History & Staff

Dub Music was born in Hahira, Ga. and is the son of the late W.G. "Glyndon" and Maxine Music. He graduated from Lanier County High School in Lakeland and Gupton-Jones School of Funeral Service in 1974. He is a member of the Lanier County Lions Club, Lakeland Masonic Lodge #434 and the Georgia Funeral Directors Association. He also served on the board of the Independent Funeral Directors of Georgia, Advisory Board Chairman of Lanier Health Services and is Deputy Coroner of Lanier County. He is married to Wilma Wacter, daughter of Walter and Marie Wacter of Lake Park. They have 4 Sons: Casey, Michael, Lee and Kyle. They are members of Southside Baptist Church.

Casey L. Music was born in Valdosta and is the son of Dub & Wilma Music and the late Judy C. Music. He graduated from Lanier County High School and Gupton-Jones School of Funeral Service where he received the Richard Stewart Memorial Scholarship. He served on the board of the Academy of Graduate Embalmers, member of Lakeland Masonic Lodge #434 & Azalea Lodge #716. He is married to Valdosta native, Brooke Dean, daughter of Larry and Beth Dean of Lake Park. Casey and Brooke have a daughter, Kaytibeth, and a son, Aubrey, and are members of Lake Park First Baptist Church..

If you were to visit our Valdosta funeral home on Tuesdays and Thursdays, you would meet Brooke Music. She has been married to Casey since 2002, but around the funeral business since 1996. Brooke was born and raised in Valdosta and graduated from both Lowndes High School and Valdosta State University. She is the daughter of Larry and Beth Dean. Brooke and Casey have two children, Kaytibeth and Aubrey. When Brooke is not at the funeral home, she enjoys spending time with her children, riding on the golf cart, and camping with her family. She loves animals and brings joy to all who know her.

Lee Music, born in Lakeland, GA, is the third oldest son of Dub and Wilma Music, and is a graduate of Ogeechee Technical College for Mortuary in Statesboro, GA. He has been an Apprentice with Music Funeral Services since graduating from Lanier County High School in 2012. He is also an alumni of Georgia Military College and a member of Southside Baptist Church. Lee enjoys hunting, fishing, riding his ranger with friends, shooting sporting clays with his younger brother Kyle, and spending time with his girlfriend of five years, April Browning.

Dan McSwords was born in Moundsville, WV, and moved to Valdosta in 1993, and is the son of Louise and the late Daniel McSwords. He graduated from John Marshall High School and Gupton-Jones School of Funeral Services. Dan is a United States Air Force Veteran; serves as a Board Member/Chaplain of the Academy of Graduate Embalmers of Georgia, Inc.; member of the Georgia Funeral Directors Association; Deputy Coroner for Lanier and Cook Counties; member of the Lakeland Masonic Lodge #434; served as the District Commander of the 12th District and currently serves as the Post Commander of the American Legion Post #336 in Lakeland. He is married to Jacqueline Tindol, daughter of Shawn Tindol of Preston, GA and Mary Shreve of Ohio. Dan has three children Korahl, Heather and Laken.

Alan Leonard joined Music Funeral Services as a full-time employee in December 2016. He is our newest funeral apprentice, with plans to attend Ogeechee Technical College in the fall of 2017 to get his Licensed Funeral Director’s and Embalmer’s degree. Alan was born in Long Beach, California, to the late Robert M. and Dee Dee Leonard. In 1971, he moved to Lake Park, Georgia, where he attended and graduated from Lowndes County High School. He has served as Coroner for Echols County since 2008 and also serves as the Region 5 District Director for the Georgia Coroner’s Association. Alan has three children: Emily, Sarah, and Kaelyn, and is a member of Antioch Community Church in Echols County.

