Staff

Michael D. Peterson
Manager, Funeral Director and Embalmer
Michael began his career in funeral service in Unicoi County in 1974 serving his apprenticeship under veteran funeral directors Kay Carey and Bill Campbell. He eventually became a stockholder and manager of that firm, which he served for 12 years prior to selling his stock and becoming associated with H.M. Patterson and Sons Funeral Home in Atlanta, Georgia. Mike attended East Tennessee State University and graduated from Kentucky School of Mortuary Science in 1976. He was involved in the initial stages of the building and opening of Valley Funeral Home and has managed the firm since its inception in 1988. He is a member of Calvary Baptist Church and Erwin Kiwanis Club. He has three children Mindy Lynn Peterson Riddle and her husband, Justin; Michael D. Peterson, II and his wife, Kelly Vance Peterson and Aaron Peterson. Michael has one granddaughter, Rilee Grace Peterson.

Amy Louise Sams Outland
Funeral Director and Embalmer
Amy, a licensed funeral director and embalmer in both Georgia and Tennessee, has been working in the funeral service profession since 1998. Born and raised in Elizabethton, TN, she graduated from Elizabethton High School in 1994. In 1998, she graduated from Emory University with a bachelors degree in Psychology and a minor in Computer Science. She then continued her education by attending Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service where she graduated in 1999. She began working for H.M. Patterson and Sons in Atlanta, Georgia while she was attending Emory University. During her six years of employment there, she was the manager of the Central Care Facility for the final two years. While attending mortuary school, she met her future husband, Keith Outland, who also works in the funeral service profession. They have three children: Shelbie, Austin and Madelyn

Kay Carey
Funeral Associate
Kay is an Alumni of Gupton Jones School of Mortuary Science in Nashville. He was licensed as a funeral director and embalmer in Tennessee in 1950. He is a former owner-manager of another firm in the Erwin area and has been associated with Valley Funeral Home since 1998. He is a member of Ninth Street Baptist Church and Erwin Kiwanis Club. He is married to Mable Fanning Carey.

Maryanna Reightler White
Funeral Assistant
Maryanna graduated in 2000 with a honors diploma from Unicoi County High School. She is currently attending Northeast State Technical College where she is pursuing an associate degree in surgical technology. She attends Living Word Lutheran Church. She began working at Valley Funeral Home in May 2005. She is married to Kenneth L. White and they have two sons, John Patrick and Kenneth II.

Brenda Pelham
Adv. Funeral Planning Counselor
Brenda has been serving Heritage Family Funeral Services in the area of pre-need since August of 2000. She is on staff as an advanced funeral planning sales counselor at Hathaway-Percy Funeral Home in Elizabethton, Tetrick Funeral Home in Bluff City, and Valley Funeral Home in Erwin. A native of South Carolina, Brenda attended Charleston Southern University where she received a B.A. degree in Church Music. While she was attending Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C., Brenda met her husband, Mike. Brenda, Mike, and their three sons – Ryan, Chris, and Adam – reside in Johnson City, T.N. The family is members of Ninth Street Baptist Church, Erwin, TN where Brenda serves as Music Director

Michael D. Peterson, II
Family Service Counselor
Michael is a 2004 graduate of Unicoi County High School and is the son of Valley Funeral Home Manager, Mike Peterson. He has been affiliated as a part-time associate with Valley Funeral Home since elementary school and currently serves as a family service counselor at Evergreen Cemetery. He is a member of Good Shepherd Baptist Church and is married to Kelly Vance Peterson. They have one daughter, Rilee Grace Peterson.

Judy Bartholomew
Office Administrator
Judy moved to Johnson City, TN, twelve years ago from Florida. She was raised in Michigan and graduated from Fenton High School, Fenton, Michigan. She has worked in the industries of real estate and insurance. She has been married to her husband Ron for 35 years and has two adult sons, Josh and Ben.