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.

Our History

Our History

In 1907 a young man named J.U. McKoon had followed his dream and opened a funeral home in Luthersville, GA.  In 1918,  Mr. McKoon relocated funeral home to the South Court Square in Newnan to be closer to the majority of his client families.    The depression caused the Cuttino family to lose their historic 1875 home.  In 1937, Mr. McKoon purchased the former Cuttino residence from the Newnan Savings Bank and moved the funeral home to its current downtown location.  After Mr. J.U. McKoon's death in 1958, his son Robert B. McKoon became the second generation to own and operate the funeral home. Mr. Robert McKoon was well known throughout the area for his genuine care and concern for families.  Mr. Robert sold the funeral home to Terry Daviston in 1986.  In 2005, John Daviston purchased the business from his father, Terry.  McKoon Funeral Home & Crematory is family operated by father and son, Terry & John Daviston.

Our Valued Staff

  • John Daviston , CFSP

    John Daviston , CFSP Owner/President 2005 to present

    John grew up in Newnan and graduated from Newnan High School. He is also graduate of Auburn University and Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service. John holds the distinction of being a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP) which is the highest professional designation in the funeral industry. He is a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer as well as a licensed agent for insurance sales. John is member of the the Newnan Rotary Club and the Atlanta Chapter of Young Entrepreneurs' Organization (Y.E.O.). He is a graduate of Leadership Coweta and is a graduate of the 2015 class of Leadership Georgia. He previously served as a board member of Leadership Coweta, The Newnan Coweta Boys and Girls Club, the Community in Schools program, the United Way, the Summit Family YMCA, The Abby's Angels Foundation, Wesley Woods of Newnan-Peachtree City, The Newnan Coweta Chamber of Commerce, and was the chairman of the Keith Brooking Children's Foundation. He was a founder and organizing member of a former community bank in Coweta County. He is a currently the chairman of the Coweta County Development Authority. At the age of 33, John was named by Georgia Trend magazine one of the “Top 40 under 40: Georgia’s Best & Brightest.” In July of 2020, the Newnan Times-Herald and the Newnan Coweta Magazine named John as one of the 25 most influential people in Coweta County. John and his family attend Newnan City Church. He is married to Meredith Mosley Daviston and is the father of Wilson Daviston and Ruby Adair Daviston.

