Licensed Staff

All of our licensed directors adhere to the highest standard of ethical practices and are committed to ensuring that all of your needs are attended to. Their commitment to the community and genuine compassion toward families are but a few of the characteristics that make them outstanding in their field. We are proud to have them on our staff.


S. Scott Stroud, Owner and Licensed Funeral Director
Email: grahamfuneralhome@verizon.net

A native of Chesapeake he is the son of Shelton and Joyce Denny Stroud. He and his wife, Amy Cullen Stroud, reside in the Hickory area of the city. Scott and Amy have four daughters and five grandchildren.  
Scott and Amy are members of Great Bridge Baptist Church and serve on the music ministry team.
Scott is a 1981 graduate of Great Bridge High School and entered funeral service in 1985, he graduated from the Mid-America College of Mortuary Science in Indiana and is licensed as a funeral director and embalmer in both Virginia and North Carolina.  Under his leadership Graham Funeral Home, A Golden Rule Funeral Home was invited to become a member of the International Order of the Golden Rule; he is a member of the International Cemetery Cremation and Funeral Association, The National Funeral Directors Association, The Virginia Funeral Directors Association, a member of the board of The Tidewater Funeral Directors Association and a member of the board and past president of the Independent Funeral Homes of Virginia.  
He is committed to meeting the needs and desires of the families who call upon us in their hour of need by providing a meaningful Christian service tailored to their personal wishes and choices. Call (757) 382-7747 to speak with him on any matter.

Bonnie R. Smith, Funeral Director

Well done, thy good and faithful servant
December 10, 1937 - October 9, 2013

F. Duane Jarrell, Licensed Mortician and Preneed Funeral Director

F. Duane Jarrell is a lifelong resident of the Tidewater area who grew up in the Bayview/Ocean View area's of Norfolk before moving to Chesapeake over 25 years ago and currently resides in the Deep Creek Area.
He attended Norview Senior High School, Tidewater Community College and is a 1986 Honors Graduate of the Mid-America College of Funeral Service where he received the Prestigious "Outstanding Scholastic Achievement Award" as well as served on the class council of the college for that year.
A Commonwealth of Virginia Licensed Funeral Service Provider since 1986, he holds certification from the National Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards and is nationally recognized as such. He also is licensed by the Virginia State Corporation Commission as a licensed Insurance Agent.
Having served thousands of families in their time of need, Duane is an expert in funeral services of all faiths, National and International shipping of remains as well as U.S. Navy casketed burial-at-sea. He is a master restorative artist and embalmer and is recognized as such by his colleagues in Funeral Service. He also is in charge of the Preneed Division where he holds an appointment by Homesteaders Life Insurance Company.
Duane can be reached 24 hours a day to discuss any type of services whether it be on a preneed basis or an immediate need. He invites his many friends he has made over the years to visit him at Graham Funeral Homes state of the art facility for a tour. He also encourages families to visit and compare our services and prices to those of our conglomerates or supposedly "discount" competitors.

Erin Warford, Licensed Funeral Director & Mortician and Licensed Preneed Funeral Agent

Terri Merz, Licensed Funeral Director

Terri Merz, a native of Mobile, Alabama, a Navy-brat who was raised in Hawaii and has resided in Virginia Beach for the last decade.  She holds an Associate’s degree in Social Science and in Funeral Services and became a fully licensed funeral director in 2015.  Terri is married to Todd, a GS employee and Navy Reservist, they have three children, Richelle, Cameron, and Kevin.  All are active members of Bethel Baptist Church, Chesapeake.

Ellen Lennox, Funeral Service Intern

David Acton, Funeral Service Intern