Kent Forest Lawn Funeral Home

Who We Are

Our staff of professionals has years of experience caring for families from all walks of life. Each comes to us because we are leaders in our profession, with dedication to service and professional integrity.

When we sit down with a family, our shared goal is to create a fitting, memorable and affordable service for their loved one. We offer them a wide variety of services and products, as well as a wealth of creative ideas and suggestions. Together, we'll design a memorial or funeral service that suits their needs now, and in the future. Families who come to us know that years from now, they will have deep peace-of-mind because in coming to us, they've done their best to honor their loved one.

Our History

Our firm traces its roots back, deep into the 20th century, when our first facility was dedicated. Many years later, this location has seen renovations and changes, but has always been and will continue to be an integral part of this community.

Over the years, the original mission of the firm hasn't changed. We have always intended to provide the best, most professional services, complemented by the finest products. Today, we pride ourselves on being current with the major changes in funeral service trends - and bring those innovations and memorialization options to our client families with integrity and insight.

Our Valued Staff

Greg Brudnicki, President

Mr. Brudnicki has been with Kent Forest Lawn Funeral Home / Carriage Services for the past 32 years. He is Chairman of the Board with Bay Medical Center, and on the Board for the State of Florida Funeral / Cemeteries and Consumer Services.
Linda Cooper, Administration Manager

Linda Cooper is the Administration Manager for the funeral home and the cemeteries.

Linda has been with Kent Forest Lawn Funeral Home / Carriage Services for the past 19 years.
Bill Jones, Licensed Funeral Director / Embalmer

Bill Jones, LFD., Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer, is a 1975, Graduate of Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science in Atlanta, Georgia, and has been a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer since 1976. Bill is the Managing Funeral Director and has been with Kent Forest Lawn Funeral Home and Carriage Services since 1999. He has extensive experience in International Shipping of remains. Bill and his wife, Jennifer have a 10 year old daughter, Maggie and have lived in the Panama City area for the past 25 years.
Brian Gallagher, Licensed Funeral Director / Embalmer

Brian Gallagher, LFD., Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer, is a 1990, Graduate of Commonwealth College of Mortuary Science and has been with Kent Forest Lawn Funeral Home since October 2008. Brian was with the Carriage Family from 2004 - 2006 and holds licenses in 3 states, Alabama, Louisiana and Florida. He has been working with families for the past 20 years.
Mark Davis Th.D.

Mark Davis has worked with families for over 25 years in the funeral industry and various ministries. He is an ordained minister and has a doctorate of theology degree. As Public Relations Director, Mark conducts informational seminars to provide the community with aid in understanding funeral arrangements, social security and veterans benefits. He has a trained and caring staff to work with families at their time of need.
Lottie Refice, Administrative Support / Cemetery Support

Lottie Refice, Administrative Support / Cemetery Support - Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery, Evergreen Memorial Gardens, and Garden of Memories Cemetery

Lottie has been with Kent Forest Lawn Funeral Home / Carriage Services for over 30 years in several different capacities.
Mike Scott, Maintenance Supervisor

Mike Scott, Maintenance Supervisor for Kent Forest Lawn Funeral Home & Cemeteries has been part of the Carriage Team for the past 29 years. He helps in the direction of our cemeteries, Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery / Evergreen Memorial Gardens / Garden of Memories Cemetery
John Byrne, Advance Planning Representative

John Byrne, Advance Planning Representative with Kent Forest Lawn and Carriage Services / Evergreen Memorial Gardens / Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery / Garden of Memories since 1977. He has assisted thousands of families with pre arrangement services as well as at need arrangements. He has over 32 years of experience serving families in the local area. He is our Senior Memorial Counselor assisting in the training and directing of all staff with cemetery and funeral home needs. He is married for 39 years to his wife Annice.
Nimia Weis, Administrative Assistant

Nimia Weis, is the Administrative Assistant to the Managing Partner of Kent Forest Lawn Funeral Home. She has been with the funeral home for the past 2 1/2 years assisting families in the Personalization Department. She is a Licensed Subregistar of Vital Statistics and Notary for the State of Florida. She has 3 children and has been in Florida since 2000 originally from California. She is fluent in Spanish.

"My passion is to help families during a difficult time in assisting them make sure everything is handled with the utmost compassion and care by myself and my department, you will always get 150% of my time."
Jason Curry, Funeral Director Assistant

Jason Curry, Funeral Director Assistant for Kent Forest Lawn Funeral Home has been with the Carriage Family since 2007. Jason is the primary Apprentice Embalmer and Restorative Artist handling all types of cases in our general area. He handles the Gulf Coast Crematory located directly behind the funeral home.
Stephanie Searles, Administrative Support and Apprentice Embalmer

Stephanie Searles, Administrative Support and Apprentice Embalmer has been with Kent Forest Lawn / Carriage since June 2008. She is experienced in all aspects of personalization and video production. She is also a Licensed Subregistar of Vital Statistics and Notary. She has a beautiful pug named "Lucy."
Debbie Shaffman, Advance Planning Representative

Debbie Shaffman, Advance Planning Representative has been with Kent Forest Lawn Funeral Home / Carriage since 2000. She is our lead family service specialist assisting in the training of all staff with cemetery and funeral home needs. Debbie is compassionate, caring and is ready to assist your family in pre need situations as well as at the time of need.
Cindy Farr-Yarbrough, Administrative Support / Cemetery Support

Cindy Farr-Yarbrough, Administrative Support / Cemetery Support - Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery, Evergreen Memorial Gardens, and Garden of Memories Cemetery
Matt Woods, Apprentice Funeral Director / Embalmer
Rusty Freeman, Advance Planning
John Mills, Advance Planning Representative / Family Service Counselor

Joined Kent Forest Lawn / Carriage Services in 2008. He came to us after a succesful 26 year career in the Communication Industry. Married with two sons, John and his wife Judy, a career Legal Secretary, enjoy reading, working in their yard, travel and scuba diving. Natives of North Carolina, they moved to the Panama City area in 1998 and now call Panama City their home.
J. Mike Adams, Advance Planning Representative

Mike retired from the Bay County Sheriff’s Office after 16 years of Law Enforcement. He is in our Advanced Planning Depatrment and heads up our "In Line of Duty Benefit Program which is designed for all Emergency Responders in Bay County. He received his Bachelor’s from Elon University in NC and has lived in the area for the past twenty years.
Robert 'Bob' Henry, Funeral Assistant / Administration Support

Robert "Bob" Henry, Funeral Assistant / Administration Support came to Kent Forest Lawn from HM Patterson and Son, Spring Hill in Atlanta, GA. Bob is well versed in all aspects of funeral service. He especially enjoys assisting our families in their time of need. Bob is a former high school teacher and is fluent in Spanish.
Charles 'Paul' Cuthbertson, Funeral Assistant / Administration Support

Paul obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the Universityof West Georgia. He has spent his career as a corporate Accounting Controller and Financial Analyst with various national and international firms in Atlanta, GA before entering semi-retirement in Panama City Beach.