History & Staff

David Lee Hernandez Jr Founder, Principal

David Lee Hernandez, Jr, a native of Northeast Philadelphia, after graduating high school from Calvary Christian Academy in Philadelphia, he relocated to Morganville, where he began his career as a mortuary science apprentice. David continued his studies where he earned an Associates of Science Degree and a Certificate of Proficiency in Funeral Services. He became a licensed funeral director in May of 2004, and later continued his education in Legal Studies at St. John’s University, New York.

He acquired his first funeral home in 2009 and has grown to operate Jersey’s largest family owned funeral home company, known as “Jersey Memorial Group”. His holdings include funeral homes and cemeteries in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Additionally, he also publishes a newspaper, “All Around Old Bridge” and is active in venture capital investments through 29029 Ventures, which focuses on emerging products and services impacting the mind, body and soul of local communities.

David is active in each community the funeral homes serve; he is Charter Member and past President of the Kiwanis Club of Manalapan, member of Old Bridge Kiwanis Club, member of the Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh in Belmar, trustee and board member of the Old Bridge- Sayreville- South Amboy Chamber of Commerce, board member of Pennsauken-Merchantville Area Chamber. He was recently elected to the foundation board of the Raritan Bay Medical Center Foundation in Old Bridge and Perth Amboy as the Vice Chair and Chair of Governance, as well as is a business leader in the Old Bridge Business Alliance. He has served as an officer in Middlesex Somerset Funeral Directors Association and is also a member of NJ State Funeral Directors Association, and National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA). His firms are nine-time NFDA Pursuit of Excellence Winners and was recently awarded the Best of the Best Award from NFDA as the top funeral home operator in the Country. He has been named Business Leader of the Year in 2016 by Kiwanis Club of Old Bridge as well as in 2017 by the Chamber of Commerce. Most recently he was recognized in 2018 with NJ Biz 40 under 40 as a young leader in business, and in 2019 by the Greater Monmouth YMCA as their Citizen of the Year. He has also been a guest speaker at NYU Schack School of Real Estate and Alan Creedy's Blue Ocean Tours. David, his family and team have been featured in Funeral Business Advisor and American Funeral Director Magazines.

He and his family attend Calvary Chapel Old Bridge and they volunteer in various ministry opportunities. A licensed funeral Director in New Jersey, he also holds funeral director and embalmers licenses in Pennsylvania and West Virginia as well as a Life Insurance Producers License. David enjoys spending time with his wife, Stacey and their three children, Sophia, David Lee III, and Abigail. He also enjoys competitive fitness, OCR, snowboarding, and golf.

Tonya R. Parker Founder

Tonya R. Parker was born and raised in Charleston, WV and has been involved with funeral service all her life. Her father was J.E. Johnson, a licensed funeral director and owner of J.E. Johnson funeral home in Charleston, WV.

Tonya graduated from Charleston High School in 1973 and from Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) in 1976 with an Associate degree in nursing. In 1974, she married R. Brent Parker, a licensed funeral director. Tonya worked as registered nurse at Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC) Memorial Division from 1976 - 1980. Tonya and Brent have two sons, Eliot Parker, who is a professor at Mountwest Community and Technical College, Huntington, WV and Evan, an employee of the funeral home.

Tonya has had family members in the funeral business in Charleston and the Kanawha Valley since 1929. She has been at Cunningham-Parker-Johnson Funeral Home since 1979, the original funeral home established by her grandfather.

After Brent’s death in July of 2008, she became the Owner/President of Cunningham-Parker-Johnson Funeral Home and continues to hold her license as a registered nurse.

Tonya is active within the profession and community. She is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, the West Virginia Funeral Directors Association, Board Member of Preferred Funeral Directors International, the Cremation Association of North America, the West Virginia Nurses Association, President of the Board of Hygeia Foundation which operates health care clinics in rural West Virginia, the West Side Neighborhood Association and Secretary/Treasurer of West Side Main Street Association and member of the Rotary Club of Charleston. She is also a member and past-president of Edgewood Garden Club, member of West Virginia Garden Clubs and Edgewood Country Club.

Tonya has attended Charleston Mountain Mission Church since 1979 and is a member of Morris Memorial United Methodist Church.

Scott E. Rogers Funeral Director, Embalmer- L.I.C.

Scott E. Rogers began his career in funeral service in 1991. He earned his bachelor of Science degree from West Virginia State University, a 1998 graduate of Mid-America College of Funeral Service in Jeffersonville, IN and following successful completion of the National and West Virginia Board Exams, he obtained licensure. He has been serving families in the area with upmost respect and professionalism. He has served in management roles during the majority of his career as a funeral home location manager, trainer, and regional management.

He is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, the West Virginia Funeral Directors Association and a member of the National Morticians Fraternity Pi Sigma Eta.

Scott continues daily to grow personally, provide quality service to families, assist other funeral service professionals and is always willing to learn and help.

John R. Casto Office Manager / Family Assistance

John R. “Rusty” Casto was born and raised on the West side of Charleston and attended Woodrow Wilson Junior High School, graduated from Sissonville High School in 1977, and attended the Paralegal program through Marshall University. He has been with Cunningham Parker & Johnson Funeral Home full time since July 31, 1985 and has had the privilege of serving countless families throughout the years. He serves as Office Administrator, assists the Funeral Directors with administrative tasks and takes care of the Family Assistance-After Care program with benefits and probation cases. Rusty also assists families with pre-funeral arrangement needs and planning. Rusty is a member of the West Virginia Funeral Directors Association and other various civic organizations. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his wife and his dog, Augustus.

Cheryl Ann Smith Funeral Director, Embalmer

J. Evan Parker Associate

J. Evan Parker was born and raised in Charleston, WV, to Tonya Parker and the late R. Brent Parker. He graduated from Capital High School in 2004 and attended Marshall University as well as the Golf Academy of America in South Carolina. After the death of his father, Evan began his career in funeral service in 2009 at Cunningham Parker & Johnson Funeral Home which was founded by his great-grandfather, Emmons Johnson, in 1929, and was owned and operated by his family for 40 years.

In his free time he enjoys golfing, traveling, and spending time with his wife, Stephanie, and his dogs, Steve and Mabel.

Pastor Scott Davis Ordained Minister, Associate

Marvin High Associate

Vaughn Shafer

Associate

Paul Dryden Associate