  • Terry  Daviston

    Terry Daviston Owner, 1986 to 2005 In Loving Memory 1941-2021

    Terry was born in Pea Ridge, Alabama and is a longtime Newnan resident since purchasing the funeral home from the McKoon family. He served in the U.S. Army in Japan for several years where he was in Military Intelligence. Terry graduated from the Kentucky School of Mortuary Science and is a licensed funeral director & embalmer. He is a Past President of the Georgia Funeral Directors Association and is a member of the First Baptist Church of Newnan, the White Oak Golden K Kiwanis Club. He served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Wesley Woods of Newnan-Peachtree City and served as a member of the Coweta County Development Authority for 18 years. In 2004, Governor Perdue appointed Terry to the Georgia State Board of Funeral Service where he served for nearly 10 years. He is married to Martha Ann and is the father of Tracy Daviston Piepho and John Daviston. He is the proud grandfather to Sawyer Piepho, Wilson Daviston, and Ruby Daviston. Terry enjoys spending time with his family and riding his Harley-Davidson.D. Terry Daviston1941-2021"Blessed is the man who endures trials, because when he passes the test, he will receive the crown of life that He has promised to those who love Him." (John 1:12) A popular saying of the day addresses the theory that when a person leaves this world for the glories of heaven, a library closes. That might need to be expanded in the case of Douglas Terry Daviston. A review of this storied life would call for a library, a full-length feature film, a tome of short stories and any number of billboards. Terry was born October 15,1941, in the tiny community of Pea Ridge, Alabama. He was one of two sons born to Ed and Mattie Harris Daviston. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother Charles. While Pea Ridge was only about forty miles from Birmingham, it was light years away from the reality of the old south as it raced to become a part of a contemporary society in an ever-changing world. As a young boy, Terry spent the afternoons sitting outside the coal mine where his daddy worked in the darkness of those caverns and the inherent poverty of that world. While he had the utmost respect for the legions of men who had labored for generations in the mines, he knew that he wanted more opportunities for himself outside the mill village where he was raised. He was smart enough to realize that if he wanted to go far in life, he would have to seize every opportunity and turn the life lessons he learned into the building blocks for his life and for his future family. So at the tender age of sixteen he was hired as the bus driver for the school. He had already signed on to keep the wood stove burning in their one room school for the regal amount of 40 cents a week. Anyone who has ever ridden in a car with Terry knows full well what a blessing it was that those children made it to school every day. An indelible impression was made on Terry upon hearing that he and his schoolmates were referred to as "those poor children from Pea Ridge". That lit a fire in him that could not be quenched. Terry's interest in funeral service was borne out of his being at so many funerals as he grew up. He marveled at the men who drove those huge shiny cars, and that only intensified his quest. By the way, he had a lifelong obsession for shiny cars, but he preferred them to be white. A burgundy interior would do, as red might be a little flashy for the ladies with blue hair. As was common at the time, Uncle Sam came calling and he heeded that call. While in the Army he realized he had a knack for cryptography and that was his skill in the service; and with that came top secret clearance while he served in Tokyo. One can only imagine the culture shock of a "snot nosed kid" (his words) from Pea Ridge upon landing in Tokyo! Anyone who knows Terry and has collaborated with him will attest that he had the worst penmanship in the world. They could have done away with cryptography and just let him write everything in his scrawling handwriting. After 33 months in the service, Terry returned home. He started college, but soon grew weary of that and heeded the call of a friend who had recently moved to Cobb County, Georgia with the offer of a job in the local cement plant. Well, anything was better than what he was doing; so he loaded up all his clothes in a paper garbage bag (a luggage choice he had for years afterwards) and set up residence with his buddy. It was during this time that he began working part time at Castellaw Funeral Home in Smyrna. He loved the party life of the big city. In 1965 he was also introduced to a pretty, blonde-haired schoolteacher by the name of Martha Ann Rutherford. While she had a boy friend at the time, he had to be home early at night. That being said, as soon as he went home, she took up with her late-night date, Douglas Terry Daviston. Ten months after their first date, they were married. Soon after they loaded up and moved to Louisville, Kentucky, so Terry could go to mortuary college. Upon completion of his degree, Terry worked for funeral homes in Vernon and York, AL before they moved back to Smyrna and he began his career with Castellaw as their general manager. Still, Terry knew there must be something better around the corner. Upon learning that there was a firm in Newnan on the market, he jumped at the chance. After a lot of back and forth in negotiations, Terry closed the sale on McKoon Funeral Home in 1986. After the closing Mr. Robert McKoon told Terry that he knew their family business was in good hands. He was the only one at his home who would be overjoyed by the move, but his reluctant family made the move. What Terry and his family learned was that Newnan would come to embrace Terry and his family and Terry's desire to serve the entire community. Over the span of his career, he was ever a presence in every facet of the life of Newnan and Coweta County. His work was a labor of love for him, and that was the watchword he impressed on everyone on his staff. His philosophy was that he did not pay an employee's salary. It was paid by the families that the firm served. Terry immersed himself in the lives of all the churches in the community. It was not unusual for a pastor to look out on Sunday morning and find him smiling back and shaking hands. It was also a fair wager that there would be an extra check in the offering plate. Only God in heaven knows how many lives were touched by his benevolence, for it was Terry's desire to help where there was a need and not bother with taking credit for his gifts. This was also the same guy who, in the dark of night, would throw turnip green seeds in your newly plowed and seeded front yard! Terry knew that as he became so successful, it became his responsibility to give back to his professional organizations and his community. He was active in the Georgia Funeral Directors' Association and went on to head that organization. He also served on State Board of Funeral Service. In his hometown he was associated with The Kiwanis Club and served on the advisory boards for numerous non-profits. He was a key figure for many years on The Coweta County Development Authority and the Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce. Terry Daviston wore a variety of hats during his almost 80 years. He will be remembered for his honesty, loyalty, generosity; and yes, he was at heart, a humble man who had a strong servant spirit and a profound respect for the dignity of everyone he knew. Nothing in life gave him more honor than his role as a staunch family head and husband to his "bride" Martha Ann. Nothing was more important than his desire to serve as an example to his children Tracy and her husband Jim Piepho, John Daviston and his wife Meredith. His grandchildren Sawyer Daviston Piepho, Wilson Lanier Daviston and Ruby Adair Daviston won the grandfather lottery. Terry's family will receive friends at McKoon Funeral Home & Crematory on Monday, October 11, 2021 between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM. The service of thanksgiving for his life will be on Tuesday, October 12, 2021, at 2:00 PM, Newnan First Baptist Church with Dr. Joel Richardson officiating. Interment will be at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. The current and previous team members of McKoon Funeral Home will serve as honorary pallbearers. Flowers are welcome or memorial contributions may be made to The Atlanta Speech School at www.atlantaspeechschool.org, Coweta Samaritan Clinic at www.cowetasamaritanclinic.org , or First Baptist Church of Newnan at fbcnewnan.org. Condolences may be expressed online at www.mckoon.com.McKoon Funeral Home and Crematory 770-253-4580.

