Our Staff

Amy Sellers Shepard

Owner/Pre-need Agent/ Apprentice Funeral Director/Embalmer/Notary

Randy Keahey

Funeral Director/Embalmer/Preneed Insurance Agent

Kymberly Keahey

Funeral Director/Embalmer

Jazmine Real

Funeral Assistant/Apprentice Funeral Director & Embalmer

Jazmine is the wife of Diego Real.  Jazmine attended Schurr High School in Montebello, California.  She obtained Associates in Science and Liberal Arts from Des Moines Area Community College, Iowa.  She received her Bachelor's Degree in Biology from Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.  She served in the military for 8 years. She enlisted as a cook and reclassed as a Mortuary Affairs Sergeant.  She served a year over seas 2017-2018.  SGT Real graduated Des Moines Area Community College, Iowa where she received her Associates of Applied Science in Funeral Service.  Jazmine has now completed her National Board Exams and her apprenticeship will be completed February 2024.    She is bilingual speaking English and Spanish.  In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, cooking German and Mexican food, traveling, volleyball and soccer.  

Jack Hunt

Funeral Assistant

Jack was born in Dothan, AL to the late Jack and Agnes Hunt.  Upon graduating from Dothan High School in 1994, he joined the United States Coast Guard where he served for 10 years before being honorably discharged.

Jack is currently employed full-time with the Dothan Police Department, where he has served for the past 16 years.  Jack has twice received the Life Saving Award during his tenure with the police department, the latest being in 2017.

In his free time, Jack enjoys camping, fishing and spending time with his family.  Jack is married to Jennifer Hunt.  Jack is the father of two children and step father of 3.

He is honored to serve the Wiregrass community in his position as an officer with the Dothan Police Department as well as working part-time with Family First Funeral Care.  

Jack can be reached at 334-446-1560.

Jeffrey Brown

Funeral Assistant

Coach Jeffrey Brown was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 1964.  He attended High School at Central of Tuscaloosa where he graduated in 1983. 

He served in the United States Army for two years.  After serving in the military, Coach Brown received a basketball scholarship at Stillman College in Tuscaloosa.  He played one year for the Golden Bears at Miles College in Birmingham. 

Coach Brown enrolled at Southern Junior College of Business in Birmingham where he received his Associates Degree in Business Administration.  He was named Mr. Southern Junior College in 1991.  After graduating from Southern Junior College Coach Brown moved to Dothan in 2000. 

He began work at Jerry Lee Faine Elementary as a physical education aide.  In 2015 he began his journey of formulating several programs to enhance the knowledge of our youth. 

He is also a respected member and active Minister on staff at Greater Beulah Baptist Church.  Coach Brown is a current member of the Dothan High School Wolves Coaching Staff.  He was honored May of 2022 as Helping Hands Hero.  Coach Brown works part time at Family First Funeral Care as a Funeral Assistant.  

Brandon Goff

Funeral Assistant

Brandon is the son of the late William Goff and Diane Lewis.  He has been married since 2013 to his wife Sierra.   They have 3 kids, Tristan, Braydon and Mallie.   Brandon graduated Rehobeth High School.  He attended Wallace Community College to obtain his EMT license.  He volunteered with Hodgesville  Fire Department and was an Auxillary Police Officer at Napier Field Police Department.  He worked in surgery as a PCA and is currently employed at Townsend.  In his spare time he enjoys hunting, fishing and spending time with his family.  

Joey Evans

Funeral Assistant

Joseph "Joey" Evans was born and raised in Dothan, AL..  He graduated from Dothan High School in 1989 and from Wallace Community College in 1991 as a Certified Mechanic.  

Joey has worked with his parents for many years at Evans Automotive.  In 1998 he started with the Dothan Police Department.  Sergeant Evans has been with the police department over 20 years and is a Certified Bomb Technician, a member of the Homeland Security Response Team and has been named Officer of the Year for the Dothan Police Department.  

Joey is the son of Joe and Pat Evans.  Joey is married to Wendi Spears Evans and they have four children, Emily, Elizabeth, Madison and Jordan.  Joey and Wendi attend Crossroads Baptist Church.

In his spare time, Joey enjoys camping, going to the lake, water sports, fishing and mountain biking.

In addition to his full-time duties with the Dothan Police Department, Joey is proud to serve the families that call upon Family First Funeral Care.  

Telephone: 1-334-446-1560

Dennis Snell

Funeral Assistant/Staff Barber/Pastor

Pastor Dennis C. Snell had his first spiritual encounter with the Lord as a young boy at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church singing in the youth choir. From there he went on singing in the Snell family quartet group The Spiritual Southerners’ for over 20 years. He is married to the former Ms. Marquittie M. Ford whom he met on September 12, 2005. After 10 months of courting, they were married on July 10, 2006, and she became Mrs. Marquittie Snell. There union has produced four beautiful children Janicia, Maurissia, Zyrion, and Khadycia Snell. He later became a member of Outlet Ministries in Baker Hill, Alabama under the leadership of Pastor Freddie Smith where he accepted his call into the ministry. In 2006 he preached his first sermon titled “Choices not Chances Determines your Destiny”.  In 2013 he moved his membership back to Greater Beulah Baptist Church under the doctrine of Dr. Rayford E. Malone. In December of 2013 he was licensed to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the World. In May of 2015 he was sent to Hartford, Alabama to Preach the Gospel at Prosperity Missionary Baptist Church. On January 3^rd of 2016 he was Ordained to The Gospel Ministry. On July 10, 2016, he was installed as Pastor at Prosperity Missionary Baptist Church in Hartford, Alabama. In November 2020 he became a Board Member of The New York Presbyterian of Ordination.  In 2021 he became the overseer of Greater Joy #2 in Huntsville, Al. In 2021, he joined the Family First Funeral Care Staff as the Staff Barber and now Funeral Assistant.  He is dedicated, focused, and is striving to change the lives of every person that he meets telling them about Jesus Christ. His heart’s desire is to leave a legacy well pleasing in the eyesight of God and one day hear him say,” Well done thy good and faithful servant”.

