Our Staff

Lyle W. Donaldson

President, Owner, Funeral Service Licensee

Lyle  Donaldson is President and Owner of Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory.   He grew up in Pittsboro and is the seventh generation of his family to live in Chatham County.

Lyle graduated from Greensboro College with a BS in Business Administration and Economics.  After experiencing the loss of his Grandmother while in college, Lyle found himself working a summer job at Hall-Wynne the following two years.  

The desire to help families in their greatest time of need lead him to pursue a career as a Funeral Director.  He enrolled in the Funeral Service Licensee program at Fayetteville Technical Community College and graduated in 2014.  He was fortunate to serve his apprenticeship in Sanford, NC at Bridges-Cameron Funeral Home under the leadership of Mr. Tommy Bridges.   

Lyle has always had the desire to serve the people of Chatham County.  In 2015, the dream of owning his own funeral home, in his home town, became a reality when he purchased Hall-Wynne Funeral Service in Pittsboro.  With the purchase of the business the funeral home is now once again under local ownership.  

Lyle and his family have been life-long members of Hanks Chapel United Church of Christ in Pittsboro, NC.  In his spare time, he enjoys spending time at the beach, duck hunting, an occasional baseball game, and most outdoor sports.  

In September 2017 Lyle was selected by Department Chair of Funeral Service Education Ronald Montgomery, Jr.  to serve as a Board Member on the Funeral Service Education Advisory Board at Fayetteville Technical Community College.

In October 2018 Lyle and Donaldson Funeral Home & Cremation were asked to serve as a Board/Coalition Member for Chatham-Orange Grief Oasis.  A Grief Support Group in Chapel Hill. 

Lyle is a member of the Masonic Columbus Lodge #102 A.F. & A.M. and a member of Rotary Club of Pittsboro, Chapter #88190 as well as the Chatham Chamber of Commerce. 

Lyle is the youngest of three children of Sara (Cooper) and the late Mark Donaldson.  

Telephone: 1-919-542-3057

Email: 

Lisa Wooten

Director of Operations, Licensed Funeral Director specializing in Advanced Planning

Lisa comes from a long family history of funeral directing, her father having help to build Rose & Quesenberry Funeral Home in Beckley, WV.  She tells folks, she was the funeral director’s kid, a funeral director’s wife and then became the funeral director herself. 

Lisa is a Virginia girl by birth but a West Virginia girl while growing up.  She graduated with honors from Fayetteville Technical Community College, Mortuary Science Program in 2005.  Lisa is a member of the NSDAR, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution where she is an Honorary Regent and Chapter Chaplain for the Asbury Station Chapter in Cary.  She is also an associate member of the General Davie Chapter in Durham, NC and serves as the State DAR Magazine Chairmen.   Lisa is also a member of The Order of First Families of NC, her Jessup ancestors having been a colonist of the Province of Carolina before 1729.  Her ancestors where Quakers during the Revolutionary War and their farm was in the middle of the battle at Guilford.

Lisa and her husband Chip Wooten are members of the Cary FUMC and Chip is a member of the Cary Masonic Lodge #198.

When she is not busy helping families secure their final wishes in advance, she loves doing genealogy research, planning events for our Veterans and helping to promote Patriotism, Education, and Historic Preservation.  Lisa is here to help families plan their funeral or cremation services in advance so that burden will not be left to family members after a death occurs.  Feel free to reach out to her directly.

Telephone: 1-919-749-3941

Email: 

Patt Sturdivant

Licensed Funeral Director

Patt is a native of Chatham County, having grown up in the Bells Community and Bells Baptist Church. After graduating from Northwood High School, she received her BS in Chemistry from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Patt also has an AAS in Respiratory Therapy. Patt joined the Donaldson staff in 2015.  She has worked as part of our administrative team while she obtained her Funeral Director’s License in 2022 from Fayetteville Tech Community College.

Patt retired in 2011 from UNC Hospitals after 30 years of service, with 10 years of service on the Carolina Air Care Team and Director of Anesthesia Support for 20 years. She is married to Terry Sturdivant of the neighboring White Cross community. They have two children, son Blaine and daughter Brittany.  Blaine and his wife Elizabeth (Parks) are of Pittsboro, daughter Brittany (Sturdivant) Phillips and her husband Tanner Phillips are also of Pittsboro. Patt has three grandchildren, Colby and Natalie Sturdivant and Rhett Phillips.

Patt and her husband currently attend New Salem Baptist Church in Pittsboro. They are also very active with Living Free Ministries and the Durham Rescue Mission.

Patt enjoys playing the piano and singing, doing yard work and spending time with the grandchildren. She feels assisting families during the difficult days and weeks following a death of a loved one, is a ministry unto itself.

Telephone: 1-919-542-3057

Email: 

Billy Lewis Griffin (Retired)

Funeral Service Licensee

William L. "Billy Lewis" Griffin, Jr., is a native of Chatham County and resides in Pittsboro. Bill attended UNC-Chapel Hill and is a 1963 graduate of Gupton College of Mortuary Science in Nashville, TN.