  • Lamar Wright

    Lamar Wright

    Lamar Wright is a native of Newnan. He graduated from Newnan High School. He holds a degree in management from West Georgia College and graduated with highest honors from The Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Srrvice. Lamar joined the staff of McKoon in 1988. He is married to Cathy Jackson Wright. His son, Brian, is a pilot for UPS. His younger son, Adam, is a musician and composer in Nashville. He is blessed with four grandchildren. The Wrights are members of Central Baptist Church and deeply involved in the music ministry of the church.

  • Glen  Burkett, CCO

    Glen Burkett, CCO Senior Funeral Director

    Glen Burkett grew up in Smyrna, GA and is a graduate of Campbell High School. Glen is an Eagle Scout and assists several Boy Scout organizations in Coweta County. He has worked at McKoon Funeral Home since graduating from Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service in 1995. Glen is a second generation funeral director and emblamer and is a member of The Academy of Graduate Embalmers of Georgia and is a Certified Crematory Operated with the Cremation Association of North America. He and his wife, Erica Wilson Burkett, who is employed at Glanton Elementary School, live in Grantville with their daughter, Anna.

  • Ryan  Kelly, CCO

    Ryan Kelly, CCO

    Ryan was born in Hendersonville, NC where he lived until moving to Newnan in 1997. He is a 2003 graduate of East Coweta High School in Sharpsburg and a 2011 graduate of Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service. Ryan is a second generation funeral director-his father is the manager of a funeral home in South Carolina. He is a Certified Crematory Operator by the Cremation Association of North America. Prior to pursuing a career in funeral service, he was a avid skateboarder and traveled the world competing in international competitions. Ryan and his wife, Staci Stoel Kelly are active members of Newnan First United Methodist Church where Staci teaches the confirmation class. They are the proud parents of Walter Thomas Kelly and Edward Michael Kelly.

  • Jeanie Smith

    Jeanie Smith

    Jeanie is our Office Manager and handles the legal documentation for families. She routinely handles Social Security notification, filing life insurance claims & coordination the filing of death certificates, and working with the Veterans Administration. She is a native of Roanoke, AL, graduate of Handley High School and has lived in Newnan since 1995. She is married to Eddie R. Smith, Jr. and together they have 5 children. Jeanie and her family are active members of Mills Chapel Baptist Church.

  • Chase MacKinen

    Chase MacKinen Funeral Director

    Chase Mackinen was born in Upstate New York and spent most of his life in Newnan. He graduated from East Coweta High School in 2007 and Gupton Jones College of Funeral Service in 2013 with Honors. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his wife Megan, daughter Emerson, his animals Charlotte and Stella, playing music, reading, and cooking.

  • Alex Elliott

    Alex Elliott Funeral Director

    Alex Elliott was born and raised in Newnan, Georgia. He is a 2012 graduate of Newnan High School. After high school, Alex enlisted into the US Navy, where he was stationed in Sasebo, Japan, and New Orleans, Louisiana. After his enlistment, he attended Georgia State University, where he obtained his Bachelor’s in Political Science. In 2021, he graduated from Gupton- Jones College of Funeral Service. His hobbies are playing guitar and spending time with family and friends.

  • Tiffany Marchant

    Tiffany Marchant Funeral Apprentice

    Tiffany Marchant is a Hampton native. She graduated from Hampton High School in 2018 and Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service in 2022. Tiffany enjoys traveling in her free time with her canine companion, Pearl. Prior to pursuing a career in funeral service, Tiffany became a certified scuba diver at the age of twelve and has been scuba diving all over the world.

  • Don Daly

    Don Daly Funeral Director/Bereavement Counselor

    Born in New York, Don had a business opportunity to move to Georgia in 1983, where he now calls home. Don has a long, diversified career in caring for people during their most difficult times. Over the last 26 years, he has ministered to people in many different capacities as a funeral director, hospice chaplain, and grief counselor. Don is a graduate of Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service, as well as a graduate of the University of The South's Theology Education for Ministry Program. He is also a longstanding member of the American Academy of Bereavement. Don and his wife Linda are members of Newnan Presbyterian Church and are the proud parents of 7, grandparents to 8, and great-grandparents to 3.

  • Stanley Lanier

    Stanley Lanier

    Stanley grew up Newnan and graduated from Newnan High School. He and his wife Debbie Adams Lanier have two sons, Jay & Charlie Lanier. For many years, Stanley and his father owned and operated Lanier Used Cars on Temple Avenue. Stanley and his family are longtime, active members of First Baptist Church.

