About Us
Ponders Funeral Homes was founded in 1992 by Stoney Ponders. Since that time it has grown to be Dalton's largest funeral home serving the entire community.
We have a full service staff of professionals committed to serving your needs. You will find that there are many benefits of planning your funeral arrangements with us.
 Stoney Ponders, President of Ponders Funeral Homes, was born 1961 in Chatsworth, Georgia, son the late Clem A. Ponders and Dorothy Rogers of Dalton. He was a grandson of the late Prince and Ada Beam and L.A. and Roxie Ponders.
Stoney began his funeral service career September 1982 at Kenemer Brothers Funeral Home in Dalton. He is a 1985 graduate of Grupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science where he is a member of the Pi Sigma Eta national Morticians Fraternity. He has been a licensed funeral director and embalmer since 1985. He is a member of the Georgia Academy of Graduate Embalmers, Regional Chairperson for the International Order of the Golden Rule, a member of the Selected Independent Funeral Homes, Cremation Association of North America, Georgia Funeral Directors Association, Independent Funeral Directors of Georgia, International Cremation, Cemetery and Funeral Directors Association, and the Gordon Springs Masonic Lodge of F&AM #463.
In 1992 Stoney realized a lifelong dream of owning his own funeral home and established Ponders Funeral Homes Inc. on July 15, 1992. Then in 1998 he relocated the funeral home to its present location at 138 Melrose Drive in Dalton off the North Bypass.
In 1997 Stoney, along with Tim Rowe and Diane Howard, established the Colonial Hills Memorial Park Cemetery Inc., also in Dalton.
In 2000 he opened the Calhoun Chapel of Ponders Funeral Homes to better serve the families of Calhoun, Georgia. Now Stoney also has a location in Fairmount, which is also in Gordon County, the Fairmount Chapel of Ponders Funeral Homes, to serve the families of that area.
To further our commitment to funeral service in the North Georgia area Stoney purchased the Whitfield memorial Gardens in Dalton and the Murray Memorial Gardens located in Murray County. Mr. Ponders owns and operates the only perpetual care cemeteries in Whitfield and Murray Counties.
Also, Ponders Funeral Homes are the only funeral homes in Whitfield and Gordon Counties owning and operating their own Crematory which is located at the Melrose Chapel, which is only used to serve families that we serve.
Stoney has also established Dalton Florist to further assist our families. The florist is able to provide flowers for any occasion.
Stoney dedicated his life to funeral service at a very young age. He is very grateful to the families of our area who allow is to be of service to them during their time of need.
Timmy G. Rowe, Vice-President of Ponders Funeral Homes, is a lifelong resident of Gordon County. He is a graduate of Calhoun High School and has been with Ponders Funeral Homes since 1992. He is part owner of the Calhoun Chapel of Ponders Funeral Homes as well as Colonial Hills Memorial Park Cemetery. Tim is the son of the late T. R. and Mabel Rowe, brother of Tammy Hyde, Kim Rowe and Tony Rowe.
Tammie Willis is a lifelong resident of Dalton, Georgia. She is the daughter of the late Claude Edward Rogers and Dorothy Beam Rogers. She is also the sister of Stoney Ponders. Tammie graduated from Northwest High School in 1988. She is married to Ralph E. Willis Jr. Tammie has two children, Andrew Bonds and Job Willis.
Tammie began her career with Ponders Funeral Home in 1999 as the Vice President of Operations.
 Jason Gibson, is a lifelong resident of the Whitfield/Murray County area. He began his career in funeral service at Ponders Funeral Home in 1992 when his uncle, Stoney Ponders, opened the business. Soon after he graduated from Murray County High School in 1994, Jason attended Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service in Atlanta, Georgia. Jason graduated from Gupton-Jones in 1995. After he served his funeral service apprenticeship Jason became a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer.
