Our Team of Directors

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

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Terry Airsman
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Greg May
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Rick Hires
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Joe Coultas
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Randy Hires
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Andy Moss
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Colby Brooks
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Danny Powell
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Scott Lummis
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Tim Bruce
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Tabitha Brown
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Nathan Freeman

Terry Airsman

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Terry was attending elementary school in Roodhouse, Illinois as a child, and his daily walk home from school took him past the Wolfe Funeral Home.  In need of pocket money, Terry would stop each day at the funeral home to inquire if any help might be needed.  His persistence paid off, and he was eventually hired to mow and perform other odd jobs for the owners.  He later worked for the railroad and held a few other jobs in the area, but always maintained his connection to the funeral home.  After graduating from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Wheeling, he and his wife, Mary Beth, were able to purchase that funeral home, and several others, which led to the formation of Airsman-Hires Funeral Homes.  He and Mary Beth and their children, John, Elizabeth, and Michael, moved to Jacksonville in 1981 with the purchase of Williamson Funeral Home.

Terry enjoys walking, reading, golfing and traveling.  He learned the technical aspects of kicking a football while his son was in college, and has applied that knowledge by assisting kickers at Jacksonville High School, Triopia High School, and Illinois College.  Terry was proud to be named a "Friend of the College" by Illinois College in 2012. 

 

Greg May

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Greg graduated from Jacksonville High School in 1983 and Illinois College in Jacksonville in 1988.  He worked in admissions for the college for five years, recruiting students from Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri.  He met his future wife, Elizabeth Airsman, Terry and Mary Beth's daughter, and they were engaged in 1991.  Greg's exposure to funeral service began at that point, and it wasn't long until Greg realized the value of funeral service and the satisfaction that could be derived from helping others at such a time.  Greg graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in 1994.

Greg and Liz have three children, Tyler, Ryan, and Sarah.  He enjoys attending soccer games and dance recitals, and all of the other joys of parenting.  He is a member of First Presbyterian Church and the Jacksonville Kiwanis, and volunteers with Pathway Services Unlimited and the Morgan County Fair.  In his free time, Greg enjoys exercising, reading, and playing golf.

 

Rick Hires

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Rick assumed his career would be in Geology following his graduation from Eastern Illinois University in 1974.  His Geology degree was prompted by his realization that in order to be a math teacher, you needed to excel at math on the collegiate level.  After a layoff from his job as a lead and zinc geologist, he found himself hanging around his father's funeral home in Carrollton.  His father said he didn't mind him hanging around, but he would need to earn his keep.  Odd jobs around the funeral home led to enrollment at Worsham College of Mortuary Science, and a long career in funeral service.

Rick and his wife Patty have five children and nine grandchildren.  Rick is a Greene County Deputy Coroner and  serves on the board of directors for Carrollton City Cemetery, Boyd Memorial Hospital, and the District 1 Foundation for Quality Education.  He is a member of First Baptist Church and a dedicated supporter of Carrollton High School athletics.  Rick enjoys public speaking, writing music, basketball, golf, and tennis.  He is an accomplished guitarist and can often be found performing in his garage.

 

Joe Coultas

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Joe arrived on the front porch of the White Hall funeral home in 1977 as a fresh-faced apprentice, having just graduated from Southern Illinois University's School of Mortuary Science in Carbondale.  Terry Airsman wasn't sure what to make of this young man from Pleasant Hill, Illinois, but nearly four decades later, Joe has proven to be the caring and compassionate funeral director on whom families can rely.  In addition, his skills in directing and embalming have been shared with many of the younger directors on staff.

Joe is the father of three children, Shane, Luke, and Sara, and a proud grandfather.  He is a member of the White Hall Lions Club, Lodge #80, A.F.& A.M., and the White Hall Sportsman's Club.  He sits on the boards of directors for White Hall National Bank, White Hall Cemetery Association, and Fernwood Cemetery in Roodhouse.  Joe loves hunting, fishing, boating, and spending time with his family.

 

Randy Hires

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Randy has been with the Airsman-Hires family for over 34 years. Born and raised in the funeral home as the son of Jess and Niela Hires, Randy would help his dad as a young man, doing everything from washing cars to mowing the lawn. He graduated from Carrollton High School in 1981 and Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in 1983. Randy pursued a career in Photographic Technology in Texas before moving back to Illinois in 1984 to begin his career in funeral service. He returned to Carbondale and earned his degree in Mortuary Science in 1986. Randy moved to Griggsville to manage the former Skinner Funeral Home and later the former Lummis-Bennett Funeral Home in Pittsfield. In 2011, Randy moved to Waverly to take over management duties of Neece-Airsman-Hires in Waverly and Stults-Neece in Palmyra.

Randy is a 30-year member of Griggsville Masonic Lodge #45 A.F.&A.M, and Quincy Valley Order of the Scottish Rite. Randy loves music and has played in several bands since high school. He currently plays in the Southern Rail Band from Quincy. Other interests include electronic gadgets and hockey. He is a patient fan of the St. Louis Blues hoping to see the Stanley Cup hoisted in St. Louis one day. Randy is married to Lynnette, and has two sons, Nick and Adam, and two step-daughters, Sherelyn and Sylvia.

 

Andy Moss

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Andy was born and raised in central Iowa.  He attended college in Iowa, Missouri and Texas and is a licensed funeral director in Missouri since 1985 and in Illinois since 1991, Andy has served the communities of West Central Illinois with Airsman-Hires Funeral Homes since 1991.

