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.

J. Evan Parker Funeral Attendant

J. Evan Parker is the son of the late R. Brent Parker and Tonya Parker. He is a 2004 graduate of Capital High School and attended Marshall University and the Golf Academy of Myrtle Beach, SC. Evan currently resides on the West Side of Charleston with his three dogs and attends the Charleston Mountain Mission Church. He is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association and the West Virginia Funeral Directors Association.

Scott E. Rogers Managing Director, L.I.C.

Scott E. Rogers joined Cunningham-Parker-Johnson Funeral Home in July 2012 with over twenty years’ experience in providing funeral service care to families in the Kanawha Valley. During this time, he has had the privilege of serving as a funeral home director and as a funeral home manager for various firms. Scott holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from West Virginia State University, Institute, WV; completed his funeral service professional education at Mid-America College of Funeral Service in Jeffersonville, Indiana; and holds his professional license with the West Virginia Board of Funeral Service Examiners. He is a member of The West Virginia Funeral Directors Association, The National Funeral Directors Association and is a member of Pi Sigma Eta National Morticians Fraternity.

Brittany Knox Funeral Director

Brittany is a Logan County, WV, native and attended Marshall University in 2003 where she obtained a degree in Psychology. She is a 2012 graduate of Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science and worked in several Pennsylvania locations before returning back to her home state of West Virginia where she worked in Huntington, WV, before she became a Funeral Director here at Cunningham-Parker-Johnson Funeral Home.

Jamie Brogan Funeral Director

Jamie began his career in the funeral business in 2002 he graduated from WVSU Then from Mid-America College of funeral service where he graduated with honors Jamie holds a funeral director and embalmer license in West Virginia South Carolina Kentucky and Indiana. When I ask why he chose a career in the funeral industry he replied I knew what I wanted to do since I was a child to help others at the worst time of their lives. It truly was my calling. when a family walks through the doors at the funeral home no doubt it is the worst time of their lives. When meeting with a family and the tears are flowing and you can take the tears and turn them into happy tears it makes you feel like you have done half of what you are meant to do. When a family comes to you after the funeral and says I could not have done this without you have been a blessing to my family and I then you know you have completed what you were meant to do. It’s the greatest feeling in the world. In Jamie‘s spare Time you can find him spending Time with his daughter Cassie or on a beach or with his four-legged companion Mia.

John R. "Rusty" Casto Office Manager / Family Assistance

Rusty was born and raised on the west Side of Charleston. He is a 1977 graduate of Sissonville High School. He has a strong background in Business Administration and has completed two and a half years at Marshall University in Paralegal Studies.

Rusty has been with Cunningham-Parker-Johnson Funeral Home since July of 1985. Prior to his employment at the funeral home he was a representative for Paul Casket Company.

He is a member of the West Virginia Funeral Directors Association and Sugar Creek Missionary Baptist Church.

He had been married since November 2010, to his wife, Cheryl Ann Smith, who is also a Licensed Funeral Director.

Bonnie L. Legg Receptionist

Bonnie L. Legg was born and raised in Elkview. She is a 1961 graduate of Elkview High School.

Bonnie has been with Cunningham-Parker-Johnson Funeral Home 11 years and has 20 years of combined experience in the funeral profession.

She is a member of the West Virginia Funeral Directors Association and Cross Roads Community Church.

Bonnie currently resides in North Charleston. She has a daughter and two grandchildren, all of whom live in Charlotte, NC.

Chester A. Broyles III Funeral Attendant

Chester A. Broyles, III is a life-long resident of the Charleston and Sissonville areas. He is a 1981 graduate of Sissonville High School and has been with Cunningham-Parker-Johnson since July of 1982.

He attends Charleston Mountain Mission Church and is a member of the Masonic Lodge Kanawha 20.

He currently resides in the West Side of Charleston with his wife, Patty. He has three children, Malena, Kelly and Jessica, and three grandchildren.

Scott Davis Associate

Scott Davis joined Cunningham-Parker-Johnson Funeral Home in April 2015. He works in the day to day operation of the funeral business. However, he uses his talents/gifts as an ordained minister/celebrant for the funeral home when needed, and he also works as the staff vocalist, providing various styles of music per the family's request. Scott is married to Sheila, who plays the piano/keyboards and can sing with him providing duets.

Scott holds an Associate of Arts Degree from Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Mount Vernon, Ohio with concentration in Music and Religion, a Bachelor of Arts from Montclair State University, Montclair, N.J. with concentration in American History and American Church History. Ordination with the Evangelical Ministerial Association and he holds a certification in Recording Engineering and Music Production from The Recording Workshop, Cillicothe, Ohio.

Leonard Boggess Funeral Assistant

Leonard Boggess is a life-long resident of the Charleston area currently living in Sissonville. He is a 1963 graduate of Stonewall Jackson High School. Leonard is also an Army veteran serving from 1965 - 1967. During his service, he served one year in Vietnam and was awarded a Purple Heart.

He is married to Gaynell Burdette Boggess, a beautician who is also associated with Cunningham-Parker-Johnson Funeral Home. They have one son, Brandon Patrick Boggess, who is a cook for Kanawha County Schools.

Leonard has been with Cunningham-Parker-Johnson Funeral Home over 25 years. He has also been employed by True Temper for 15 years and Charleston Area Medical Center General Hospital.

Gaynell Boggess Staff Beautician

Gaynell (Burdette) Boggess is a life-long resident of the Charleston area currently living in Sissonville. She attended Sissonville High School and graduated from Capital City Beauty College in 1970.

She has worked most of her life in Sissonville and has been with Cunningham-Parker-Johnson Funeral Home for over ten years.

In 1969, she married Leonard Boggess, who also works at the funeral home. They have one son, Brandon.

Vaughn F. Shafer Funeral Assistant

Vaughn F. Shafer was born in Dunbar and raised in Roane County and Charleston. He is a 1956 graduate of Charleston High School. He has been with Cunningham-Parker-Johnson Funeral Home five years.

Vaughn is a member of the West Virginia Funeral Directors Association. He is Past Master of Kanawha Lodge #20, A.F. & A.M., Past High Priest of Tyrian Chapter #13, R.A.M., Past Commander of Kanawha Commandery #4, K.T., Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of West Virginia, K.T., and Department Commander, Mid-Atlantic Department, Grand Encampment Knights Templar of U.S.A. He is also a member and usher at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Charleston.

Vaughn is married to Sylvia (Pringle) Shafer. They have two daughters and two granddaughters.

Kris McDaniel Associate