Our Staff
Our staff is comprised of dedicated and licensed professionals with the experience to answer all your questions regarding our services. Please feel free to contact any of our staff members at any time.
Lauren W. McDonald, Jr
Owner
A native of Commerce, GA, Bubba graduated from the University of Georgia and for many years owned the ACE Hardware and Building Supply in Commerce. In 1997 he established McDonald and Son Funeral Home with his son, Lauren W. McDonald, III.
Elected as a Jackson County Commissioner in 1968 he went on to serve in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1971 to 1990. He ran for governor in 1990 and served as the President of Georgians for Better Transportation from 1992 - 1998. Bubba currently serves as Chairman of The Georgia Public Service Commission.
Bubba has been an active volunteer serving as a Presbyterian Elder, on the Board of Governors SBDC (UGA), on the Board of Governors of Mercer Medical College, and as a member of the Jaycees and Kiwanis. He also served as the Fire Chief in Commerce, GA for 25 years.
Bubba is committed to continuing the tradition of caring for families in our community as if they were part of his family as they travel life's most difficult journeys.
Telephone: 1-770-886-9899
Lauren W. McDonald, III
Owner
Cell Phone: (678) 524-0066
Lauren and his wife, Claire, live in Cumming with their two sons, Wylie, Ridley and daughter, Hailey. A proud graduate of the University of Georgia, Lauren is also a graduate of Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service. He is an active member of Cumming First United Methodist Church, Lanier-Forsyth Rotary Club where he is a past president, member of The Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce and a Mason. Lauren has served on various boards to include Forsyth County Arts Association, Northeast Georgia Boy Scouts, United Way of Forsyth County, Sawnee Civic Center and 12 years on The Georgia State Board of Funeral Service. He also served as a volunteer fireman with Forsyth County for 22 years. He currently is an elected official in Forsyth County. In his spare time, Lauren loves coaching high school football at Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, Georgia where his two boys attend.
Telephone: 1-770-886-9899
Claire McDonald
Owner/Funeral Director
Having always lived in the Atlanta area, Claire was born at Piedmont Hospital, graduated from Walton High School in Marietta, graduated from the University of Georgia in Athens with a Bachelor of Science in biology. She was a Phi Mu at Georgia. After graduating Claire worked for her family's manufacturing company in Smyrna for twelve years.
Claire and her husband, Lauren, married in 2001 and live in Cumming with their three children: Wylie IV, Ridley and Hailey. In 2014 she completed her studies at Ogeechee Technical Institute and received her Funeral Service Education degree. She is a licensed funeral director and embalmer.
Claire is an active member at Cumming First United Methodist Church and a member of UMW. She is a past executive member of the UMW Board and has served on the committee for the consignment sale for the past few years.
Claire is President of The Rotary Club of Forsyth County where she is a Paul Harris Fellow. She also serves on the board of Directors for Jesse's House and Family Haven. One of Claire's passions is mentoring kids in the local elementary schools.
Telephone: 1-770-886-9899
Paul Holbrook
Funeral Director
Paul is a Forsyth County native who currently lives in Cumming with his wife Tracy and three daughters Daphne, McKenzie, and Madison. He has two grandchildren Gracie and Charlie.
He graduated from South Forsyth High School in 1992 and from Gupton Jones College of Funeral Service in 1995.
Paul has degrees in Mortuary Science and Forensic Science. He became a licensed Funeral Director in 2013. He and his family are active members of Pine Crest Baptist Church.
He has volunteered with Prevent Child Abuse Georgia and CASA of Forsyth.
Telephone: 1-770-886-9899
Brian S. Todack
Funeral Director
Brian is a native of South Florida. He graduated from W. L. Philbrick School of Mortuary Science at Miami-Dade in 1994. He has worked in the funeral industry since 1988 in South Florida until moving to Georgia in 2006.
Brian has one son, Ryan, and currently lives in Hall County.
Telephone: 1-770-886-9899
Brandon Elliott
Apprentice
Brandon and his wife Shea are residents of Lula, GA. Brandon graduated from Banks County High School in 2015 and from Gupton Jones College of Funeral Service in 2019. Brandon comes from a background of serving in Youth Ministry. He and his wife are members of Lakewood Baptist Church in Gainesville, GA.
Telephone: 1-770-886-9899
DJ Johnson
Grief Support/Life Celebrant
DJ has returned to the McDonald Family of Funeral Homes after serving the families of Athens, GA and Valdosta, GA. He facilitates our Bridges of Hope Grief Support Group and assists families with Life Celebration Ceremonies. DJ resides in Alpharetta and is an active member of Cumming First United Methodist Church.
Telephone: 1-770-886-9899
Kent Saferight
Funeral Associate
Kent and his wife Dorothy are from Richmond, Virginia. They are members of Cumming Baptist Church. He is a retired EMT/ Millwright from DuPont. One of Kent's favorite things is when the grandchildren come to visit.
Telephone: 1-770-886-9899
Lynx McDonald
Grief Therapy Dog
Keith Bowen
Funeral Associate
Homer Doster
Funeral Associate
Homer Doster and his wife, Dot, are longtime residents of Cumming and natives of
Atlanta. Homer served in the Navy during the Korean Conflict and retired from John Wagner Associates. He and Dot have two sons.
Doug Harper
Funeral Associate
Ridley McDonald
Riverside Military Academy Cadet
Ridley is a rising Junior at McCallie. He has the rank of Corporal. Ridley plays football, wrestles and plays Lacrosse. Ridley desires to attend the United States Naval Academy.
Telephone: 1-770-886-9899
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