Our Caring Staff

Our dedicated staff members are here to provide support, compassion, and information to help you through your journey of grief and the celebration of your loved one’s life.

 

Our staff is committed to providing support, compassion, information and direction as needed to all who are dealing with loss and grief.

When you request the services of Stevens Mortuary, we appoint a funeral professional who will guide you through each step of the decision-making process. With years of experience, he or she will present options, explain process and procedures and ensure that your and your family's requests and preferences are honored -- no detail is too small.



Our Families Say It Best

"Thank you so much for all the details to which you gave your loving, caring attention make my mother’s funeral a beautiful, memorable occasion. From the first moment your funeral director appeared at the nursing facility, until I picked up the death certificates, everything was handled smoothly, carefully and in total accordance with our wishes. It was a pleasure to work with you, even under the sad and challenging circumstances. I would never have believed it was possible to put together such a lovely occasion and the video in such a short time, and without a moment’s sense of pressure or strain."

-BRENDA HAMILTON

 

See additional comments from our families in the Testimonial Section.

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Mary Evelyn Cantwell President/COO/Funeral Director/Embalmer, MBIE (Member British Institute of Embalmers/North America Division)
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Evelyn Stevens Grindstaff Vice President
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Don Haynes Funeral Director/Embalmer/Pre-Planning Consultant CFSP (Certified Funeral Service Practitioner), CPC (Certified Preplanning Consultant), CCO (Certified Crematory Operator), MBIE (Member British Institute of Embalmers/North America Division) Contact me at DSHaynes70@gmail.com
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Eric Seavers Funeral Director/Embalmer, MBIE (Member British Institute of Embalmers/North America Division) Contact me at EricWSeavers@gmail.com
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Steve Vandergriff Systems Manager/ Funeral Assistant
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Ron Brown Funeral Assistant
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Jerry Silcox Funeral Assistant
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Stephen Vandergriff Funeral Assistant
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Bitsie Watson Office Assistant
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Patricia Bridges Housekeeping
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Tina Johnson Housekeeping
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Gail Henson Hairdresser
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Nancy Silcox Organist
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Steve Johnson Organist

Mary Evelyn Cantwell

President/COO/Funeral Director/Embalmer, MBIE (Member British Institute of Embalmers/North America Division)
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Mary Evelyn Cantwell was born and raised on the family farm in Rutledge, Tennessee, along with her sister, Bernice Cantwell Stevens. She raised Angus Beef Cattle and won many Blue Ribbons at cattle shows. And she had a pet pig named “Roscoe”.

She was a star basketball player at Rutledge High School where she was Captain her junior and senior years. Mary was also Salutatorian and Vice President of her graduating class. She received an Associate of Arts Degree from Ward-Belmont College in Nashville, Tennessee, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree, with a Bacteriology Major and a Chemistry Minor, from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Mary Received a Medical Technology degree from East Tennessee Baptist Hospital. As a Registered Technologist (ASCP), she was one of the staff members who opened the clinical laboratory at The University of Tennessee (UTMC). She was Chief Medical Technologist for many years, as well as a member of the faculty of the first Medical Technologist Class.

In 1978, Mary graduated from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, Cincinnati, Ohio. She graduated Suma Cum Laude, was named to the National Dean’s List, and was Chaplin of her class. She was licensed as a Funeral Director and Embalmer in April of 1979 and has been employed since 1979 at Stevens Mortuary, Inc. where she is still active as a Funeral Director, Embalmer, and President of the company. Mary was the first female Funeral Director and Embalmer in Knoxville.

She is a member of Rutledge Baptist Church, Holston-Mascot #55 OES, a Kentucky Colonel, an avid Lady Vols Basketball fan, an antique collector, and a small craft pilot. Mary worked in Yellowstone National Park one summer. She has traveled to 44 states and many foreign countries, including Israel, her favorite destination.

Professional membership in:

  • Tennessee Funeral Directors Association
  • National Funeral Directors Association
  • Order of the Golden Rule
  • Tennessee Alumni Association
  • British Institute of Embalmers/North America Division

Evelyn Stevens Grindstaff

Vice President
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Evelyn is the daughter of founders, Tom and Bernice Stevens. Born in Knoxville, she graduated from Central High School, attended the University of Tennessee for three years, and graduated from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. She taught twelfth grade English in suburban St. Louis. Evelyn served as Vice President of Public Relations for one of the Sisters of Mercy Hospitals in Cincinnati for several years. From there she joined a national healthcare consulting firm headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan. As a partner and Vice President of Marketing, she and partners oversaw the sale and transition of the firm to a publicly traded company where she was Director of Corporate Marketing. In 1999, Evelyn returned to Knoxville, assumed an active role in the family business, and established a home closer to her family, children and grandchildren. She is an avid golf fan and Sunday afternoon golfer.