Jason and his wife, Jennifer, reside in Murray County. They have two children, Dustin and Morgan. Jason is the son of Wendell Gibson and Cindy Tolliver of Chatsworth. He has one brother, Shawn Gibson, also of Chatsworth. Jason's grandparents are Virgil and Barbara Gibson of Resaca, Georgia
Ida Henson joined the staff of Ponders Funeral Home as a greeter/receptionist after retirement from Shaw Industries. She graduated from Dalton High School and continued her education at Dalton College. She is the mother of C. David Henson of Atlanta. Ida enjoys working with people and having the opportunity to help others.
Kenneth Tate, a lifelong resident of the Dalton area has been a member of the Ponders Funeral Homes staff since his retirement from Mohawk Industries. He is married to the former Frances Evans. Together they have two sons, Glenn and Kendall Tate, and five grandchildren.
 Ben H. King, a lifelong resident of Gordon County, began his career in funeral service in 2005 soon after graduating from Calhoun High School. While serving a funeral service apprenticeship at Ponders Funeral Home, Ben attended Dalton State College. He graduated from DSC in the Spring of 2008 with a degree in Liberal Arts. Upon graduation from college, Ben left the staff of Ponders Funeral Home in order to attend Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service in Atlanta, Georgia. Soon after graduating from Gupton-Jones Ben returned to the staff of Ponders Funeral Home as a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer.
Ronald Guffey is a lifelong resident of Whitfield County. He is a 1983 graduate of Northwest Whitfield High School. Ronald is the son of the late Lloyd and Frances Guffey. Ronald is married to the former Kathy Coffey. Together they have one daughter, Katey. Ronald is the Senior Pastor of Eleventh Avenue Baptist Church in Dalton, Georgia.
 Kay Stephenson has resided in Dalton since 1970. Because Kay's father served in the United States Military, she spent her childhood years traveling across the U.S. and to several other countries. Kay finished her high school career at Hawaii Baptist Academy. Kay is married to Harold Stephenson. Together they have two children, Heather and Joel. Kay and Harold also have two grandsons, Joseph and Douglas. Kay is a member of the Harvest Baptist Church in Cohutta, Georgia.
Kay began her career with Ponders Funeral Home in March of 2008 as the Office Manager at Whitfield Memorial Gardens. Kay now serves as the Office Manager for Ponders Funeral Home.
 Daniel Parrish started his career in the Funeral service in 1975 while he was in High School. He worked for Music Funeral Home in Lakeland Georgia where Dub Music taught him the art of embalming and the importance of serving families to the best of your ability. He was employed with Music Funeral Home for two years. After graduation from High School he was employed with Carson McLane Funeral Home in Valdosta Georgia for 1 year prior to joining the U.S. Army where he served his country for 5 years.
Upon an Honorable Discharge from the U.S. Army, Daniel attended Gupton Jones College of Mortuary science where he pursued his degree in Mortuary Science. He was a class officer and a member of Pi Sigma Eta Fraternity. Upon graduation in August 1983 Daniel was employed by H.M. Patterson & Son Funeral Home in Atlanta. He was with that firm for 18 years serving families in Atlanta.
Daniel has lived in Ellijay Georgia for the past 15 years. He is a member of St Luke's Episcopal Church in Blue Ridge, where he serves on the Altar Guild. He is the proud father of 3 sons, David, Steven and Bryan and the grandfather of two beautiful granddaughters, Allie and Abbie. Daniel's parents Edgar and Jovainne still reside in Lakeland Georgia.
Daniel is very proud to be employed with Ponders Funeral Home and to be a part of such a great staff and firm that really cares about the families they serve. Daniel believes that the Funeral Profession is a ministry to families in their time of grief, and he has always felt that funeral service was a calling by God.
Kelly Gowin works for Dalton Florist.
Monica Cranmore works for Dalton Florist.
Ponders Funeral Home has three convenient locations: Dalton, Calhoun and Fairmount.
Ponders Funeral Home is a member by invitation of the Selected Independent Funeral Homes providing outstanding funeral service throughout the United States, Mexico, Canada, and abroad and a member of the International Order of the Golden Rule. Ponders Funeral Home is also a member of CANA, Cremation Association of North America.
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