Meet Our Caring Staff
Our staff are members of the local community who make everything that happens possible.
Terry L. Whittington Jr
Owner and Licensee in Charge
Terry graduated with honors from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science in 2010.
Dale R. Burger
Owner
Cadance R. Burger-O'Dell
Funeral Service Apprentice
Cadance attended the University of Charleston with a major in biomedical sciences in 2022-2024 and is currently attending mortuary school at Brightpoint Community College while she completes her apprenticeship.
James "Jim" W. Lowry
Funeral Director / Embalmer
Jim graduated from the former Beckley College in Beckley, West Virginia. He then drove for UPS before graduating from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science in 1969. He first worked for James Funeral Home in Logan, WV. Then moved to work for Hunter and Hunter Funeral Home in Madison, WV. He opened the Charleston Mortuary Service building and gave it its name in 1970, doing trade embalming work for various funeral homes. Jim then became a partner with Billy Surratt in owning Elk Funeral Home while still operating Charleston Mortuary Service. Jim then sold his half of Elk Funeral Home in 2005 to concentrate on the mortuary business. Over the years, Jim was an instructor at Beckley College of Mortuary School, teaching restorative arts. He has served as a member of the Board of Directors for Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science and the Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE). Jim has been a member of the West Virginia Association of Funeral Directors, having served as president. Jim is also a Civil War Reenactor as an Embalming Surgeon and authored a book on the subject. Jim is now working with us here at Elk Funeral & Cremation Service.
James "Jim" W. Lowry
Funeral Director / Embalmer
Jim graduated from the former Beckley College in Beckley, West Virginia. He then drove for UPS before graduating from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science in 1969. He first worked for James Funeral Home in Logan, WV. Then moved to work for Hunter and Hunter Funeral Home in Madison, WV. He opened the Charleston Mortuary Service building and gave it its name in 1970, doing trade embalming work for various funeral homes. Jim then became a partner with Billy Surratt in owning Elk Funeral Home while still operating Charleston Mortuary Service. Jim then sold his half of Elk Funeral Home in 2005 to concentrate on the mortuary business. Over the years, Jim was an instructor at Beckley College of Mortuary School, teaching restorative arts. He has served as a member of the Board of Directors for Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science and the Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE). Jim has been a member of the West Virginia Association of Funeral Directors, having served as president. Jim is also a Civil War Reenactor as an Embalming Surgeon and authored a book on the subject. Jim is now working with us here at Elk Funeral & Cremation Service.
David Slater
Funeral Service Associate
David has 25 years of experience working in the funeral industry.
David Slater
Funeral Service Associate
David has 25 years of experience working in the funeral industry.
Shawn Petry
Funeral Service Associate
Shawn currently works for the State Department of Health for Threat Preparedness as the Training Coordinator when he is not assisting with funerals.
Shawn also works at the GoMart Ball Park as a ticket salesman. Before working for Threat Preparedness, Shawn was a volunteer firefighter for 20 years, starting at age 16, and worked for the Kanawha County EMS for 20 years, starting at age 18.
Shawn Petry
Funeral Service Associate
Shawn currently works for the State Department of Health for Threat Preparedness as the Training Coordinator when he is not assisting with funerals.
Shawn also works at the GoMart Ball Park as a ticket salesman. Before working for Threat Preparedness, Shawn was a volunteer firefighter for 20 years, starting at age 16, and worked for the Kanawha County EMS for 20 years, starting at age 18.
Benjamin "Ben" Brown
Funeral Service Associate
Ben currently works for the State Department of Health for Threat Preparedness as a Volunteer Coordinator when he is not assisting with funerals. Ben earned his Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Investigations in 2008. Before moving to Charleston from Morgantown 4 years ago, he worked as a federal contractor at the US Department of Energy. He also worked in Airport Operations as a K9 handler with Hercules at Yeager Airport in the Response Coordination Center. He has had years of customer service experience. Ben is also a representative of the Holy Pursuit Dream Foundation Non-profit.
Benjamin "Ben" Brown
Funeral Service Associate
Ben currently works for the State Department of Health for Threat Preparedness as a Volunteer Coordinator when he is not assisting with funerals. Ben earned his Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Investigations in 2008. Before moving to Charleston from Morgantown 4 years ago, he worked as a federal contractor at the US Department of Energy. He also worked in Airport Operations as a K9 handler with Hercules at Yeager Airport in the Response Coordination Center. He has had years of customer service experience. Ben is also a representative of the Holy Pursuit Dream Foundation Non-profit.
Darrell "Butch" Milam
Funeral Service Associate
Butch is currently enjoying retirement but assists with funerals when we need it.
Darrell "Butch" Milam
Funeral Service Associate
Butch is currently enjoying retirement but assists with funerals when we need it.
Pamela Burger
Funeral Service Associate
Pam currently works at Charleston Area Medical Center as a Patient Financial Services Analyst Specialist when she is not assisting with funerals. Before her current job, she worked at CAMC as a Financial Counselor, Patient Accounts Collector, Patient Accounts Team Lead in the Medicaid Unit, and Medicaid Unit Biller. Outside of CAMC, she worked at Riverside National Bank in Florida as a teller and in the bookkeeping department.
Stephanie O'Dell
Funeral Service Associate
Stephanie is currently a stay-at-home mom when she is not assisting with funerals. Before working with us, she was a receptionist at Phillips Supply Company, worked in registration at CAMC Women and Children's Hospital, and then moved to Insurance Verification, after this, she worked at Professional Image, working with medical and legal records.
Jeffrey "Jeff" Burger
Funeral Service Associate
Jeff currently works for the Medical Eye Bank of West Virginia when he is not assisting with funerals.
Justin O'Dell
Funeral Service Associate
Justin currently works as a Stellantis Field Service Consultant when he is not assisting with funerals. Justin graduated from the Nascar Technical Institute in 2008 and worked his way from an Audi Apprentice Technician to being a Master Certified in Audi Shop Foreman from 2008-2018. He then became a Senior Master Certified in Ford Shop Foreman from 2018-2024.