 

Professional membership in:

Tennessee Funeral Directors Association 

National Funeral Directors Association

International Order of the Golden Rule

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Don Haynes

Funeral Director/Embalmer/Pre-Planning Consultant CFSP (Certified Funeral Service Practitioner), CPC (Certified Preplanning Consultant), CCO (Certified Crematory Operator), MBIE (Member British Institute of Embalmers/North America Division) Contact me at DSHaynes70@gmail.com
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Don, a native of Knoxville, was born at St. Mary's Hospital, just up the hill from Stevens Mortuary. He graduated from Fulton High School and received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville where he was a member of the "Tennessee Pride of the Southland Band." Don received his Associate of Arts Degree in Mortuary Science from John A. Gupton College in Nashville where he graduated "Magna Cum Laude" and was named to the National Dean's List. Don also served as the class Chaplain.

Don is a certified funeral service practitioner, certified pre-planning consultant, and certified crematory operator, Don is also a licensed funeral director, embalmer, and pre-arrangement consultant serving the funeral profession for over 50 years. He also serves as a Notary Public at Large for the state of Tennessee and is an Ordained Elder, Emeritus at Grace Community Church in Fountain City. Don and Erin, his wife of 42 years, have four children and three grandchildren. Don and Erin live in the Fountain City Community of North Knoxville.  Don enjoys day trips to the Great Smoky Mountains, Florida beach vacations with the family, reading American History, collecting and watching "classic movies", golf, chess, and big band music.

Professional membership in:

Greater Knoxville Funeral Service Associates

Tennessee Funeral Director Association

National Funeral Directors Association

International Order of the Golden Rule

Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice

British Institute of Embalmers North America Division (Board of Directors)

Tennessee Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers

Gideons International

Rotary International (Paul Harris Fellow)

Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels 

John A. Gupton College Alumni Association

Tennessee Sheriff's Association

Folds of Honor Foundation (Squadron 13)

National Naval Aviation Museum Foundation (Project Orion)

Contact me at DSHaynes70@gmail.com

 

Eric Seavers

Funeral Director/Embalmer, MBIE (Member British Institute of Embalmers/North America Division) Contact me at EricWSeavers@gmail.com
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Eric William Seavers was born at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Union City, TN and grew up in Martin, TN (Home of the TN Soybean Festival). He is a 2005 graduate of Westview High School and a 2009 graduate of the University of Tennessee at Martin (Where Pat Summitt attended from 1970-1974). While at UTM, he obtained a B.F.A. in Graphic Design and graduated with honors. A year after obtaining his bachelor's degree, Eric enrolled at John A. Gupton College in Nashville where he obtained an Associate of Arts Degree in Mortuary Science and graduated "Magna Cum Laude" in December of 2011. He holds a dual license in both Funeral Directing and Embalming. Eric has over 10 years of experience in funeral service, with exceptional and particular interest in restorative art, embalming, and cosmetics. He has a great passion to help families and a strong drive to continue to serve people with the highest degree of dignity and respect. He also follows a very strict code of ethics and professional conduct.

 

Eric currently resides in Knoxville, TN. He shares a deep love and passion for animals, especially with rescues and rehabilitation. Eric also greatly enjoys traveling and has been all across the country from Miami, to Boston, to Seattle, to Victoria, B.C. He is an avid fan of independent film and currently holds a local membership with Central Cinema. Eric also enjoys collecting vinyl, particularly from the 1980's, and is the proud owner of a refurbished 1962 Voice of Music Console. He has a deep appreciation for antiques and history, especially the Civil War and its causes and consequences.

Professional membership in:

  • British Institute of Embalmers/North America Division
  • Contact me at EricWSeavers@gmail.com

Steve Vandergriff

Systems Manager/ Funeral Assistant
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Ron Brown

Funeral Assistant
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Jerry Silcox

Funeral Assistant
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Stephen Vandergriff

Funeral Assistant
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Bitsie Watson

Office Assistant
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Patricia Bridges

Housekeeping
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Tina Johnson

Housekeeping
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Gail Henson

Hairdresser
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Nancy Silcox

Organist
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Steve Johnson

Organist
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