Our Staff

Jonathan has been with McGahee-Griffin & Stewart since January of 2005. He is married to Megan Griffin Corn and they reside in Lula. They have one son, Elijah, and one daughter, Abigail.  His parents are Roger and Linda Corn and he has one brother, Joshua Corn. Jonathan attends Pine Grove Holiness Church in Alto. Jonathan began working in the funeral industry in 2002.  

McGahee Griffin and Stewart Funeral Home are pleased to welcome J. Michael Shirley as he re-joins the firm as a part-time Funeral Service Consultant.

Michael grew up in Habersham County Georgia, the son of the late James A. and Eloise Cochran Shirley. He attended public school in Habersham County and graduated from South Habersham High School. He is a graduate of Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science in Atlanta and was licensed as a Funeral Service Professional in 1974. He worked in the funeral service in Commerce and Athens prior to relocating to Cornelia to join McGahee-Griffin Funeral Home in 1978. He has worked in the funeral service profession in some capacity for nearly 50 years. In the early 1980s, upon the retirement of Thomas J. McGahee, he became a partner with Weymon O. Griffin until discerning a need to broaden his professional horizons and make a career change.

In 1995, he began his career in public education. He was employed by Banks County Schools as a teacher in middle and high school, Pioneer Regional Service Agency as a school improvement consultant in Northeast Georgia, and he retired from public school work as an administrator at the elementary level. He taught as an adjunct professor at the college level for ten years while a public educator, then became a full-time Professor with the School of Education at Piedmont College where he taught novice and veteran teachers from all around the state as they worked to complete undergraduate degrees as well as masters, educational specialist, and doctoral degrees. He retired from Piedmont in 2020 with ten years of service.

He is married to Donna Dill-Shirley, a Mount Airy native. Donna has recently retired from the Hall County Schools. His two daughters, Marisa S. Whittington (Stan) and Rachelle S. Woodruff (Ricky) are both teachers in the Habersham County. He and Donna have five grandchildren; Riya, Ryte, Maley, Zeke, and Rennon.

Michael is a graduate Truett-McConnell College and Piedmont College. He earned a M.Ed. at the University of Georgia and a Ph.D. at Georgia State University. More recently, he studied Theology at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur.

His education background, paired with the funeral service career work, now come together in a unique opportunity to serve the community. His years of experience in the funeral service field serve as a foundation for sharing knowledge with others and helping families in this area with the practical issues of making funeral arrangements, and carrying out those plans according to their wishes.

Robbie is a native of Habersham County and a graduate of Habersham Central High School.  She has been involved in the funeral business for over 30 years.  She assists in doing the cosmetics and playing the piano for funerals.  She is the mother of two children, Zane Stewart and Alyson Stewart Wellborn.  Robbie enjoys cooking, gardening, fishing, hunting, and playing the piano.  She resides in Baldwin with her husband Stanley.  Together they have 11 grandchildren. They are active members of The Torch Worship Center.

Eugene has been employed with MGS since 1999. He is married to Joyce Wade Franklin of 55 years. They have two children, Ronnie Franklin and Latise Marcus, two grandchildren, and one great-grandson. He previously worked for Carwood Manufacturing for 23 years and also at Lee Arrendale State Prison for 25 years. He is a member and deacon at Mud Creek Baptist Church and enjoys the outdoors, hunting and gardening.

Michael is a graduate of Gilmer High School, Class of 2003; a graduate of Jefferson State Community College with a degree in Mortuary Science, Class of 2012. He is a licensed life agent, funeral director, and embalmer.  Michael specializes in helping families to make funeral arrangements in advance.  Michael and his wife Kirbi live in Ellijay and are members of River Hill Baptist Church.