Williams Funeral Home Staff

A proven leader is business and public service with comprehensive knowledge of funeral service and funeral home operations.

Roland L. Gosey is the owner and managing funeral director of Williams Funeral Home in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He is a 1996 graduate of Arkadelphia Sr. High School and 2004 graduate of the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope where he earned and Associate of Applied Science in Funeral Services.

At the age of 27 he became then the youngest funeral home owner in the State of Arkansas at that time. He owned majority interest in Williams Funeral Home; a family owned and operated business that opened in 1950. He later became the principal in 2008. He introduced aftercare and personalized services to the community and surrounding cities. His creative genius and eye for detail was God given gift that solidified him as a true funeral service professional. He is registered with The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards. In May of 2017, he opened Williams Funeral Home VanBuren in Camden, Arkansas as a satellite location for the Arkadelphia location.

Roland has led Williams Funeral Home to become the premier funeral home in Southwest Arkansas specializing in incomparable service and personalization. Under his management Williams Funeral Home still remains a positive household name known over the state for its compassionate staff, professional and personalized service.

He is a member of the Clark County Democratic Party, the Arkansas Democratic Black Caucus, secretary of the Helms Cemetery Board, trustee of Eternal Rest Cemetery (perpetual care), a former member of Excelsior/Universal Lodge No. 13 of M.W. Prince Hall Grand Lodge, F. & A.M. of Arkansas where he served as past secretary, president-elect and one of the organizers of the Independent Arkansas Funeral Directors and Morticians Association, Inc., former president Arkansas Funeral Directors and Morticians Association and a member of the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association. He has served on the boards of the Economic Development Corporation of Clark County, Clark County Election Commission, Group Living, Inc., Arkadelphia Housing Authority, Arkadelphia Racial and Cultural Diversity Committee, Arkadelphia Chamber of Commerce Board of Director’s, Commissioner with the Arkadelphia Planning and Zoning Commission. He is a past vice-president of Clark County NAACP and a former director with the Arkadelphia City Board of Directors representing Ward 4.

Roland is a dedicated member of the historic Greater Pleasant Hill Baptist Church est. 1867 where he serves as trustee, church clerk, president of the Laymen Ministry, co-chair of the Mission and Education Ministry, co-chair of the Hospitality Ministry, chair of beautification committee, a member of the male chorus, the Greater Pleasant Hill Baptist Church COVID-19 Task Force Team and a member of the Community Engagement Ministry.

Ester Newburn Mitchell joined the staff at Williams Funeral Home in April, 1987. She completed her funeral director’s apprenticeship under James L. Williams and Alice House Williams and was licensed by the Arkansas State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors in September 1989.

She is a 1976 graduate of the Arkadelphia High School, and attended Henderson State University-Arkadelphia and Red River Technical College now University of Arkansas Community College at Hope, AR, pursuing a Mortuary Science Degree. While pursuing her degree she did her embalming apprenticeship under Alex Watson and Samuel L. Mitchell. On December 19, 2014, she graduated from the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope with a degree of Funeral Directing in Funeral Service.

In 2005, she begin working under the leadership of Roland L. Gosey, and she is the Assistant Manager and Senior Funeral Director at Williams Funeral Home. You can contact her for all your funeral needs……she is a notary public, Pre-Need Counselor, burial agent for the Williams Burial Association and is licensed to engage in the business of insurance in the state of Arkansas.

She is a member of Mt. Morriah Missionary Baptist Church, Arkadelphia, AR, where she serves as the church clerk, an usher, on the program committee and a member of the choir. She is also a member of the Church Women United, serves on the Board of Commissioners for the Arkadelphia Housing Authority.

Her family consists of Samuel, Samuel II, Michael and they have lasting memories of their daughter and sister, Brandy Michelle Ferrell. (June 13, 1978 - June 9, 1985).

Reverend James H. Giles, Sr. is a native of Gurdon, Arkansas and was educated in the public school system of Clark County.

Rev. Giles’ theological training was acquired at Jackson Theological Seminary, North Little Rock, Arkansas, where he graduated with a Certificate of Theological Studies and a Master of Divinity Degree.

He has served as pastor of several churches in the West Arkansas Conference of the 12th Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Namely:

• Ward Chapel A.M.E. Church, Prescott, Arkansas – 1984 – 1989 where he led the congregation in building a new church edifice.

• Bethel A.M.E. Church, Gurdon, Arkansas – 1989-1991 where he was successful in leading the congregation in liquidating church mortgage.

• Pleasant Hill A.M.E. Church, Joan, Arkansas and St. James A.M.E. Church, Sparkman, Arkansas – 1991 – 1994. At Pleasant Hill, Joan, led the congregation in building a new Fellowship Hall and Church/Pastor’s Office.

• St. John and Freehope A.M.E. Churches, Magnolia, Arkansas – 1994-2002, where he led these two (2) congregations into uniting as one church (Unity A.M.E. Church) and constructed a new church edifice on newly purchased property.

• St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Arkadelphia, Arkansas – 2002 – Present. During this time sixty (60) new members have been added to the church roll; led the congregation in achieving the goal of entering the 2003 West Arkansas Annual Conference debt free; and led the congregation in a building project to expand St. Paul’s physical plant by establishing blueprints to build an Educational wing as well as a Fellowship Hall.

As a dedicated and compassionate pastor and a lover of African Methodism, Rev. Giles has been elected as a ministerial delegate from the West Arkansas Conference to the last three (3) General Conferences ( 1996, 2000, and 2004) of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Rev. Giles is a member of numerous board and organizations.

