Our Staff
V Todd Ferreira
Mr. Ferreira's career began at the age of fourteen working as a grounds keeper at Oaklawn Cemetery in Jacksonville, Florida, owned by the Neil Taylor family and managed by Wes Taylor. Over the next four years he observed the interaction between the cemetery, families, and funeral directors.
In March of 1989, he had his first direct encounter with death in the passing of his grandfather, Sidney G. Friend. While observing his family plan and prepare for his grandfather's funeral, he realized he was called to be a servant to bereaved families. In June of 1989, the day after he graduated from high school, he became a support staff employee at Arlington Funeral Home in Jacksonville, Florida, managed by John G. Osborn. During this time Mr. Ferreira witnessed first-hand the importance of the relationship between grieving families and that of a caring, compassionate funeral director. This realization sparked a passion within him and he immediately enrolled at Miami Dade School of Mortuary Science.
While enrolled at Miami Dade, Mr. Ferreira was employed by Fred Hunter Funeral Homes. Fred Hunter Funeral Homes helped him to perfect his embalming and preparation skills and accentuated the importance of rigid organization within the funeral home. He observed the magical mindset of running a company with excellence.
After graduating from Miami Dade he returned to Arlington Funeral Home to complete his internship. In 1995, Mr. Ferreira moved to Macclenny, Florida, to work for a local family owned funeral home. In May of 2002, at age 31, Mr. Ferreira purchased his first funeral home in Live Oak, Florida, which he renamed Suwannee Funeral Home. In the following year, December 2003, at age 32, he expanded to a second location in Macclenny, Florida, which he named V. Todd Ferreira Funeral Services. In April of 2005, he purchased a third location, formerly Fraser Funeral Home of Macclenny, Florida, established in 1969, and is now Fraser-Ferreira Funeral Services. In January of 2008, he purchased Archie Tanner Funeral Home of Starke, FL which was established in 1976.
Throughout the aforementioned experiences, he has observed and exercised many facets of the funeral business. By offering mentorship to current mortuary science students, he hopes to expose them to the business he loves. Mr. Ferreira continues to educate himself and staff in the importance of serving families with excellence and compassion. Although his career is greatly involved with serving the living, he always remembers he is a mortician and the foundation of his business is serving the deceased with care and dignity.
Mr. Ferreira has two wonderful daughters, Emma Elizabeth Ferreira and Ellie Renee' Ferreira. Emma enjoys her teachers and friends at school and her dance class friends as well. Emma loves eating out, especially in the Japanese restaurants where the chef prepares the flaming meals in front of her. Ellie, on the other hand, is quite the meticulous organizer. Ellie loves her school teachers and friends. Ellie also enjoys dining out with Emma and her Daddy. Both Emma and Ellie enjoy boating, riding their four-wheeler, swimming, playing outdoors, and tending to their livestock.
W. Vaughn Thornton
W. Vaughn Thornton was born and raised in Surry County, Virginia. During the summers as a teenager, Vaughn worked between three cemeteries performing all facets of cemetery maintenance and in the process, discovered his calling to the funeral services profession. After high school, Vaughn entered the Virginia Military Institute and upon graduating, was commissioned as an officer in the United States Air Force. While in the Air Force, Vaughn became a member of the Honor Guard and commanded numerous military funerals. Vaughn has an Associate of Science Degree from Florida Community College of Jacksonville in Funeral Services; a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from the Virginia Military Institute and a Masters of Business Management Degree from the University of Phoenix. Vaughn is also a member of the Florida State College of Jacksonville Funeral Services Advisory Board.
Vaughn resides in Starke with his wife Kristine and has two daughters. He enjoys playing hockey and golf, being outdoors, and spending time with his family.
Mae White
Miss Mae White was born in Stephens County, Toccoa, Georgia. She later moved to Alma, Georgia, at age 12. Five years later, she married and moved to Jacksonville, Florida. In 1969, Miss Mae settled in Macclenny and has lived at the same address for the last 38 years.
Miss Mae has two children, Connie and Mitchell. Miss Mae also has five grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Miss Mae is the founder and Pastor of the Corner Stone Congregational Church which was established 1977, in Macclenny, Florida, on the corner of 7th and South Boulevard.
Miss Mae has been serving Baker County families at Fraser Memorial Hospital, 7 years. She also worked for the Northeast Florida Telephone Company, 24 years before retiring the year 2000, only to become active in her community as a grief counselor for Ferreira Funeral Services.
Miss Mae's philosophy is "God first, others 2nd, and me last." Her hobbies are crocheting, reading, traveling, and cooking.
Sydney Friend Ferreira
Sydney Friend Ferreira, Ph.D was born in Jacksonville, Florida, reared in Jacksonville and graduated from Terry Parker High School, where her father was the Principal; and first principal of the school. Her mother was also a math teacher for 40 years in the Duval County School System.
Sydney has roots in Baker County; her great grandfather A.N. Williams, was a resident of Macclenny and is buried with his wife, Mary at Woodlawn Cemetery in Macclenny. Sydney is the mother of V.Todd Ferreira of Macclenny, Jill Baker of Jacksonville and Sydney Avila of Jacksonville. Sydney has six (6) grandchildren.
Sydney, attended Chipola Junior College and earned a AA degree. She then transferred to Florida State University and earned a BS degree from the School of Education. Sydney is a member of Delta Gamma Sorority and a Theta Chi Little Sister. Later Sydney attended Jacksonville Theological Seminary and earned a Masters Degree in Christian Counseling. Sydney earned her Doctorate in Christian Psychology and became an Ordained Minister while receiving her Doctorate.
