Our Staff
Our staff is comprised of dedicated and licensed professionals with the experience to answer all your questions regarding our services. Please feel free to contact any of our staff members at any time.
Tiffany Cooper-Aguilar
Owner/Funeral Director/Embalmer
Tiffany Cooper-Aguilar entered the funeral profession in fall of 2008, at the San Antonio College, where she pursued an education in their Mortuary Science Program. A proud SAC Graduate, she obtained a Mortuary Science, A. A. S. degree in the spring of 2013. In the past she was active with the college, attending and chaperoning events and as a member on the MORTS advisory committee.
She began her apprenticeship, while residing in Seguin, Texas at Palmer Mortuary & Cremations (2009 Legacy Funeral Group) in Seguin, and then shifted to Zoeller Funeral Home (2010 Service Corp. International) in New Braunfels, Texas. Transferring to Goetz Funeral Home (early 2013 Service Corp. International) in Seguin, she found her way back to Palmer Mortuary & Cremations in the fall of 2013. She acquired her license to sell Pre-Paid Funeral Policies through Funeral Directors Life Insurance Company in 2014.
While employed at Palmer Mortuary & Cremations, she was promoted to the Managing Funeral Director and Embalmer position in February of 2015. In April she was awarded the Funeral Director of the year, for Legacy Funeral Group.
In March 2018 she was one of 50 Funeral Directors across the United States to be chosen for the National Funeral Directors Association and The Funeral Foundation’s: Meet the Mentors program in Atlanta, GA. In April 2018 she was awarded with the Young Professional of the Year award and served as the President, for the Texas Funeral Directors Association – South Central Chapter. In June 2018 she was awarded, across the state, as the Young Professional of the Year, at the Texas Funeral Directors Association Convention in Galveston, Texas. In the fall of 2018, she was featured in a vibrant article, for a national publication, in the American Funeral Director Magazine.
Tiffany also remained highly active in the Seguin community serving as the past chairwoman for the Hispanic Chamber, member of the Seguin High School Gold Battalion Booster Club for dance and cheer (past Secretary and Vice President), Board Member for the DF Food Bank and as a Crisis Counselor for the Seguin Crisis Pregnancy Center.
Tiffany remained in her position at Palmer Mortuary & Cremations until December 2018. She was briefly a Service Manager for the National Cremation Society in San Antonio, Texas. She then settled in at the Chapel Hill Funeral Home, Crematory and Memorial Park, in San Antonio, Texas before she relocated to East Texas. At Chapel Hill, she received her license as a Crematory Operator and served as the interim Location Manager and lead Funeral Director.
Noticing her strengths in being competent with many skills and systems that are used throughout the profession, she began working contract labor throughout the state in the fall of 2019. She is the president and (sole) owner of Aguilar Funeral Services, LLC. And in February 2022, Tiffany became the proud owner of the Mount Vernon Memorial Funeral Home (formally known as the Collvins Memorial Funeral Home) in Mount Vernon, Texas.
In the past Tiffany has remained heavily involved with the Texas Funeral Directors Association, attending numerous events, serving as a board member (past President, Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer) with the South-Central Chapter, Texas Funeral Directors Association - Disaster Team and served on several committees for the association. Now that she has settled in East Texas, she will set her sights on participating in the TFDA’s East Chapter.
Tiffany enjoys traveling, thrifting/flea markets, exploring cemeteries, has a huge heart for animals and spending time with her husband Chris and their daughter, Kamille.
Over the years, Tiffany has gained an affection for the Funeral Profession and strives to show excellence in all that she puts her name to. She intends to continue to serve families with the highest quality, the utmost professionalism and class.
Telephone: 1-903-243-7962
Donya Barker
Funeral Director
Donya Barker is
a life-long resident of Franklin County. She recently received her funeral
directors license and is currently working to obtain her embalmer's license.
Donya has worked in the funeral industry, locally, since 2016.
She has worked in the healthcare field for more than 30 years,
with the last 17 being in home health.
Donya is the Secretary/Treasurer for North Franklin VFD,
Secretary/Treasurer for Franklin County Firefighters Association, Director of
Hagansport Community Center, Director of Franklin County Chamber of Commerce,
member of School Health Advisory Council, member of MVISD District
Effectiveness Committee, Mentor with Mt. Vernon Cares, and the Secretary for
Fairview Cemetery Association.
Donya is married to Rusty Barker of the Hagansport Community.
Together, they have five children and six grandchildren, who are the joys of
her life. They attend church at the Sulphur Bluff Assembly of God.
During her spare time, she enjoys shopping and spending time
with the grandchildren.
Amelia Aguilar
Funeral Home Admin
Amelia Aguilar is a resident of Naples, TX. She is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, and she teaches 2nd grade at Paul Pewitt Elementary.
Amelia is the mother of two beautiful children, both live in Mississippi, where they attend college. Amelia enjoys reading and spending time with her family.
She is happy to work alongside her aunt, Tiffany and cousins.
Johanna Castro
Funeral Home Admin
Johanna Castro has been a resident of Sulphur Springs, Tx for over 40 years. A loving mother of two wonderful children. She enjoys being involved in their everyday lives, their extracurricular activities, cooking their favorite meals and spending quality time with them. She has been a stay-at-home Mom for over 10 years.
She is excited to be a team member, working alongside her aunt, Tiffany and her cousins.
Known as people person, with a bright personality. Johanna is also bilingual, a licensed pre-planning insurance agent and looks forward to serving your family with excellent customer service.
Brandi L. Howard
Funeral Attendant
Brandi L. Howard, a resident of the Lake Cypress area, is married to Taboris
Howard and they have 3 children. She enjoys spending time with
her family, learning about geology, and reading.
She has a heart for people and has previously volunteered in community outreach programs in New Mexico.
She is licensed to sell funeral pre-plans and life insurance.
Telephone: 1-903-243-7666
Yesenia Maicas
Admin/Funeral Attendant
Yesenia is a resident of Sulphur Springs and she graduated from Tyler Junior College as a Registered Dental Assistant.
She enjoys spending time with her family and her boyfriend, Bryant.
Yesenia is happy to work alongside her aunt and cousins. You can count on her to greet you with excellent customer service.
T. Kamille Serrano
Funeral Attendant/Social Media Content Creator
T. Kamille Serrano, currently attends the University of Texas in Austin, double majoring in Government and Rhetoric and Writing with a minor in Sociology. She is a member of the Alpha Xi Delta Sorority and holds several officer positions within the chapter.
She has grown up in the funeral profession from the age of 5 years old and is proud to work with her mom, Tiffany, and her cousins, at the funeral home.
She has two cats named Willow and Eve, enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her friends.
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