Our Staff
Each of the staff members at Ray-Nowell Funeral Home is committed to providing your family with the finest in personal care. In fact, for years, it’s been comforting for area families to know that we are available to help at any time of the day or night.
Terrell W. Davis
Managing Owner, Licensed Funeral Director & Embalmer
Terrell was first licensed by the Tennessee Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers before reciprocating his licenses to Mississippi in 1999 where he was duly licensed by the Mississippi State Board of Funeral Service. Terrell serves our families as a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer as well as overseeing daily operations as our managing owner.
Terrell completed his education in Mortuary Science at Northwest Mississippi Community College. In addition to his functions in the funeral home, Terrell is also a Registered Nurse who graduated from Northwest Mississippi Community College School of Nursing. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership at Crichton College in Memphis, TN and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from The University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, TN. He completed additional graduate study in nursing at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
Terrell is a licensed life insurance agent in the State of Mississippi, a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, Mississippi Funeral Directors Association, Senatobia Rotary Club, has served as a member of the Advisory Committee for the Funeral Service Program at Northwest Mississippi Community College, and is a member of Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of Nursing. He is also a past member of the Board of Directors for the Sycamore Arts Council and Very Special Arts - Northwest Mississippi District.
Through the funeral home, he is a member of the Tate County Economic Development Foundation and the Panola Partnership.
Terrell and his wife, Jennifer Rogers Davis, have two daughters, Abbey Davis Smith and Anna-Lauren Davis. They attend the First Baptist Church in Senatobia.
Randy Hester
Licensed Funeral Director
Randy Hester joined our staff in 2025 as a Funeral Director after serving families in surrounding areas for many years before earning his license. He has been duly licensed by the Mississippi State Board of Funeral Service since 2023.
Randy's goal in life is to serve others and he is always willing to help those in need. He views his role as a funeral director as a part of his ministry in caring for and helping families through the most difficult times in life.
Randy is the proud father of one son, Christian Hester. They are active members of Marks Friendship Church in Marks, MS where Randy serves as Music Director.
Wiley "Skip" Lowder, Jr.
Licensed Funeral Director
Skip Lowder is a retired farmer, originally from Sumter, SC. Skip became a funeral director in 2014, when he was duly licensed by the Mississippi State Board of Funeral Service.
Skip earned his Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from The University of Mississippi and is also a graduate of Northwest Mississippi Community College.
Skip lives in Senatobia with his wife, Patricia, and he has one grown son, Trip.
Hal Johnson
Licensed Funeral Director & Staff Chaplain
Bro. Hal Johnson is our staff Chaplain and a licensed funeral director. He serves as minister at Sardis Church of Christ in Sardis, MS. Bro. Hal was licensed by the Mississippi Board of Funeral Service as a funeral director in February, 2016.
He is very active in area nursing home ministries among other events in Panola and Tate Counties and he is a member of the Sardis Rotary Club.
Bro. Hal resides in Sardis and has one son, Clint.
Patricia W. Lowder
Monument Specialist / Administrative Assistant
Patricia Ward Lowder, currently serves as our Monument Specialist and assists with administrative responsibilities. She readily assists when needed to help conduct day-to-day business. She has a wealth of knowledge and assists families in the development and design of monuments.
Patricia earned her Associate of Arts from Northwest Mississippi Community College and her Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management from Crichton College in Memphis, TN. After many years of service, she retired from Northwest Mississippi Community College, before joining her family in the funeral business.
Patricia has three grown sons, Patrick, Terrell and Robert. She and her husband, Skip, live in Senatobia.
Monica Lenard
Pre-Need Counselor
Monica Lenard, currently serves as our Pre-Need Counselor. Monica assists our families as an extension of her ministry to ensure their needs are met by having their wishes in place.
Monica is a graduate of South Panola High School and attended Northwest Mississippi Community College. She dedicated fifteen years of her career working in a nursing facility as the Business Office Manager before beginning this new chapter of serving in the funeral home business.
Monica and her husband Adam have two sons, Dylan and Joshua. She and Adam actively serve as lead pastors of Solid Rock Assembly of God in Senatobia and considers serving our families as an extension of her ministry.
Robert Davis
Funeral Associate
Robert joined our staff in 2012, by assisting part-time with building maintenance and upkeep. As time progressed, Robert began assisting in other roles and since 2013 has served as a funeral associate.
Robert is a graduate of Senatobia High School and Northwest Mississippi Community College. He currently works full-time for Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia.
Robert lives in Senatobia and assists our funeral directors by working visitations and assisting on funeral services.