Chris Lott was born and raised in Lakeland, GA, to the parents of Emory and Wanda Lott. Growing up, Chris spent many summers helping his father who sharecropped tobacco for a local turf company. He graduated from Lanier County High School in 2008 and is an active Volunteer Fireman for Lakeland/Lanier Fire Rescue. He also works part time for South Georgia Medical Center/LMS (Lanier Campus). In 2017, Chris became a full time employee and Funeral Apprentice at Music Funeral Services. When not working and serving his community, Chris is an active outdoorsman and loves hunting and fishing.

Janet Newton has been our Office Manager since 2012 and keeps both the Lakeland and Valdosta offices running smoothly! In addition to the myriad of services she provides, Janet processes all of the insurance documents and death certificate paperwork for our served families, as well as preparing memorial records and ensuring all details are in order for funeral services. Janet hails from Hahira where she was born and raised, her parents are Johnny and Rudine Vickers. She has two daughters, Alexis and Logan, and one granddaughter, Adalyn. Janet is proud to be an alumni of Lowndes High School and Valdosta State University.

Paula Sheffield joined the Music staff as the Family Service Counselor in 2012 after retiring from working with the Departments of Defense and Justice for 22 years. She is a licensed insurance agent and primarily helps our families with their prearrangement needs. She is the daughter of Barbara Swindell of Naylor, GA, and Paul Swindell of Valdosta, GA. She is married to Valdosta native Larry Sheffield. Between the two of them, they have three children, one granddaughter, and one great grandson. Paula is an active Wish Grantor with the Make-a-Wish Foundation and a Leadership Lowndes alumni.

Janice Harnage has been a mainstay with Music Funeral Services since 1992 and keeps the Lakeland office in tip-top shape and we couldn’t run the office as efficiently without her knowledge and expertise. When you call or visit the Lakeland funeral home, you feel welcomed by Janice’s helpful attitude. She was born and raised in Lakeland, GA. Her parents were Lossie & Ava Nell (Browning) Miller, who raised 11 children. Janice retired from the Lanier County School System in 2011 and is a member of the Little Block Holiness Church. She was married to Russell Harnage for seven years before he passed away in 1998. Russell was also employed with Music Funeral Services since 1988. She has one daughter, Lisa Johnson; two grandsons, Matthew and Dillon Parker; and two great grandsons, Wyatt and Charles Parker. Her hobbies include reading and ironing.

Walter Wacter has been a part-time employee in the funeral business since 1962, continuing to serve families with compassion and care still today. He served in the U.S. Air Force overseas, then transitioned into law enforcement, where he worked for over 36 years. After retiring from law enforcement, he worked in the Coroner’s Office for 23 years. He has been married to Marie since 1951. They have three children: Wanda, Wilma (Dub’s wife), and Walter III; 9 grandchildren (including Casey and Lee); and 14 great grandchildren.

Jerry Littleton has been with Music Funeral Services for over 17 years. He has a heart for serving families during the saddest times of their lives. His compassion for people is one of his greatest attributes, making him a true blessing to the Music family. Jerry lost his wife Jenny in 2016; they had been married for 58 years and had two sons, Michael and Jerry, Jr. For years, Jerry and his family have had a completely operational professional rodeo. They have a professional arena, six bucking shuts, and calf roping shuts, along with longhorns and black angus cattle. Jerry spent 26 years in the Air Force and NC National Guard. Jerry has also been a Mason for nearly 50 years.

Bill Young was born in Valdosta and still resides here today with his wife Ann. They have one son and three grandchildren. Bill is a veteran of the United States Army and retired from the United States Postal Service. He enjoys spending time with his family and traveling around the country, having recently taken his entire family on a vacation to the Dominican Republic. Bill has been a part-time funeral assistant at Music Funeral Services for many years, providing comfort and care to our families.

Gary Stone has been the Maintenance Custodian at Music Funeral Services for the last 17 years. He has been a resident of Lakeland for about 20 years. Gary has a sweet Jack Russell Terrier named Roscoe. His hobbies include fishing, which he does whenever he has an opportunity, and watching classic television shows.