Meet Our Staff

Andy Shemwell

Managing Partner, Licensed Funeral Director, Embalmer - TN & KY

Andy is the Managing Partner of Neal Tarpley Parchman Funeral Home.  He is a dual licensed funeral director and embalmer in both the state of Tennessee and the Commonwealth of Kentucky.  He was born and raised in Elkton, KY and graduated from Todd County Central High School in 1995.  After completing two years at Murray State University, he finished his education as a graduate of John A. Gupton Mortuary College in Nashville in 2000.

During that time, he began working with his family as a second generation funeral director at Latham Funeral Home in Elkton until 2007 when he was selected as the Managing Partner of Maddux Fuqua Hinton funeral home in Hopkinsville, KY.  Eleven years later he became the Managing Partner here at NTP and a proud resident of Montgomery County.  Andy is honored to have served for 25 years in the funeral care industry. 

Andy and his wife, Jenny, are avid equestrians who enjoy spending their free time educating youngsters and adults on horsemanship and enjoying the outdoors by horseback.  They are fond of supporting community outreach programs, animal rescue organizations, and especially the honor of caring for families during their times of need.

Mike Parchman

Manager, Licensed Funeral Director, Embalmer

Mike is a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in the state of Tennessee.  He began his career in Funeral Care when the funeral home was under the ownership of founder Lynwood Tarpley, completing his degree and licensing at the Kentucky School of Mortuary Science and continuing to work at NTP after it was purchased in 1977 by Lonnie and Judy Neal.  Mike obtained ownership of the original funeral home located in downtown Clarksville in 2002 and later built the new state of the art location on Madison Street in 2007.

Mike married his wife, Gentsy, in 1977, and has served the Clarksville community as a member and deacon of First Baptist Church, Clarksville Athletic Club and the River Club.  He has also been a supporter of the Clarksville/Montgomery County Humane Society.

He believes the best thing about working in the Funeral Care industry is when serving the community, the community takes care of you. 

Although he prefers good fellowship with a visit over coffee and just coming by to say 'hello', Mike says there is no better feeling than being needed when a family chooses us during their time of grief.  Whether it's the first time to serve them or the fifth, Mike is honored to know that families trust Neal-Tarpley-Parchman with the care of their loved ones.  

Sally Dean

Licensed Funeral Director, Embalmer - TN & KY

Sally is a dual licensed funeral director and embalmer in both the state of Tennessee and the Commonwealth of Kentucky.  A graduate of Austin Peay State University with a degree in marketing and business administration, she completed her mortuary education at John A. Gupton College in Nashville and has over 35 years in the funeral care industry with the additional certification of crematory operator.  Sally has also been a licensed preneed insurance counselor for 30 years.

In addition to her education and years of service, Sally considers her greatest accomplishments to be her three children and five grandchildren.  An energetic, authentic and free-spirited lady, she enjoys cooking, traveling, nature and music in her spare time.

Danny Hurt

Licensed Funeral Director - TN & KY, Notary Public

Danny is a licensed funeral director in both Tennessee and Kentucky.  He has a 52-year history in the funeral service industry, having begun his apprenticeship at the young age of 12, assisting his father in Russellville, KY where he also graduated high school.  Danny graduated the Kentucky School of Mortuary Science in 1977 and has been with Neal-Tarpley Parchman for over 17 years. 

He and his fiancée Brenda Gafford Hunt have happily made a home in Clarksville and the community of Montgomery County where he enjoys bass fishing and admiring the county’s scenery by Jeep.  Most important to him is the comfort of being able to help others and serve families through fellowship in their times of need.

Nathan Westbrook

Licensed Funeral Director, Embalmer

Born in Washington state where he began his apprenticeship, Nathan is a first-generation funeral director & embalmer with 20 years in the industry.  He moved to Tennessee in 2012 to attend John A Gupton Mortuary College and to be nearer to family.  He and his wife, Natalie, enjoy camping, watching movies, playing board games and spending time with family. 

Nathan is a 2014 graduate of John A Gupton and has also obtained his crematory operator certification.  He has served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the islands of Yap and Saipan.  Now a proud Clarksville resident, Nathan devotes hours to the youth of our community by serving in leadership roles within the church and devoting his care and expertise to serving families in their times of need.

Clete Walker

Licensed Funeral Director, Administration, Notary Public

Clete is a Clarksville native, the son of Pat Minniehan Walker and the late Greg N. Walker.  He is a 2006 graduate of Rossview High School and later attained his BBA from Austin Peay State University.  Clete completed his mortuary education at John A. Gupton College in 2016 and has worked for Neal-Tarpley-Parchman since 2013.

A proud Tennessean, Clete is an all-seasons outdoorsman and avid traveler, soon to complete his goal of visiting all 50 states and aspirations of traveling to nearly 50 more countries outside the US and Canada.  When not at work, the gym or traveling, he enjoys the pursuit of good food, drink and live music as well as spending time with family and friends. 

