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 form 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 IV, Ridley and daughter, Hailey. Lauren graduated from The McCallie School in Chattanooga, TN and then went to The University of Georgia for 5 football season and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Lauren is also a graduate of Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service where he received his degree in Mortuary Science .
He is an active member of Cumming First United Methodist Church, Cumming/Forsyth Chamber of Commerce, and The Lanier/Forsyth Rotary Club, where is a past president. He served with the Yaarab Shrine of Atlanta and is a Mason in the Ducktown Lodge #572. Lauren has served on the board of a number of local organizations including the Northeast Georgia Red Cross, Forsyth County Arts Association, Northeast Georgia Boy Scouts, Sawnee Civic Center, and the United Way of Forsyth County.
In his spare time, Lauren has served as a volunteer Firefighter/EMT with Forsyth County for 21 years where he served in the capacity as Captain. He is also an elected official in Forsyth County. He is active at Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, Georgia where he is a high school assistant coach.
Telephone: 1-770-886-9899
Email: lauren@mcdonaldandson.com
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-Elect 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. One of Claire's passions is mentoring kids in the local elementary schools.
Telephone: 1-770-886-9899
Email: claire@mcdonaldandson.com
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 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.
Telephone: 1-770-886-9899
Email: paul@mcdonaldandson.com
Kenny Jacobs
Funeral Director
Cell Phone: 770-356-8895
Kenny moved from South Carolina to Georgia in 1996 to attend Gupton - Jones College of Funeral Service in Decatur, Georgia. He is a member of Pi Sigma Eta Fraternity at Gupton - Jones and graduated in 1998 with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Funeral Service. He is former president of the Buford Lions Club.
Telephone: 1-770-886-9899
Email: kenny@mcdonaldandson.com
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
Email: brian@mcdonaldandson.com
Savannah Crowe
Apprentice
Savannah graduated from Banks County High School in 2017. She is currently enrolled at Ogeechee Tech. in their Funeral Service program.
Email: savannah@mcdonaldandson.com
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 and are active members of Cumming First United Methodist Church.
Doug Harper
Funeral Associate
Debbie Waldrip
Funeral Associate
Tink Thomas
Funeral Associate
Lindsey Dawson
Funeral Associate
Canaan Elderidge
Funeral Associate
Ridley McDonald
Riverside Military Academy Cadet
Ridley is a rising freshman at The Riverside Military Academy. 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
Gary Greenwald
Funeral Associate
Dennis Taylor
Funeral Associate
Wayne Saferight
Funeral Associate
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