Our Staff
Our Caring Staff
Since 1905, the trained professionals at Diehl-Whittaker Funeral Service have provided compassionate funeral care to the families of Columbus. The respect shown to each family we serve has earned Diehl-Whittaker a solid reputation of dignity and trust throughout the community. We're here for you.
Thaddeus is a recent transplant from Houston, Texas. He is a 2011 graduate of Commonwealth School of Mortuary Science in Houston.
He worked and managed a funeral home for thirteen years before coming to families first at Edwards Funeral Services.
Thaddeus attended Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas where he attained a bachelor's degree in Social Work and then his Masters of Social Work.
In his free time, he enjoys traveling, exploring Columbus and the surrounding areas, and anything in and around the water.
Motisola T. Bowman joined the Diehl-Whittaker Family in November 2023 as a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer. A native of Detroit, MI, she brings over 20 years of experience and holds licenses in both Michigan and Ohio. Motisola is a graduate of Wayne State University and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Arts and Sciences with a focus on Oceanography from the United States Naval Academy in 1995.
After graduating, she proudly served our country in the United States Navy, achieving the rank of Captain, one of the highest commissioned officer rankings, and served in Afghanistan. In her civilian career, she dedicated over 15 years as a General Manager for Chrysler. A devoted mother of four and a wife, Motisola is committed to serving people with excellence.
Roman James McGahee: Roman joined Diehl- Whittaker Funeral Service in 2025. He earned an Associate of Science Degree in Funeral Directing, from The Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Services. Roman is a licensed insurance agent with the State of Ohio Department of Insurance, and is an Advanced Funeral Pre-Planning Specialist. He is also a licensed Funeral Director. Born in Florida, he has been in the funeral industry since 1991. He is active in Masonic Lodge 155 and a member of the NAACP. Roman is dedicated to assisting families with planning services that will celebrate a person's life.
Lexus Burgess has worked for Diehl-Whittaker for 2 years as the Administrative Assistant and is currently in nursing school pursuing her RN Associates of Nursing Degree.
Charlotte Blackwell graduated from Wooster High School, Wooster Ohio and graduated from Walsh University School of Nursing. Charlotte worked at Aultman Hospital in Canton Ohio for 21 years and attended Ohio State Medical Center 11years. Charlotte is a member of Mount Hermon Missionary Baptist Church and is a retired RN. She has served as a Funeral Attendant for 1 year with the Diehl-Whittaker Funeral Service family.
Wayne Sawyer has served as a Funeral Attendant for 17 years, beginning under the leadership of our Founder, Richard Diehl. Wayne is now serving as Facilities Manager and is a retired United States Army Veteran.
Edward Wickliffe has served as a Funeral Attendant at Diehl-Whittaker Funeral Service for 2 years and is a retired United States Army Veteran.
A native of Columbus, Ohio with 18 years of experience in the funeral home industry, Ken Bass has worked in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. Ken strives to deliver excellent service to all family members who entrust the care of their loved ones to Diehl Whittaker Funeral Service. He and his wife enjoy fishing, boating and traveling and Ken retired from the United States Coast Guard.
Marvin S. Mallory is a Columbus, Ohio native and has two children with his lovely wife. Marvin is a retired United States Air Force Veteran.
Brenda Summers is a dedicated and compassionate professional with over 20 yrs in the medical field. Throughout her career, Brenda has provided care and support to many patients. In addition to her extensive background, she has 2 yrs of mental health counseling where she helped individuals and navigate emotions and psychological challenges. Brenda serves Diehl-Whittaker Funeral Service and their families as a Funeral Attendant.
Gary Granger Jr is a dedicated Funeral Attendant from Columbus, Ohio, where he was born and raised. Deeply rooted in a close-knit family that includes his mom, grandma, aunts, uncles, and a large extended family of cousins, Gary values connection and community in every part of his life. When he's not serving families, Gary enjoys a variety of hobbies—from playing and collecting video games, to fixing computers, working on cars, and collecting comic books and Pokémon cards. His passion for these hobbies reflects his appreciation for both creativity and precision.For Gary, funeral service is more than a job—it's an opportunity to honor lives, support families, and bring comfort during one of life’s most difficult moments. He believes in treating every family with respect, compassion, and dignity. The newest member of the Diehl-Whittaker, Gary has been a member of the DW family for six months.
