Our Staff
Staff members of McMikle Funeral Home are caring and experienced professionals who understand that each family is unique and has personal requests and traditions. These requests and traditions are of utmost importance to our staff. In addition to our firm's membership in the National and the Missouri Funeral Directors/Embalmers Associations, each of our licensed staff are members of the Southeast MO Funeral Directors/Embalmer Association.
Terry Allen Parker
Owner, Funeral Director, Preneed Agent, Coroner
Terry has been a part of the McMikle family most of his life. His parents, Jim and Sylvia Wilson Parker, started with the McMikle's at the Charleston location in 1954. At age 17, Terry began assisting with visitations and soon was asked to accept a full-time position. Terry's desire to serve others is a reflection of Elgin and Sue’s commitment. Terry is the third generation of the McMikle staff to serve Mississippi County as Coroner. a position he has served in since 2002. He is a member of the Missouri Coroners’ and Medical Examiners’ Association. A licensed funeral director since 1992, Terry is a member of the United Methodist Church of Charleston where serves as organist/pianist and is active in many other community activities. He has formerly served on the board of directors for the Southern Foundation, Charleston's Chamber of Commerce, the Mississippi County Historical Society and the University of MO/ Mississippi County Extension Council. He was selected as Charleston's Man of the Year for 2011. He is also member of the Sikeston Elks Lodge.
On January 31, 2024, he assumed ownership with the purchase of McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston and Sikeston and will continue to uphold the 73-year legacy of McMikle Funeral Home.
Leslie Parker
Office Assistant
Leslie is the fourth member of the Parker family to work with the McMikle's. She grew up in a funeral business atmosphere with her parents both employed with the firm in its early years. Funeral professionals are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and Leslie was a natural choice for having a role at McMikle Funeral Home. In May 2024, she retired after 20 years of employment at Hearnes Elementary School and took a full-time position to assist her brother, Terry, in his new role as owner of McMikle Funeral Home. Leslie will primarily be in the Sikeston office.
A member of the United Methodist Church of Charleston, we are blessed to be able to employ someone with her personal knowledge of our business and of our community.
Melinda Heaton
Receptionist and Service Assistant
Melinda became involved with the McMikle family in 2007 assisting in caregiving for Elgin and Sue McMikle in their home. Following their deaths in 2014 and 2016 respectfully, she began assisting in the funeral home office on a part time basis. Beginning in 2019 she joined our staff full time as receptionist and visitation and service assistant.
She is married to Kelly Heaton, and they are residents of Sikeston. She has two sons, Austin and Dylan; one daughter, Ciera, and is blessed with several grandchildren.
Their son, Dustan Heaton, died from cancer at age 19.
Melinda has a sincere and compassionate heart for serving families in their time of loss and is a great asset to all aspects of the funeral home. When not working at the funeral home, she enjoys spending time with her family.
Scott Branam
Funeral Director, Embalmer, Scott County Coroner
Scott joined our team in January 2020 following his decision to re-enter the funeral profession as a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer. He had worked at Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff as funeral director and embalmer until the early 2000’s at which time he decided to pursue other career interests. A resident of Sikeston for over 20 years, Scott is a needed asset since our purchase of the former Blanchard Chapel in Sikeston. Scott was appointed to serve as the Coroner of Scott County in March 2021 and is a member of the Sikeston Elk Lodge #2319.
Scott, the son of Joyce Brown Branam and the late Odell Branam, grew up in the Dogwood Community in Mississippi County. A graduate of East Prairie High School, he continued his education at the Mid America College of Funeral Service in Jeffersonville, IN.
Eric T. Starnes
Funeral Director and Embalmer
Eric Starnes, a resident of Poplar Bluff, has assisted us as a licensed funeral director and embalmer since 2021. Following his graduation from Poplar Bluff High School, he attended Three Rivers Community College where he completed his General Education and Mortuary Science preparation studies. In 2007 he graduated from Jefferson State in Birmingham, AL with his degree in Funeral Service Education. He is a member of the First United Methodist Church in Poplar Bluff and participates in the church choir. Eric is also a licensed embalmer and funeral director in the State of Illinois.
Jacquie Hinchey Castaneda
Office and Service Assistant
Jacquie joined the McMikle Funeral Home family in April of 2022. She assists with office duties and helps with visitations and funerals as needed. She enjoys meeting the families and helping bring comfort to them in their time of grief.
Jacquie serves on the board of directors for the Area Agency on Aging, Wyatt City Hall at Wyatt, MO, and Shining Light Outreach Ministries in Charleston, always trying to offer ideas and different ways to accomplish the goals set before her.