Sydney assists Ferreira Funeral Services in anyway she can; through viewings of loved ones and any errands that need to be performed for the firm. Sydney is an Executive Senior Director with Mary Kay Cosmetics and has been affiliated with Mary Kay for 34 years.
Michael Brannen
Michael J. Brannen was born, raised and is a current resident of Baker County, FL. He graduated from Baker County High School in 1990 and earned his EMT Certification in Emergency Medical Training from Lake City Community College. Michael honorably served in the US Army for 8 years as a Black Hawk Crew Chief. His military career took him to Germany, Bosnia, Croatia, France and Hungary with the IFOR and NATO forces. After completing his military service, he returned to Baker County. Michael is a dedicated family man. He has two sons: Brandon & Shelton. He enjoys fishing, hunting, kayaking and spending time outdoors with his boys. He has been in the funeral business since 2004. He is currently pursuing his college degree from Florida State College in Jacksonville, FL.
Vincent Ferreira
Vincent D. Ferreira, Ph.D. born in Marseille, France, is an American Citizen since birth. Married to Sydney Friend Ferreira of Jacksonville, Florida. He has three great children, V. Todd, son; Jill Baker and Sydney Ferreira Avila, daughters and six excellent grandchildren.
Graduated from Andrew Jackson High School; attended Independence Community College on football scholarship and later attended and graduated with an AA degree from Chipola College. He then entered Florida State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education.
Vincent entered the Army upon graduation from Florida State as a second lieutenant. After earning an Army Commendation Medal for Distinguished Duty State Side, he was promoted to first lieutenant. Upon receiving an assignment to Vietnam at the end of his second year he was promoted to rank of Captain and given a command in Vietnam with the 396 Military Police Company.
Mr. Ferreira worked in the field of sales for 30 years with some distinguished Companies like Scott Paper Company, Michelin USA and personalities like Zig Ziggler, Mary Kay Ash, W. Clement Stone and Dale Carnegie who formed his sales expertise.
Mr. Ferreira became employed with the Duval County School System in 1993; teaching Music, Woodshop, Graphics and coaching soccer, football and swimming for eight years. Later he took a teaching position with his alma mater, Andrew Jackson High School, starting a new graduation initiative program at Jackson for five years. His graduation success rate was incredible in those five years. He then was given a new task as the schools director of activities, which he thoroughly enjoys today.
Mr. Ferreira went back to school and earned a Masters degree in Christian Counseling and his Doctorate in Christian Psychology. He attributes his success in the classroom is directly related to his own studies and loves working with his son at V. Todd Ferreira Funeral Services.
Ashley Steele Miller
Ashley Steele Miller was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina and she was raised in Florida, Kentucky, Illinois, and in New York. She has been a Baker County resident since 2001 after moving from Gloversville, New York. After graduating from Baker County High School in 2006 she continued her education by earning an Associate of Art Degree at Lake City Community College and also earning an Associate of Science Degree at Florida Community College of Jacksonville in Funeral Services. Ashley is also a member of Raiford Road Church and the Florida State College of Jacksonville Funeral Services Advisory Board.
Ashley is married to Chris Miller of Macclenny, FL and they have 3 dogs, Dunkan, Jezzabell, and Ginger Miller. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, camping, and shopping.
Richard Fish
Richard Fish is a native of Baker County, Florida and a 1971 graduate of Baker County High School. Richard retired in 2009 after working for the US Postal Service as a rural letter carrier for 33 ½ years. He has been a bi-vocational pastor for the past 30 years. He married the love of his life Ms. Pam Altman Fish in 1974 and together they have 3 beautiful daughters: Marie, Laura & Ida and have been blessed with 6 beautiful grandchildren. He is a member of First Baptist Church of Glen St. Mary and enjoys going on the mission trips to Honduras and India. He spends his time tending to his cattle and his tree farm. He enjoys serving and working with people. He has been a welcome addition to the funeral home since spring 2009.
Cherie Hedrick
Cherie Hedrick was born and raised in Roanoke, Virginia. A graduate of Lord Botetourt High school and later obtained her Associates degree through Fort Hays State University. Cherie married Michael Hedrick in 1991 and began an adventure that is Navy life. Michael's Navy career gave them the unique opportunity to move around the world including Virginia Beach, Virginia; Naples, Italy; Yokosuka, Japan; Pascagoula, Mississippi; Gaeta, Italy and finally retiring after 22 years of service in Macclenny, Florida. Cherie embraced each new duty station and took the opportunities given to her by traveling extensively and learning to speak conversational Japanese and Italian as well as taking cooking classes in Japan and Italy. Later teaching the skills she had learned in her own cooking classes. Cherie also served for 4 years as the Command Ombudsman for Destroyer Squadron 60 which is the liaison between the Commanding Officer and the families to promote squadron readiness while assisting the families with crisis support, education and guidance in navigating military life. She served under 3 Commanding Officers and also was the Chairperson for the Gaeta Area Ombudsman Council for 2 years. Her training as an ombudsman, her college education and work experience made her a natural fit to help serve the families in the funeral home setting.
Cherie has 2 sons: Jacob and Reid and they are her greatest achievement. She enjoys traveling, cooking, watching her sons play football and most of all spending time with her sons. She plans to return to school to obtain her Bachelors degree in sociology in the near future.