Following graduation, he joined his father and uncle in the family business - Griffin Funeral Service in Pittsboro.

After his father's and uncle's deaths in 1973, he became owner/manager until 1997. He then served on a part-time basis until 2010.

Billy Lewis has been a mentor to Lyle Donaldson from the beginning of Lyle serving his apprenticeship at Bridges-Cameron Funeral Home in Sanford, NC. 

Although retired, Billy Lewis continues to help on occasion with funeral services of close friends and relatives.

He is a member of Pittsboro Baptist Church and a member of the Masonic Columbus Lodge 102, AF & AM.

At present Bill is a musician-singer with Front Porch Ministry, a gospel band.

A veteran of the United States Air Force, he is the father of four children Darlene, Daryl, Kathy, and Brian, and grandfather of eight grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter.  

Telephone: 1-919-542-3057

Judy Lewter

Funeral Service Associate/Administration

Judy a native of Chatham County, resident of the Bells Community, and graduated from Pittsboro High School. 

Judy retired from UNC in July 2003 after 31 years. In 2004 she became a tax preparer for H&R Block, retiring in 2019 after 15 years. 

Judy is currently the treasurer for Bells Baptist Church and enjoys baking, needle work, and golfing in her spare time. 

Judy joined our team in 2019 as an Administrative Assistant.  She has truly been an asset to our team, working in the office as well as visitations and funerals. 

Lyndsay McCarthy

Funeral Service Apprentice

Lyndsay is a Funeral Assistant and a Funeral Service Licensee apprentice.  She grew up in Detroit, Michigan until her family moved to Stedman, NC in 2009.  Lyndsay graduated from Cape Fear High School in Fayetteville, NC.  She was a full time nanny while attending Fayetteville Technical Community College for Funeral Service.  She graduated in 2022 with an Associate in Applied Science.

Lyndsay is married to Ronaldo McCarthy and they live in Siler City, NC with their loveable cat, "Ashes".   She enjoys crafting, reading, visiting the mountains, nature, collecting rocks and crystals, and spending time with family.

Lyndsay's goal is to become a Licensed Funeral Director and help assist families in making arrangements that will be a personal and meaningful tribute for their loved one.

Archie Hackney

Funeral Service Assistant

Archie L. Hackney is a native of Chatham County and a resident of Pittsboro. Archie has been the owner and operator of Pittsboro Appliance Center for more than 30 years.

Archie served proudly in the U.S. Army in Vietnam.  He is a member of the Joe Wagner VFW Post 7313 and is very active in building a Veterans Memorial in Pittsboro. He joined the Hall-Wynne Funeral Home Pittsboro location in 2013 which later became Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory. 

Archie is married to Peggy (Riddle) Hackney of Pittsboro and they have one son, Donnie Wayne. Archie and his wife are active members of Hanks Chapel United Church of Christ.

Gene Locklear

Funeral Service Assistant

Tommy Perry

Funeral Service Assistant

Tommy Perry is a native of Chatham County and a life long resident of Pittsboro.  He spent 30 years with the North Carolina Division of Community Corrections and joined the funeral home in 2009 after his retirement.

Tommy, and his wife Kelly, are active members of Pittsboro United Methodist Church.   They are the proud parents of a daughter, Candace.  

Ken Ellis

Funeral Service Assistant

Ken Ellis is a native of Chatham County and resident of Pittsboro.  Ken is retired from the State of North Carolina.  He and his wife are members of New Salem Baptist Church.

Ken is married to Betty Jean (BJ) Council Ellis. They have a daughter, Gidget Jenkins and a son, Wyatt Ellis.  They are the proud grandparents of Brandi Morris, Kasey Jenkins, Angelica Ellis, and Cheyenne Ellis.

Ken joined our team in 2007 and continues to help serve the community by helping work visitations and funeral services.

Ronnie Vaughn

Funeral Service Assistant

Ronnie Vaughn is a native of Chatham County and resident of Pittsboro. Ronnie is retired from the Alamance County Tax Office.

Ronnie grew up in Pittsboro and graduated from Pittsboro High School.

Ronnie was married to the late Glenette (Mann) Vaughn who he sadly lost in 2023, they have two sons: Brian Vaughn and Todd Vaughn along with  four grandchildren: Amber, Victoria, Layla, and Carter.  He enjoys fishing and hunting in his spare time.

Ronnie attends New Salem Baptist Church and is a long time member of the Mount Olive Baptist Church both in Pittsboro.

Ronnie joined our team in 2018 and has been a great asset working visitations and funerals. 

Kenneth Farrell

Funeral Service Assistant

Kenneth Farrell is a native of Chatham County and resident of Pittsboro. 

Kenneth grew up in Pittsboro and graduated from Northwood High School. 

Kenneth joined our team in 2020 and has been a great asset working visitations and services. 

Matt McDiarmid

Funeral Service Assistant

James Dean

Funeral Service Assistant

Laura Whitaker

Funeral Service Assistant

Debbie Horton

Funeral Service Assistant

C. "Shorty" Johnson

Transport Care Team

Dalton Victorino

Transport Care Team

Daniel Rickard

Transport Care Team