  • David Kinrade

    David Kinrade

    David grew up in Iowa. However, he has lived in Newnan since 1982. He graduated from Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa with a Bachelor's degree in 1980 and Indiana University in Bloomington, Illinois with a Master's degree in 1982. After graduation, he served as the Music Minister/Organist at Newnan First United Methodist Church. After 40 years of service at Newnan First United Methodist, he retired in 2022. David is married to JoAn, a pastor in the United Methodist Church, who currently serves two churches near Griffin. They have two daughters, Emily Carnes and Rachel Kinrade, and one granddaughter, Harper Rae Carnes. David keeps busy singing in the Atlanta Symphony Chorus, accompanying the local Masterworks Chorale, subbing as an organist for area churches, and train-watching. He loves spending time with family and friends.

  • David  Smith

    David Smith

    David Smith has worked with McKoon Funeral Home for over 30 years. A native of Newnan, David served on the Newnan Police force for over 30 years retiring as a Lieutenant. His sons and grandsons all live in Newnan. David is a Mason and is the secretary of Coweta 60.

  • Rob  Harris

    Rob Harris

    Rob Harris was born in Shreveport, Louisiana. He is a licensed funeral service apprentice. As the son of missionaries, he spent over 12 years overseas in Ethiopia and Kenya, East Africa. He is a graduate of Texas Bible College in Houston Texas and has been an ordained minister for over 37 years. He has served in the following countries as a missionary: Nigeria, Cameroon, England, Ireland and in Scotland. He also served as pastor in churches in Texas and Indiana. Rob is an avid weather/storm follower and serves as our staff meteorologist. He is married to his wife, Candice, for 33 years and has two children and two grandchildren.

  • Rev. Joe  Strickland

    Rev. Joe Strickland

    Rev. Joe Strickland is a native of Newnan, after graduating from Newnan High School, Joe joined the Air Force in 1960 serving at RAF Sculthorpe Air Base in England & Etain Air Base in France during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He served four years in the Air Force and two years in the Reserves. Joe worked for Playtex in Newnan and later Avery Dennison Co. in Peachtree City for 24 years as a buyer in logistics. He was called to the ministry in 1979 and completed studies through Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, GA and was ordained in the Georgia Conference. Rev. Strickland has served in the ministry for over 30 years, 18 years as Associate Pastor and twelve years as the Senior Pastor at the Newnan Spiritual Renewal Church (Pentecostal). He retired as Senior Pastor in December 2009 and joined the team at McKoon Funeral Home in February 2010. His hobbies include listening to music from the 1940’s & 50’s, collecting Western movies, and studying WWII history. He is married to Linda Bledsoe Strickland and is the father of Angie Strickland Dolan.

  • Curtis Mote

    Curtis Mote Old Timer

    Curtis was born and raised in Newnan. He retired from Coweta Fayette EMC after 43 years of service as Vice-President of Operations. Curtis and his wife, Pat, have three children and five grandchildren. He and his wife attend Newnan City Church. Curtis enjoys woodworking and fishing.

