History & Staff
We have years of experience caring for families, from all walks of life. Each family comes to us because they know we are leaders in our profession, dedicated to excellence in service, and have the highest integrity.
When we sit down with a family, we have just one goal: to create a fitting, memorable and affordable service for their loved one. Together, we explore the wide variety of services and products available, as well as a wealth of creative ideas and suggestions.
Together, we'll design a memorial or funeral service that suits their needs now, and in the future. Families who come to us know that years from now, they will have deep peace-of-mind because in coming to us, they've done their best to honor their loved one.
Our History
The story of Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home began more than 60 years ago when Jack Carver opened Carver Funeral Home on January 1, 1940, at 59 North Jefferson Avenue, Cookeville. Offerings included funeral and ambulance service to Putnam County residents.
Mr. Carver operated the funeral home until November of 1955, when for health reasons he sold it to Ed Hooper and long-time Carver Funeral Home employee Earl Huddleston. They renamed the business Hooper & Huddleston Funeral Home.
In 1966, they purchased the Algood Church of Christ and established the Algood Chapel (Hooper & Huddleston Funeral Home in the 1950s). Mr. Huddleston later retired and sold his interest to Mr. Hooper. In 1977, Mr. Hooper and Ralph Medley of Baxter established the Baxter Chapel.
In 1972, David Horner joined the staff of Hooper & Huddleston Funeral Home while attending Tennessee Tech. Mr. Horner graduated from John A. Gupton School of Mortuary Science in 1976, and, in March of 1977, renovated the former William Livingston home on Holly Street in Monterey and opened Horner Funeral Home.
In 1988, Mr. Hooper sold Hooper & Huddleston Funeral Home to Service Corporation International. He remained active in the business and community until his death in 2000.
On March 19, 2002, David and Jill Horner purchased the funeral home, returning it to local, family ownership and renaming it Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home. Since then, their sons Jason and Brad have joined the family business.
"We are blessed to serve families in Putnam County, where we have lived and raised our family. Hooper-Huddleston & Horner will continue the tradition of quality service, integrity, and community involvement that our client families have come to appreciate."
Our Valued Staff
David Horner, Owner
Owner/manager of Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home, has been in funeral service for more than 35 years. He attended Tennessee Tech University and completed his education at John A. Gupton College of Mortuary Science. David is a charter member and past-president of Cookeville Breakfast Rotary, Monterey Civitan Club, and currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Cookeville Regional Medical Center Foundation and on the Board of Directors of Tennessee Funeral Directors Association. He is a graduate of Leadership Putnam and a previous ambassador of Al Menah Shrine Temple.
Jill Horner, Owner
Office manager at Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home is a funeral director and graduate of Tennessee Tech University. She and David are members of The River Community Church and have three children, Jason, Brad and Erin and five grandchildren. Jill is a graduate of Leadership Putnam, a member of the Cookeville Pilot Club and serves on the Tennessee Tech College of Business Administration Foundation. She serves on State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers and is a founding member of Heart of the Cumberland a local grief center.
Jason Horner, Funeral Director/Embalmer
Licensed funeral director and embalmer, is a 1997 graduate of Tennessee Tech University, and previously a Cookeville City Firefighter and Paramedic. Jason began his career in funeral service as a high school student, helping out in the family funeral home. Jason serves on the Board of Directors of the Putnam County YMCA. He and wife, Bridget have four children, Will, Jaylee, Emma and Kara, and are members of Stevens Street Baptist Church.
Brad Horner, Funeral Director
Licensed funeral director, is a graduate of Union University and served for a time as a missionary in the Middle East. He is a member of Cookeville Noonday Rotary and serves on the Board of Directors of the Better Business Bureau. He and wife, Jessica are members of Poplar Grove Baptist Church and have one son, Hudson.
Harold Maynard, Funeral Director
Licensed Funeral director and manager of our Baxter Chapel. Harold is a graduate of Upperman High School and has worked in funeral service for more than 35 years. He and his family attends Cookeville First Assembly of God where he serves as an usher and in the van ministry. He is a graduate of Leadership Putnam and past-president of the Upper Cumberland Funeral Directors Association. He and his wife, Sheri, have two daughters, Beth and Rachel.
Mike Birdwell, Funeral Director/Embalmer
Licensed funeral director and embalmer, is a graduate of Jackson County School and John A. Gupton School of Mortuary Science. Mike is a past-president of the Upper Cumberland Funeral Directors Association. He is a member of the Bloomington Springs Church of Christ.
Annette Goss, Administrative Assistant
Administrative assistant, is a native of Cookeville, and graduate of Cookeville High School. She began working at Hooper-Huddleston and Horner in 1995. She has extensive funeral and cemetery office management experience. Annette and husband, Greg, attend Bethel Freewill Baptist Church. Their family includes daughter Lauren, son-in-law DJ, and two grandsons John T and Wyatt.
Bobbi Wheeler, Administrative Assistant
Adminstrative assistant, has worked at Hooper-Huddleston & Horner for more than 20 years. She is a native of Putnam County, a member of the Double Springs Church of Christ and has two sons, Jim and Shane Wheeler and one grandson, Houston.
Bridget Horner, Funeral Director
Licensed funeral director at Hooper-Huddleston & Horner. She is a graduate of Tennessee Tech University and mother of four. She sings in the Stevens Street Baptist Church Choir and helps with the children's ministry there. She and Jason have four children, Will, Jaylee, Emma and Kara.
Ann Bennett, Funeral Assistant
Part-time associate of Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home since 2006. Ann retired from First Tennessee Bank after 25 years of service. She and husband, JT Bennett have two daughters, Kim and Sherry, and seven grandchildren. She and her husband attend Trinity Assembly in Algood, TN.
Eldon Burgess, Funeral Assistant
Part-time associate of Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home since 1998. He was a broadcaster for a local radio station for 40 years before his retirement. Eldon is a past-president of the Cookeville Evening Lions Club and announcer at Cookeville High School sports events. He and wife, Carol have two daughters, Melissa and Amy, and three grandchildren, Madison, Natalie and Andy and are members of Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Frank Layne, Funeral Assistant
Part-time funeral associate at Hooper-Huddleston & Horner since 2000. He retired after 30 years as a sportswriter for the Herald-Citizen. Frank and wife, Joyce are active members of West View Baptist Church, where he serves as deacon and Sunday School teacher.
Ralph Medley, Funeral Assistant
Part-time funeral assistant, helped establish the Baxter Chapel of Hooper-Huddleston & Horner in 1977. He and wife, Betty are members of Jefferson Avenue Church of Christ.
Ross Williams, Funeral Assistant
Part-time funeral assistant at the Algood Chapel of Hooper-Huddleston & Horner. He and wife, Erlene are members of the Algood First United Methodist Church and have a son, Roger and daughter, Nancy and four grandchildren.
Jim Briggs, Funeral Director/Embalmer
Jim is a funeral director/embalmer with more that 30 years experience in funeral service. He currently manages our crematory, Cumberland Family Services. He and wife, Betty are members of Willow Avenue Church of Christ.