A licensed minister of the Gospel for over 25 years, she has been a gospel singer for over 35 years and attends the Full Gospel Church in East Prairie. She was a missionary to Mexico for over 12 years and continues to use her ability to speak Spanish by helping the Hispanic families in Mississippi County and surrounding areas. For the past 2 years, she has been the Spanish teacher at St. Henry Catholic School in Charleston.
When she has any free time, Jacquie enjoys spending it with her family and friends and enjoys singing at area churches and special events.
We are blessed to have Jacquie as part of our funeral home family.
Michelle Russom
Office manager and pre-need agent
Michelle Russom joined the McMikle Funeral Home family in August 2022. Since 1997, Michelle has been a licensed agent in life, health, property and casualty insurance lines. She is licensed as a pre-need agent and is ready to answer any questions or concerns in the area of preplanning.
When Michelle isn't working, she and her husband, James, enjoy attending their church, Heartland Harvest Church of God. They also enjoy fishing at Reelfoot Lake as often as possible.
Our Support Staff
Left to right
Charles Caldwell, John Walton, David McLucas, Edmund McGuire, Keith Cook, Daniel Adams, Scott Riley.
Mary Katherine McMikle - Branum
Retired Funeral Director
Mary Katherine lived with her family in the upstairs apartment of the funeral home at 201 S. Center until she was 10 years old. She and her brother John learned at early age the sacrifice of time and dedication required of funeral professionals. Her parents set their standards high and have served as exemplary role models of being called into funeral service ministry. Following her graduation from Southeast Missouri State University with a degree in Social Work, she entered into the family business as manager of the former branch location in East Prairie. In 1984 she moved to Charleston and in 2006, her parents passed over to her the torch of leadership.
In February of 2020 she expanded the business with the purchase of the former Blanchard Funeral Home in Sikeston. She contracted COVID in November of 2020 and had to be hospitalized. Since that time her health has seemed to be compromised, and after 45 years as a licensed Funeral Director she made the decision to retire. On January 31, 2024, she and her husband, Bill, completed the transfer and sale of the business to Terry A. Parker.
She and Terry have a bond as close as any family. Over the period of 35 years, they devised their working relationship to meet all the requirements and standards set by her parents. She is blessed and proud to be able to step back knowing the legacy of her family business will be honored and carried on through Terry and the McMikle team.
Sue Allen McMikle
"IN MEMORY OF SUE" 1924 - 2016
SUE ALLEN McMIKLE, age 92, died Thursday, December 15, 2016, at her home in Charleston.
She was born August 4, 1924 in Bardwell, KY to the late Henry and Rasalie Halteman Allen. She moved to Sikeston in 1942 where she was employed as a secretary for the International Shoe Company. In 1951 she and her husband, Elgin completed the building of McMikle Funeral Home in East Prairie and then, in 1954, expanded their funeral business to Charleston. In addition to the operation of two funeral homes and an ambulance service, they enhanced the East Prairie facility with the addition of McMikle Flower Shop. When their move to Charleston was complete, Sue expanded the flower shop by incorporating their former living quarters in the East Prairie facility to feature a complete home showroom for gifts and decorative accessory items. She operated the flower and gift shop until 1974. In 1990, the decision was made to consolidate their funeral business to the Charleston location, and in 1992, Elgin and Sue donated the former East Prairie facility to the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home. Elgin and Sue were honored as Charleston’s Business of the Year in 2000. She retired her position as a licensed funeral director in 2007 but never lost her love for assisting in arranging funeral services. As a former member of the National, the Missouri, and the Southeast Missouri Funeral Directors Associations she was known for her high standard of integrity and dedication to her profession. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Charleston where she had served as a former director for the young adults Sunday school department and was a former member of the Charleston Junior Study Club.
On March 5, 1949 in Piggott, AR she married Elgin McMikle who preceded her in death on January 26, 2014. Surviving are one daughter and son in law, Mary Katherine and Bill Branum of Charleston; her grandchildren, Joshua Adam McMikle and Craig Thurman of St. Louis, Matthew Elgin and Kimberly Branum of Charleston, Blake Allen Branum of Memphis, Tennessee, Nelson Andrew and Nicki McMikle of East Prairie; and Jennie-Claire McMikle of Hurst, IL; two great granddaughters, Brooklyn Shae Irby and Aubreigh Nicole McMikle both of East Prairie; also several nieces and nephews.
One son, John Allen McMikle, two brothers, Milton Allen and J.W. Allen, and one sister, Lillian Case, preceded her in death.
Elgin McMikle
IN MEMORY OF ELGIN ~ 1925 - 2014
J. ELGIN MCMIKLE, age 88, a resident of Charleston, died at 9:30 p.m., Sunday, January 26, 2014, at the Charleston Manor.
