AJ started his career in law enforcement and working part-time at a funeral home. As a police officer AJ served as State President and National Vice President of non-profit police youth organization (PAL).

In 1986 he entered funeral service full time and became nationally known in the industry for writing articles and speaking to several organizations about his progressive ideas about funeral service. Having served various leadership roles in Pilot Mountain/Surry County including past chairman of United Way, past vice chairman for Habit for Humanity, past president of the Pilot Mountain Merchants Association. AJ currently serves as vice chairman for the town planning and zoning board.

AJ is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in North Carolina, Virginia, Florida & Texas. His expertise in funeral service has led him to become appointed to serve on several national committees in funeral service organizations. In his career he has guided and served thousands of families during their time of need.

Email: ajdaoud@aol.com

Steve Snow
Vice President & Funeral Director

Steve is a 1970 graduate of Surry Central High School and a 1974 graduate of Pfeiffer University where he earned a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration. Before entering the funeral profession , Steve worked as Department Supervisor at RJR Tobacco.

In 1990 Steve became a partner and began his career with Cox-Needham. He currently serves as Vice President and Funeral Director with the company and has been a board member of the Fulton Family YMCA in Winston-Salem for 12 years. He was a charter member of the Pilot Mountain Jaycees and a past member of the board of directors of Pilot Knob Fire Department.

He is married to Lin and has one daughter Anna Katherine age 17.

Neil R. Breed
Funeral Director & Embalmer / Community Outreach Coordinator

Neil has pursued the lifelong dream of serving others in the funeral profession. At the age of five he decided he was going to be an "Undertaker" as he called it back then. He graduated from Niagara Falls High School and then enlisted in the United States Marine Corps to serve our country during the Persian Gulf War.

He is a 1996 graduate of the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science where he earned a degree in Funeral Service Management. Neil made his way south via Myrtle Beach where he served his internship with the prestigious Goldfinch Funeral Homes and Cemeteries. He then accepted a position to serve his internship in Mocksville, NC with Forbis and Dick Funeral Service. Upon receiving his North Carolina Funeral Service license he was hired to manage Harold C. Davis Funeral Home in High Point NC where he earned honors for his work with the Kiwanis Club, the Salvation Army and several charitable organizations within the community of High Point.

In 2001 Neil was named the High Point Chamber of Commerce Small Business Person of the Year and was a 2002 North Carolina Small Business Associations "Young Entrepreneur of the Year" nominee. While serving there he met his wife April, a Registered Nurse, one evening while they were caring for the same patient. He then accepted a position with Vogler & Sons in Winston Salem and he and April were married in a unique ceremony at the Vogler Main Street Funeral Chapel.

Last year, Neil graduated from the Celebrant Foundation and Institute and became a Certified Life Cycle Celebrant. Funeral Celebrants are ceremony specialists who have a sound background in the history of ritual, ceremony and funeral traditions in many cultures and religions. Funeral Celebrants have been drawn to this work by a strong realization that every life has meaning and deserves to be celebrated and celebrated well. Many have experienced grief themselves. All are convinced that funerals can be a valuable source of healing.

Neil is a member of the Marine Corps League, the Celebrant Foundation & Institute Alumni Association and is a volunteer with the USMC Reserve Toys for Tots program.

He, his wife April, son Coleman and daughter Kacee make their home in the Piedmont area.

Tel: 336-368-2233

Beth Darisse
Office Manager

Beth is a 2004 graduate of East Surry High School and attended Surry County Community College. She is the mother of a beautiful one year old girl Bella and daughter of Kimberly Durham. Recently Beth became a North Carolina Notary Public as a way to better serve our families with business related issues.

Beth assists the directors with obituaries, death certificates and all other administrative tasks associated with funeral services. She handles our accounts payable and accounts receiveable as well as filing insurance claims and assignments for our families.

Wes George
Operations Manager

Wes is a 1980 graduate of East Surry High School and has been with Cox Needham since 1992. He serves as Operations Manager and is responsible for staffing all funeral and memorial services. He is Licensed Crematory Operator for Carolina Cremations, an affiliate of Cox Needham. Wes serves as our purchasing agent and is in charge of our funeral support staff.

He is the proud father of Sara and Rebecca whom are also East Surry graduates

Jack George
OPS Manager

Jack was born and raised in the Westfield area of Surry County. He was a 1960 graduate of Pilot Mountain High School and a 2003 graduate of Fayetteville Technical Institute Funeral Service Program. He retired from JP Stevens and began a career in funeral service with Cox Needham in 2003. Jack currently is the Operations Manager for our Danbury location and assists with funerals at all of our other locations in the area. He is currently chariman of the Westfield Medical Center and a retired from Westfield Volunteer Fire Department after 47 years.
He is married to Elizabeth O'Neil George and has two children, Jack George, jr. and Lisa George Chilton and three grandhcildren. He makes his home in the Westfield community.

Jeff Stager
Certified Crematory Operator & Funeral Assistant

Jeff is a 1993 graduate of East Surry High School and attended Surry Community College. He is a North Carolina Certified Crematory Operator and serves as Operations Manager of Carolina Cremations.

He is married to Amanda Leigh Stager and is the proud father of three girls Madyson, Hailey & Kamryn. He and his family make their home in Mt. Airy.

Linda Covington
Insurance Manager

Tel: 336-368-2233

Mary Ann Freeman
Funeral Assistant

Tel: 336-368-2233

Benny Hill
Funeral Assistant

Tel: 336-368-2233

Billy Lawson
Administrative Assistant

Tel: 336-368-2233

Mary Ruth Hauser
Asst. Ofc. Manager

Garnelle Tucker
Funeral Attendant

Lynn Vaden
Asst. Ofc. Manager