graduated from the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science in 1962.  Mr. Guerry purchased Sherrill-Guerry Funeral Home from his father, Theo Guerry in 1978, and also Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery, in 1984.  Retirement was not for Ted, so in 2003, he opened Forest Lawn Funeral Home, currently, Gateway-Forest Lawn Funeral Home, with his wife, Amy B. Guerry, where he remained active serving his community in both the funeral home and cemetery until his passing.  He was a member of the Florida National Guard, a former member of the Lake City Jaycees, a current member of the Elks Club in Lake City and also the First Baptist Church of Lake City.  Ted was an avid Florida Gator fan, enjoyed fishing, dove, quail and duck hunting, and planting a garden each year.   Mr. Guerry was preceded in death by one wife, Barbara Jones Guerry, and two siblings, Nina Ann Espenship and James Harrison “Harry” Guerry.

Survivors include his wife of 31 years, Amy Barnette Guerry, Lake City; one son, Ted Guerry, Jr. (Stephanie), Belfast, ME; one daughter, Paige Guerry Bunch (Bruce Batesel), Willow Springs, MO; one brother, William L. “Bill” Guerry (Diane), Macclenny; two sisters, Laura E. “Boots” Guerry and Barbara Allinder (Joe), South Carolina; eight grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren along with his two fur babies, Duke and Libby, also survive.

Amy Guerry, Owner

Gateway-Forest Lawn Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. and Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery

Advance Planning Counselor 

Amy is the wife of Ted L. Guerry, Sr., L.F.D. (1938-2019), and owner of Gateway-Forest Lawn Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. and Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery. She is also the Advance Planning Counselor for the funeral home and assists in all day to day activities. 

Amy has been working in the funeral home/cemetery business since 1989 and had previously worked for the Social Security Administration for 18 years. A native of Abbeville, Alabama, Amy has been a resident of Lake City since 1986.

Telephone: 1-386-752-1954

JD Tyre

Licensed Funeral Director In Charge/General Manager

JD is a longtime resident of Columbia County and the North Florida area, and a decendent of a North Florida pioneer family.  A graduate of Columbia High School class of 1994 and a graduate of Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service in Atlanta, Georgia class of 1999 where he was a member of the Pi Sigma Eta National Morticians Fraternity. 

JD is married to the former Kate Kinard of Fort White and together they have two children, Trey and Sophie. JD enjoys history, especially local history and spending time with his family outdoors in our beautiful North Florida.

Brad Wheeler

Licensed Funeral Director

Brad is a lifelong resident of Lake City spanning back several generations. A Columbia High School Graduate and Lake City Community College Graduate, Brad graduated from Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service in Atlanta, Georgia with high honors and was a member of the Pi Sigma Eta National Morticians Fraternity. He is married to the former Lorrie Cason from Lake City and they have four children, Holly, Haley, B.J., and Hanna. 

Brad is very involved in his community and Church. He is currently in the Kiwanis Club (past board member), Suwannee River Chapter of Ducks Unlimited, past board member of the Christian Service Center of Columbia County, board member of the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Florida Gateway College Foundation Executive Board and Planned Gifts Board.

Telephone: 1-386-752-1954

Wes Markham

Licensed Funeral Director

Samuel W. “Wes” Markham was born and raised in Lake City; he is a 2010 Graduate of Columbia High School in Lake City and a 2013 Graduate of Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service in Atlanta, Georgia where he was a member of the Pi Sigma Eta Funeral Director’s Fraternity. Wes is married to the former Alexis Taylor Stamper of Lake City and is the son of Jennifer L. Markham and the late Ron Markham of Lake City; and the grandson of the late W.V. “Dub” Markham & Martha Jean Markham of Lake City and Jan & the late Robert Fraley of Live Oak.

Wes is a member of the Lake City Masonic Lodge #27, where he is a Past Master of the Lodge, the Lake City Shrine Club, The Independent Funeral Directors of Florida Association and a Licensed Funeral Director in the State of Georgia. He is also a member of Oak Grove Baptist Church in Lake City, where he serves as a Deacon of the church. In his spare time, Wes enjoys spending time with his beautiful bride, family and friends, fishing and going to Florida Gator and Jacksonville Jaguar games.

Chris M. Starling

Licensed Funeral Director

Chris is a Columbia County resident and married to the former Nikki Davis of Lake City. They have three boys, Zane, Carson, and Easton Starling. Chris has been serving the families of Columbia County since 2006 in the funeral industry. After going to Live Oak and Branford for a couple of years, Chris returned home to Columbia County, to continue to help the people in Columbia and surrounding counties. 

Chris enjoys spending time with his wife and his three boys; he also enjoys fishing, hunting, and watching his boys play sports. You can find him at the fields or on the water with his wife and boys when he is not at the funeral home.

Chris is a 2004 graduate of Ogeechee Technical College, Funeral Service where he served as Class President & Student Council Vice President. Chris and his family are members of the Suwannee River Breast Cancer Association.

Amy Lynn Burnham

Administrative Assistant

Amy Lynn Burnham is a native of Suwannee County and is married to Lucius Burnham. She is a graduate of Suwannee High School and in her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and reading. Amy Lynn is also an avid Gator Fan. 

Carolyn M. Hosford

Administrative Assistant

Carolyn is a life-long resident of Lake City and a 1970 graduate of Columbia High School. She was married to the late Tommy Hosford of Lake City. She has two children, Son, Trey Hosford and daughter, Lisa Huchingson. In her spare time, she enjoys going to the beach and spending time with family and friends.

Emory Bailey

Funeral Assistant

Emory is a native of Columbia County and is married to the former Durelle Box of Columbia County and has one son, Stephen. He is a graduate of the 1969 class of Columbia High School. Emory served in the Florida National Guard from 1970-1976. For over 35 years as a Columbia County Volunteer Fire and Rescue. Emory also served in the capacity as Chief and Assistant Chief of Ellisville Volunteer Fire Department. He also owned and operated Bailey's Feed and Pet Center.

Emory enjoys spending time with his family, especially his three granddaughters and friends. 

Charles "Sonny" Clark

Funeral Assistant

Sonny is a Lake City resident who has worked for several funeral homes as a Funeral Assistant in Florida, Georgia and Alabama. Sonny is a U.S. Coast Guard Veteran and worked several years as a Meat Cutter with Publix Supermarkets and as a Tour Bus Driver. He and his wife Gerri love working in the yard with their plants as well as spending time with their family.

Stephen Bailey

Funeral Assistant

Stephen is a life long resident of the Ellisville area of Columbia County and the son of Emory and Durelle Bailey. He is currently the Director of CARC of Lake City and is also on the Board of Directors of the Columbia County Resources. Stephen is also very involved with our local FFA chapters in Columbia County. He is married to the former Erin Giebeig of Lake City and has three children, Savannah, Madison and Dallas. 

Wade Burlingame

Funeral Assistant

Wade is a longtime resident of Columbia County since 1973. A graduate of Columbia High School class of 1981 and has a Bachelors Degree in Education. Wade is married to the former Sherry Brown of Lake City and they have six children together. Wade enjoys sports and hunting in his spare time. Wade is also a member of the Lake City Elks Lodge.