About

Jeffery F. Wakefield Sr. (Jeff) is a native of Arlington, Georgia. He is the son of Dianne Wakefield. Jeffery is a member of Gethsemane Freewill Baptist Church of Arlington. He began his funeral service career in 1997 at Poteat Funeral Home, under the administration of Mr. James Griffin Jr., his mentor and father figure. After working at the funeral home and attending Darton College, it was at that time that Jeff knew that it was time to move on to pursue his lifelong dream. In March 1999, Jeff moved to Decatur, Georgia to make his dream become a reality and to attend Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service, where he had an opportunity to work at the Prestigious, Donald Trimble Mortuary of Decatur, which conducted over 800 services per year. He is a February 2001 Graduate of Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service where he earned an Associate of Science Degree in Funeral Service. He is a 2004 Graduate of Georgia Southwestern State University, earning a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration. Jeff is Licensed as a Funeral Director and Embalmer in the states of Georgia and Alabama. He spent many years working as a trade embalmer and funeral director for numerous firms throughout, Southwest Georgia, Central Georgia, South Central Georgia and Southeast Alabama. After the retirement of Mr. Griffin, On August 7, 2012, Jeff became the owner of Poteat Funeral Home LLC. which is now Poteat-Wakefield Funeral Directors LLC. and along with his mother, Dianne, are owners of The Wakefield Mortuary LLC. (W.M. Murray Memorial Chapel) of Arlington, Georgia. Jeffery is a Past President of The Georgia Funeral Service Practitioners Association (G.F.S.P.A), a member of the 3rd and 6th Districts G.F.S.P.A. and The Academy of Graduate Embalmers of Georgia, He is a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (C.F.S.P.) A Certified Crematory Operator and Arranger is is also Chief Deputy Coroner in Calhoun County, Georgia and was a past member of the Dougherty County Rotary Club, among other civic organizations. Jeffery has twenty-seven years of experience in funeral service. Jeff along with his wife, Latonya, a 2021 graduate of Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service, and their staff are honored to serve Dougherty, Lee, Terrell, Calhoun and surrounding counties.