While the funeral care industry was not what Clete originally envisioned as a young adult, he is grateful for a career that he enjoys and has taught him so much.  He truly feels honored in guiding families during their time of loss.

Craig Hanson

Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer

Craig is a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in the state of Tennessee.  Originally from South Carolina, Craig graduated from Camden High School in 1979.  He attended Midlands Technical College and the Medical University of South Carolina, graduating with degrees in Radiological Sciences and Nuclear Medicine in 1982 and 1983. 

He enjoys the beach and ocean and has lived in the coastal areas of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.  After moving to Clarksville, Craig attended Austin Peay State University and Volunteer State Community College where he studied Medical Laboratory Science and was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.  He began his studies at John A. Gupton College in 1997 and graduated with a degree in Mortuary Science in 1998.

Craig is a member of the Tennessee and National Funeral Directors Associations as well as the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice.  He and his wife, Pam; son Craig II and grandson Craig III are all Clarksville residents.  He enjoys reading, watching movies and going on cruises.  He finds the work in funeral care extremely rewarding and feels it is an honor and a privilege to be of service to grieving families during their times of need.

Annie Mergele

Lead Administrator

Annie is the Lead Administrator for Neal Tarpley Parchman Funeral Home with twelve years of experience in Compliance background.  She is a specialist in Administrative Support to our team and came to Clarksville with her husband, Matt, on duty assignment to Fort Campbell after  completing her Associate's degree in English at Columbus State in Fort Benning, GA.

Originally from Maryville, TN, she and her family are now permanent residents of Clarksville and Montgomery County.  She is a proud mother to two young men, her oldest who is ARMY Aviation and youngest, a high school senior.  Annie is a passionate outdoorswoman who enjoys spending her free time kayaking and fly fishing with her husband and sons throughout our area’s waterways and trails.  She also supports and advocates for multiple community outreach programs in Montgomery County.  Annie takes great pride and honor in serving our families during their time of loss.

Jenny Shemwell

Administrative Assistant

Jenny is a native of Charleston, MO and a 2000 graduate of Murray State University with dual bachelors’ degrees in Print Journalism/Public Relations and Equine Science.  She serves the families and staff of Neal Tarpley Parchman in office support, community relations and accounting.

She married her college sweetheart, NTP Managing Partner Andy Shemwell, in 2000 and has assisted in the funeral industry throughout their life together.  She has also owned and operated JS Travel Agency since 2017 and Equine Education & Rehabilitation for over 30 years.  Jenny devotes her time as a caregiver for both humans and animals in need and is honored to serve the families of Neal Tarpley Parchman and the Clarksville community.

David Clinard

Ambassador

David is a lifelong resident of Clarksville, having graduated from Northwest High School in 1976.  He retired as Commander of the Clarksville Fire & Rescue after 39 years of service to the citizens of Montgomery County. 

He and his wife, Melissa are the proud parents of sons Chase and Jonathan and loving grandparents of Taylor, Abby and Camden.  David is an avid fisherman who enjoys all of Tennessee’s great outdoors and serving families through his work at Neal-Tarpley-Parchman.

Chase Clinard

Ambassador

Chase is also a Clarksville native, a 2002 graduate of Northwest High School and has worked at Clarksville Fire & Rescue since 2015.  He and his wife, Tessa, are the proud parents of son Camden and daughter Taylor.

When not serving the community with Fire & Rescue and Neal-Tarpley-Parchman, Chase enjoys coaching youth baseball.  He is also a member of the Clarksville Fire Rescue Honor Guard.

Stephen Lehman

Office Assistant

Stephen Lehman, the son of Mike and Gentsy Parchman, began working at Neal-Tarpley-Parchman in 2003 as "the man at the front desk".  He supports the staff and families in the funeral home as an enthusiastic greeter and office assistant.  Steven is famous for bringing a light-hearted atmosphere with his stylish flare for seasonal ties and suspenders.  

In his free time, Steven enjoys watching wrestling and accompanying Mike to represent NTP at community events.  He enjoys welcoming families and visitors to the funeral home and bringing joy to others, especially during difficult times.

Jimmy Wiles

Licensed Pre-Need Counselor

Jimmy is a native of Somerville, TN.  After graduating from Fayette Academy and UT Martin with a degree in sociology and a minor in psychology, He began a career path which led him to what he now considers to be his most rewarding role of counseling others on the importance of securing pre-need arrangements in advance. 

Jimmy has been a pre-need counselor since 2003 and joined Neal-Tarpley-Parchman in 2019.  He married his wife, Lisa, in October of 2021.

Glenn Varble

Licensed Funeral Director, Embalmer

James Cheatham

Licensed Funeral Director

Steve Lannom

Licensed Minister, Funeral Assistant