Diego Real

Spanish Translator/Funeral Assistant

Diego Real

Was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, and attended high school and completed four years of the Veterinary Medicine Program at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in Mexico City. Mr. Real moved to the US and married Jazmine Real in 2007. He enlisted in the US Army jointly with his wife in 2010. He was a Distinguished Honor Graduate from the Unit Supply Course at Fort Lee, VA. Diego assisted the US Army recruiting team as a translator and interpreter for the Hispanic Community in the state of Iowa. Later on, he became the Training Sergeant and was assigned as a building manager of the Oskaloosa, IA armory. Mr. Real was medically retired in 2016 due to a sudden cardiac arrest during training. He obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Coaching with the Summa Cum Laude honors from the United States Sports Academy (USSA). Diego is currently working on his Sports Coaching Master’s Degree at Ohio University. He enjoys supporting the Family First Funeral Care Staff as a translator and interpreter for the Spanish speaking community in Dothan and surrounding cities. 

Dinah Meredeth Grant

Support Staff

Dinah has been employed with Family First since November of 2020 as well as House of Flowers in a support staff role. She is the wife of Stephen Grant and a resident of Dale County.  Dinah has become family to us and is an asset in our community to the families she serves through her own residential and commercial cleaning business.  

Marley Shepard

Emotional Support Staff

Marley is a one year old mini double-dapple dachshund.  Since her arrival to Family First at the young age of 8 weeks old she has been a tremendous comfort to families while making arrangements and during services.  Marley has plans to continue her training and education to become a certified grief therapy dog.  

Jason Shepard

Founder

                         August 20, 1973 - November 4, 2021

Jason is the son of Reverend Johnny and Janie Vickers Shepard of Hartford. In 1991 he graduated from Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science and became National Board Certified in 1992.

In 1988, Jason began his career in Swainsboro, GA at Peebles-Curry Mortuary under the guidance of J. Gary Curry and Bob Ray Peebles. After graduation, he briefly returned to Swainsboro before moving to Vidalia, GA. There he worked with his friend and mentor, Ronnie Stewart at Ronnie L. Stewart Funeral Service. “Ronnie is more than a friend, he is also my greatest mentor, not only in funeral service, but life itself. He is rich in knowledge and I wouldn’t be where I am today if not for him.”

Jason along with friend and fellow funeral director Tracy Joiner opened Joiner-Shepard Funeral Home in Statesboro, GA in 1996. Today it is the leading funeral home in the area. However, all his family returned to Alabama and Jason longed to be with them. After owning and operating several funeral homes, in 2014, Jason, along with his wife, Amy opened House of Flowers. 

“After some time, I had numerous families coming to me about funerals and pricing. I felt as though funeral directors and funeral prices had abandoned families, so I had the idea to offer a beautiful, welcoming facility, while offering the lowest possible pricing available.” As we began to make the dream a reality, I was able to partner with my long-time friend, Roy Watford to offer families of the Wiregrass one of the most beautiful homes, the most favorable pricing and finest staff in the area. I couldn’t be happier to be back in the Wiregrass, serving families, doing what I love, with my wife, Amy and business partner Roy.

Roy, Amy, myself and the entire Family First team is here, ready and willing to serve our community. Because we feel like we offer service and facilities second to none, we offer our 100% Service Guarantee, regardless of  family or financial needs.

Roy W. Watford

Funeral Assistant

After forty-five years as a teacher, counselor and high school principal, Roy Watford was not content to sit at home.  His genuine love for people and his compassion are a perfect fit with the mission of Family First Funeral Care.  

As a trained musician, he serves as organist/choirmaster for First United Methodist Church in Graceville, Florida, where he grew up as the only son of Roy and Mary Evelyn Hodges Watford.  He is active in the civic and cultural life of Dothan.  He holds degrees from Troy University, Peabody College of Education of Vanderbilt University and Auburn University.  

Roy’s friends know him as a true Southern Gentleman, always faithful to task at hand, and always optimistic.  His passion for beauty and nature are always evident in anything he does.

It is a joy and pleasure to be part of a team that is totally committed to providing efficient, caring and compassionate service at an affordable price.  He is extremely proud of the beautiful facility and its furnishings that reflect true Southern Hospitality, grace, dignity and beauty.

Jon Paul Shepard

Funeral Assistant

Jon Paul is the son of  late Jason Shepard and Lisa Keating.  Jon Paul graduated 2017 from Vidalia High School in Vidalia, Georiga.  He works at Buffalo Rock.  He works part time at Family First Funeral Care.

  In his spare time he enjoys camping, fishing, working out, mudding and spending time with his family and friends.   

Vince Arnold

Funeral Assistant

In Memory of Vince Arnold 

August  18, 1955 - January 13, 2020

Vince is the son of the late Donald and Dean Arnold of Dothan.  Vince is a 1973 graduate of Dothan High School.  Vince attended Wallace Community College and Troy University. 

Vince began working in retail in 1973 with Sears Department Store for 13 years.  Vince furthered his career at Gayfers/Dillards starting as a sales associate and advancing to Department Manager and later to Store Manager.  He left Dillards to work at Office Depot in Enterprise as the store Manager.  Vince worked in the retail business for 40 years until his retirement.  

Telephone: 1-334-446-1560