Mike & Marsha
Owner and CFO
Born and raised in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida, Mike found his calling in the funeral profession in an unexpected way. In 1974, after leaving a bank job to attend his grandfather’s funeral, Mike was offered a position at McLaughlin Mortuary by Maurice McLaughlin himself. It was there that Mike discovered his true purpose—serving families during their most difficult moments.
After graduating from Gupton-Jones School of Mortuary Science in Atlanta in 1977, Mike returned to McLaughlin Mortuary. As his family grew, so did his experience, working with funeral homes in several states and expanding his understanding of the industry.
With nearly 50 years of experience, Mike has seen the funeral profession change dramatically. Where once local, family-owned funeral homes were deeply rooted in their communities, many have been replaced by large corporate operations. Having worked in both environments, Mike believes compassionate, community-focused care should never be replaced by cold sales tactics or unnecessary costs—and he remains committed to doing things the right way.
Mike has always believed in giving back. He joined the Lakeland Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1986, where he met his wife, Marsha. Both later served as president of the Lakeland chapter and remain active at the state and national levels. Mike is a trustee of the Florida JCI Senators Foundation, helping provide scholarships to high school seniors. He is also active with the Anna Maria Privateers and several local organizations.
Mike and Marsha attended First Baptist Church at the Mall in Lakeland. They are proud parents of two daughters, Candice (Eric) and Starr (Seth), and even prouder grandparents to three grandsons—Robbie, Emerson, and Greyson—who bring endless joy to their lives.
Candice
FDIC/ Insurance Agent
Born in Alabama and raised in Central Florida, Candice began her journey in funeral service in 1999, working part-time at Central Florida Casket Store and Funeral Chapel when it first opened as a casket store. When the business expanded to include funeral services, she knew it was time to pursue her calling and earn her degree in funeral service.
Beginning in 2011, Candice traveled back and forth to Miami to attend the Funeral Service Education Program at Miami Dade College—the oldest program of its kind in the state of Florida—graduating in 2013 with a degree in Mortuary Science. She then gained valuable experience working with several funeral homes throughout the Tampa area before returning to Central Florida Casket Store and Funeral Chapel in 2019.
Since her return, Candice has become the Lead Funeral Director and Manager. She is also a licensed insurance agent, allowing her to assist families with pre-need insurance planning. Outside of her professional life, Candice enjoys visiting local theme parks and spending time reading. She resides in Plant City with her husband and two children.
Kelsey
Funeral Director Intern
Originally from Fort Worth, Texas and raised near Atlanta, Georgia, Kelsey is a proud Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service graduate, Class of 2025. She began her journey in funeral service in 2022, working as a funeral attendant across multiple locations in North Georgia and Florida while completing her education. Her inspiration came from the classic film My Girl, and her compassion and dedication continue to grow with every family she serves. Kelsey will sit for her Florida law exam this August, and achieve her dream of becoming a licensed funeral director.
Outside of work, Kelsey is an avid karaoke singer and movie lover, and enjoys cooking for others — especially when hosting dinner parties and Sunday brunches with friends and family.
Rowyn
Funeral Assistant
Rowyn was born in Brandon and was raised here in Lakeland. They enjoy reading and creative writing. They are attending classes at St Petersburg College for Funeral Services. They entered the business to assist those in mourning with an attitude of compassion, dignity and professionalism.
Rowyn graduated high school a Northeast High School in the class of 2018 within the top 18%, before joining the United States Navy in March of 2019, and has recently returned to the reserves after 3 years of active-duty service. Their goal is to complete their Funeral Services degree before attending USF for a degree in Psychology with a minor in Religious Studies.