  • Richard  Smith

    Richard Smith

    In Loving Memory March 6, 1939 ~ October 20, 2022Every student, no matter the age, deserves a champion -a teacher who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be. The scientific genius, Albert Einstein, penned these words. "It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge". For 37 years, H. Richard Smith adopted a similar mantra for the thousands of students who filled his classrooms at Newnan High School from 1961 through 1996 and later at the Heritage School for an additional year. Students who were in Richard's classes knew full well, going in, that he was without compare in the quality of his instruction in English grammar and composition. They also knew he was strict, but fair, and fully committed to the task before him as a shaper of young minds. Richard believed that every student was an untapped resource and he fully committed himself to the task of helping each one discover that which would make them successful. He celebrated with his charges when they succeeded but was just as supportive when a soft landing was needed.Richard's life journey began March 6, 1939. He was born in Coweta County and was the eldest of three children born to the late Harvey L. and Lavonia Thompson Smith. In addition to his parents, Richard was preceded in death by his beloved brother Robert Larry Smith and Larry's wife, Phyllis, whom he loved as a sister. The Smith and Thompson families' roots run deep in the genealogy records of southern Coweta County. Family was paramount in Richard's life. Richard was everyone's helping hand and made it his mission that no one's needs went unmet. Richard found himself in a caregiver role as his parents aged and he took on that role willingly. Unfortunately, in the ensuing years his brother Larry and later his sister-in-law Phyllis would undergo health crises and Richard was a constant support whenever he was needed. Richard saw a need before others, in so many cases, so he never had to be asked to assist where needed.Having done his undergraduate studies at Mercer in Macon, Richard completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1961. He later did graduate study in English education at Auburn University and the now University of West Georgia. Curriculum vitae is a Latin term that translates loosely into work experience. The Latin is more appropriate for Richard because his work experience was more like his all-encompassing life experience because the lines between the two were blurred. Richard never had children of his own, but that worked well for his students over the course of his career. For six years he was recognized as a STAR Teacher. He was a four-time honoree in Who's Who Among America's Teachers- 1992, 1996, 1998, 2000. Richard was named Teacher of the Year for Newnan High School in 1997. It was Richard's immense joy to serve as the Newnan High School Key Club advisor for 25 years. He received in 1976 the Key of Honor, the highest award that can be presented to an adult in Key Club administration. A resolution was passed in 1987 by the Georgia House of Representatives honoring Richard for his 25 years of excellence in education and outstanding service in Key Club. The Newnan High School yearbook "The Empyrean" was dedicated to Richard three different years. The H. Richard Smith Scholarship was established at Newnan High School in 1991 to be annually awarded to the valedictorian for the graduating class. A special bonus for Richard's students who attended West Georgia College was that his reputation preceded them, and most were able to skip freshman English when it was discovered that Richard Smith and Barbara Landreth had been their English teachers in high school. Richard knew very well the importance of education in a young person's life. He knew that few of his students would eventually become English scholars. He did see it as his responsibility to help make every student a better communicator and to be able to express coherent thoughts regardless of the life path they chose. He also saw appreciation for the language as a discipline with specific rules, much like any other course of study. A favorite poem of Richard's included these words, "a teacher needs a heart of compassion, of encouragement, and patience; someone who would accept the challenge regardless of the opposition; someone who could see potential and believe in the best in others...." Well done, Richard, you have been a good and faithful servant.Richard Smith was a fount of creativity. Early in life he tapped into his abundant musical gifts. He reveled in using his gifts at the piano and organ and served as the organist and choir director at First Baptist Church of Moreland for over 40 years. It was his mission that his church had the finest piano and organ possible to lead the members in each worship service. Richard's home was a veritable treasure chest of gospel and other Christian music. Being the organizing wizard that he was, if he needed a particular album, searching was not needed. He knew exactly where to look. Even after retiring, Richard lent his talents as a gifted musician to the services he provided at McKoon Funeral Home as a staff organist and funeral assistant. Richard and his brother Larry shared a gift as floral arrangers. They were a yearly vendor at Powers Crossroads Country Fair Arts Festival. They also operated a design shop in downtown Newnan for two years.Moreland First Baptist Church was a veritable Christmas wonderland each year as Larry and Richard descended upon the sanctuary complete with greenery, candles, poinsettias, and miles of red ribbon. Knowing when to walk away was always the problem for the Smith brothers because their great love for their church made decorating for Christmas a labor of love and the stopping point was achieved when the supplies were depleted. Richard was often kidded about all the work he poured into Christmas at the church between the decorating, learning new organ pieces and rehearsing the choir for their special musical selections. January would come, and he could not believe all that he had accomplished. When there was no deadline to be met, he would wander around the house with not much to do until school started again!Surviving Richard is his devoted sister Gail Smith Carroll and her husband Len. Richard was a fully engaged uncle to Jeff Carroll and his wife Leslie, Kim Smith Pelletier and her husband Joe, Stacey Smith Henderson and her husband Kevin. Camille Carroll, Andrew Carroll, Josh Pelletier, Daniel Pelletier, Eric Henderson, Matthew Henderson are his great nieces and nephews. He honestly thought they were great both literally and figuratively.The life of Harvey Richard Smith will be remembered with great fondness and sincere sentiment as his former students, fellow church members, friends and family gather to celebrate his exemplary life on Monday, October 24, 2022, at 2:00 PM. The service will be in the chapel of McKoon Funeral Home. The family will receive friends between the hours of 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM on Sunday evening, October 23rd. Interment, following the funeral service, will be in the Historic Southview Cemetery in Moreland. In lieu of flowers, it is suggested that a memorial gift in Richard's memory may be made to the Feeding Our Friends Ministry of Central Baptist Church 14 West Broad St. Newnan, GA 30263 or online centralbaptistnewnan.org. Online Condolences may be expressed at www.mckoon.com. McKoon Funeral Home and Crematory 770-253-4580.

  • Michael  Noles

    Michael Noles

    In Loving MemoryJune 5, 1986-October 19, 2013

  • Gary  Cunningham

    Gary Cunningham

    In Loving MemoryAugust 1, 1944-February 21, 2015