He was born December 11, 1925, in the Mississippi County community called Yellow Dog, to the late Joseph Bernie and Sally Katherine Black McMikle. He lived in Scott and Mississippi Counties his entire life. At age 14, he embarked on his career journey as he began working at the Orville Taylor Funeral Home in Sikeston. He enlisted in the Navy in 1943 and while stationed at Camp Lejeune was honored with being attached to a Marine battalion serving in the Asiatic Pacific campaign WW II. Following his military service, he enrolled in the St. Louis School of Mortuary Science and received his Mortuary Science degree in 1947. He returned to the Orville Taylor Funeral Home in Sikeston where he was employed as a licensed embalmer and funeral director. In 1951, he and his wife, Sue, completed the building of McMikle Funeral Home in East Prairie then expanded their funeral business in 1954 to Charleston. In addition to the operation of two funeral homes and an ambulance service, they owned and operated the McMikle Florist and Gift shop in East Prairie. He was elected Mississippi County Coroner in 1956 and served in that position until choosing to retire in 1984. In 1990, the decision was made to consolidate their funeral business to the Charleston location, and in 1992, Elgin and Sue donated the former East Prairie facility to the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home. Elgin was dedicated to providing a high level of professionalism and service to bereaving families. Elgin and Sue were honored as Business of the Year in 2000, and Charleston honored Elgin as the 2008 Man of the Year. In 2011, he was presented a certificate of appreciation by the Missouri Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors for his commitment to the funeral service industry. Known as a perfectionist in his work, anyone working with him would quickly find that for any task, “there is only one way to do it and that is the right way”, which most often just happened to be his way. In addition to his membership in the National, the Missouri, and the Southeast Missouri Funeral Directors and Embalmers Associations, he was member of the First Baptist Church in Charleston, former member of the Charleston Kiwanis club having served that organization as a former Vice President, President, held the position of procurement chairman for over 30 years and was their top ticket salesman for fundraising events. He was a member of the American Legion, Charleston V.F.W. Post #4294, Charleston Masonic Lodge #407 AF and AM, a 33rd degree Mason of the Scottish Rite, a Shriner of the St. Louis Moolah Temple, and served as a charter board member of the Charleston Nutrition Center. In addition to his work in his chosen career, he was an advocate of wildlife conservation and was an avid golfer and bird hunter.
On March 5, 1949, he married Sue Anna Allen who survives of the home. Also surviving are one daughter and son-in-law, Mary Katherine and Bill Branum of Charleston; four grandsons and one granddaughter, Joshua Adam McMikle of St. Louis, Matthew Elgin (Kimberly) Branum of Charleston; Blake Allen Branum of Memphis, Tennessee; Nelson Andrew (Nicki) McMikle of East Prairie; and Jennie-Claire McMikle of Hurst, IL; one sister, Margariete McMikle Shibley of Piperton, TN; two great grandchildren, Brooklyn Shae Irby and Aubreigh Nicole McMikle; also several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by one son, John Allen McMikle, two brothers, Billy McMikle and Willard McMikle, and two sisters, Eldoris McMikle Daniel and Leola McMikle Roach.
Mary Margaret Story Yarbrough
"IN MEMORY OF MARY MARGARET" 1980 - 2005
Mary Margaret, daughter of Pete and Sara Sutherland Story of Charleston, had desired to be an embalmer since the age of 10. She pursued her dream and graduated from Gupton Jones School of Mortuary Science in Nashville, TN. She joined the McMikle family in December 2001 and was licensed as an embalmer and Funeral Director in January 2003 upon completion of her apprenticeship. Following injuries received in a tragic accident in the Current River at Van Buren, Mary Margaret died on July 27, 2005. In her memory, a scholarship fund was established that annually awards funds to a graduating female at Charleston High School, Sikeston High School, and a female student enrolled in Gupton Jones School of Mortuary Science. In addition to the support of her family, annual events are sponsored by the Charleston Junior Study Club and also an annual golf tournament sponsored by Focus Bank
John Allen McMikle
"IN MEMORY OF JOHN" 1957 - 2002.
John was a graduate of Mid America School of Mortuary Science in Jeffersonville, IN. He was a part of the family business as a licensed embalmer and funeral director and had served as Mississippi County Coroner. His battle with Multiple Sclerosis and other health complications ended on April 18, 2002. At the time of his death, John was married to the former Carla Cates of Charleston, and the father of one daughter, Jennie-Claire McMikle. John also has two sons from his previous marriage to the former Deborah Griggs of Charleston, Joshua Adam McMikle of St. Louis, and Nelson Andrew McMikle of East Prairie.