Andy and his wife, Virginia, have made their home in Winchester. They have four children, eight grandchildren, and four great grandchildren. He is a member of St. Mark’s Church in Winchester, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Columbus, and the Winchester Kiwanis Club.  Andy enjoys spending time with his family, boating, and riding motorcycles.

 

Colby Brooks

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Colby Brooks became associated with the Airsman-Hires Funeral Homes nearly 20 years ago, having joined the staff in 1996. His great- grandfather, Frank Dawdy, began serving families from the Dawdy Funeral Home in White Hall in 1930, followed by his great-uncle, Bill Dawdy.  That home is now the current location of the Airsman-Hires Funeral Home in White Hall. Colby spends most of his time at Williamson Funeral Home in Jacksonville, but also serves families in the Greene County area.
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Colby was raised in White Hall.  He graduated from North Greene High School, attended Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, and graduated from the Mid-America College of Funeral Service in Jeffersonville, Indiana.  He is a member of All Saints Catholic Church in White Hall where he serves on the Pastoral Council. He also serves as a board member for Calvary Cemetery in Jacksonville. He is a member of Rasna Shrine Club, where he serves as Treasurer, the Ansar Tin Lizzies Shrine Unit, White Hall Lodge #80 A.F. & A.M., Scottish Rite-Valley of Springfield and the Ansar Shrine Temple. Colby also serves as a White Hall Township Trustee.   He and his wife Lyndsey have two daughters, Reese and Avery, and live near White Hall. 

 

Danny Powell

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Danny began working with the Airsman-Hires Funeral Homes locations in White Hall, Roodhouse, and Carrollton during his senior year of high school in 2003.  He knew at an early age that he had an interest in funeral service and helping others.  In addition to being a Licensed Funeral Director, Danny also serves as Coroner in Greene County, and serves on the White Hall Fire Department and First Responders.

Danny graduated from North Greene High School in 2003 and attended Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey prior to enrolling at Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Wheeling.  He graduated from Worsham in 2006.  Danny, his wife Miranda, and their daughters Bailee and Brynlee live in White Hall where he is a member of the North Greene Area Chamber of Commerce, White Hall Lions Club, and White Hall First Baptist Church.  When Danny is not serving families in Greene County, he enjoys hunting and fishing and has proven to be an all-around excellent handyman. 

 

Scott Lummis

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Scott was raised in Pike County, the son of a third-generation funeral director. He felt a natural pull to the profession and, after graduating from Galesburg High School, enrolled in the Carl Sandburg College of Mortuary Science. Scott’s family and their funeral homes have served the families of Pike, Adams, and Hancock counties since 1919. Scott joined the family of directors at Airsman-Hires in 2011, and serves the families of Beardstown, Griggsville, and Pittsfield. As a resident of Beardstown, Scott serves on the Beardstown Fall Festival Committee, Beardstown Exchange Club, Cass County Mental Health Board. He also has served as the Cass County Death Examiner since 2015 and is a member of Beardstown Elks Lodge 1007 and the Guthrie-Pierce VFW Auxiliary Post 1239. Scott volunteers his time with Beardstown High School athletics and has been a lifelong fan of the Chicago Cubs and University of Illinois teams. He enjoys partaking in outdoor activities and hosting family cookouts.

Scott and his wife Tauna are the parents of three children, Brent (wife, Jessica), Katelyn, and Collin, and three very active grandsons.

Tim Bruce

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Tim returned to funeral service in 2014, when he joined Airsman-Hires as a Licensed Funeral Director. Tim was raised in a funeral home as the son of Robert P. Bruce, owner of Bruce Memorial Home in Leroy. He became licensed in 1981 after graduating from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale with a degree in Mortuary Science. He eventually went to work for United Parcel Service (U.P.S.) and enjoyed a 25-year career there. Tim never lost his desire to serve families in funeral service, and was glad for the opportunity to return to the work he loves.

When not working, Tim can be found golfing, keeping time at various Illinois College athletic events, or following his grandchildren’s many activities. Tim and his wife Justine are parents to Melissa (husband, Tony) York and Trent (wife, Sarah) Bruce, and the proudest grandparents of Brock, Tate and Mayla York, and Claire Bruce.

 

Tabitha Brown

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Tabitha Brown has been with the Airsman-Hires Family since 2015. Born and raised in White Hall, Illinois, to parents Julia and Glenn Hill, Tabitha graduated from North Greene High School in 2008. She later attended the St. Louis Community College in Forest Park where she received her mortuary degree in 2013.

In her spare time, Tabitha loves the outdoors helping out on the farm, gardening, and landscaping. She enjoys running and hopes to run a marathon someday, and spending time with her family. If it is hunting season, you may find her in the woods as her newest hobby is bow hunting. When she is out of the woods, she especially enjoys helping in the community. Her passion for working with people and helping them is part of what inspired her to become a funeral director.

Tabitha lives in Carrollton with her husband, Timothy, on the family farm just outside of Carrollton. She is a member of the St John’s Catholic Church and plans to remain in the Greene County area for many years.

Nathan Freeman

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Nathan was born and raised in Jacksonville and graduated from Jacksonville High School in 2012.  He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Missouri, where he worked in the Rec Center for four years, served as a United Way volunteer, and participated in the Mizzou Swim Club.  Nathan knew at an early age that he desired to work in funeral service.  As a result, he enrolled in Worsham College of Mortuary Science following college graduation and joined the Airsman-Hires family in May of 2018.

Nathan lives at the Western Illinois Youth Camp on Lake Jacksonville and serves as a volunteer and groundskeeper. When not working, Nathan indulges his passions for boating, hiking, and exercising. He is an avid fan of Mizzou athletics and St. Louis Cardinals baseball.