• Shorter College Trustee – 1998 to Present

• West Arkansas Conference Trustee - !998 to Present

• Chairperson of West Conference Board of Examiners – 2004 to Present.

• Treasurer of the West Arkansas Conference

• Board of Directors of Hours of Joy Child Care Inc.

• Funeral Director/Chaplain – Williams Funeral Home, Arkadelphia, Arkansas

• Member, Secretary, Clark County AACC (African American Clergy Conference)

• Excelsior Universal Lodge # 13 of M.W. Prince Hall Grand Lodge, F.& A.M. of Arkansas

• Universal Evergreen Verbena Chapter #192, Order of the Eastern Star

• Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret, 32nd Degree – J.C. Corbin Consistory #204 Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Stephens, Arkansas

• Store manager, Arkadelphia, Arkansas, 7 years

• Production supervisor, Firestone Building Products, Prescott, Arkansas, 13 years

• Substitute teacher, Arkadelphia Public Schools, 5 years

Rev. Giles is married to Monica Swann Giles, an educator with the Gurdon Public School District. He has two (2) children – James, Jr. and Christian Nicole. He and his family reside in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.

JC Williams was born in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He is a 2010 graduate of Arkadelphia Senior High School. While attending, he served as Senior Class President, Chairman of the Black History Month Committee, Lieutenant Colonel; Battalion Commander of Army JROTC, a two sport athlete (basketball, track & field), along with many other roles. Upon graduation, JC attended Henderson State University. While there, he joined Williams Funeral Home in 2012, as an apprentice funeral director. He completed his cases, February 2013.

He is a member of the historic Greater Pleasant Hill Baptist Church est. 1867 where he served as a Junior & Adult Usher, President of the Youth Department, and Southwest District Association Youth President. JC is also a member of Excelsior Universal Lodge No. 13 of M.W. Prince Hall Grand Lodge, F.  &  A.M. of Arkansas where he served as past secretary and past district secretary. Continued service includes: Brother of Men of D.I.S.T.I.N.C. Inc., where he served as past Chapter President, Past National Director of Membership Services, and National Chaplain. 

JC Williams rejoined Williams Funeral Home after stays in New Mexico and North Carolina, where he gained valued experience in banking, private industry, and higher education. As of April 2022, he serves as the Operations Manager. He looks forward to using his unique expertise in the service of your family.

Stephanie Gulley-Moore resides in Gurdon, Arkansas and is the proud parent of one daughter, Kiana. She is a native of Bluff City, Arkansas and is a 1988 graduate of Prescott High School in Prescott, Arkansas.

Stephanie graduated from the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope in 2003 with a degree in Funeral Services. She is a licensed Embalmer and Funeral Director for the State of Arkansas, registered with The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards, a Notary Public, and is licensed to engage in the business of Insurance in the State of Arkansas.

Stephanie completed her embalming apprenticeship under Samuel Mitchell, and her funeral directors apprenticeship under James L. Williams, Alice H. Williams, and Ester Newburn-Mitchell.

Stephanie has been a part of the Williams Funeral Home Staff since 2002 and is a member of Mt. Canaan Baptist Church in Gurdon, AR .

Michael L. Ankton (b: 2001) was born in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. 

He attended Henderson State University, earning a Certificate in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor of Science in Education. At HSU he became a Brother of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He currently attends his Alma Mater pursuing a Master of Science In Educational Leadership. Michael is a Licensed Funeral Director at Williams Funeral Home in Arkadelphia; He is a 7th and 8th grade Social Studies teacher at L. M. Goza Middle School in Arkadelphia and a School Bus Driver for the District.

Michael was recognized in 2020 as the youngest school bus driver in the state of Arkansas at 19. His most well-known accomplishment is making history by being elected the youngest Black Justice of the Peace in Arkansas, representing District 2 of Clark County. He flipped his district with the highest voter turnout of all the districts. He made history again by becoming the youngest person elected to serve on the county’s Quorum Court.

Michael serves on the Clark County NAACP Executive Board, Vice-Chair of the Clark County Democratic Party, and Executive Board for Young Democrats of Arkansas. In the past, he has served on the HSU General Education Committee and as an AmeriCorps Service Member, receiving multiple state recognitions. 

Samuel L. Mitchell, has provided professional services in the funeral profession over 40 years. He serves as the Senior Embalmer/Consultant and apprentice embalmer trainer for Williams Funeral Home.

He is a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer with the Arkansas State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors, and is a graduate of Dallas Institute of Funeral Service, Dallas, Texas. He has been licensed in Alabama and Washington, D.C. He has rendered services to Williams Funeral Home continually since 1992.

His family consists of Ester, Samuel II, Michael and they have lasting memories of their daughter and sister, Brandy (June 13,1978 -June 9, 1985).

Katie is a native of Clark County, born and raised in the Beirne community. She is the tenth of twelve children born to Andy & Christine Hatley. Katie is a graduate of Gurdon High. She received an athletic scholarship to play women’s basketball at Henderson State University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Education (Major: physical education, minor: English). Katie received a Master’s of Science in Education, with emphasis in Special Education and School Leadership at, Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, Alabama. She also received her Education Specialist from Henderson State University.

Katie’s early educational journey took her to Marianna and North Little Rock school districts.

After marrying a military serviceman and moving to Schofield Barracks Hawaii, located on the island of Oahu. She taught school at Kaiser and Moanalua High Schools before relocating to Alabama due to her husband’s new military assignment. Katie began working as a teacher coach for Anniston City Schools in Anniston, Alabama, where she worked for eight years. In 2004, Katie relocated back to Arkansas and became the Assistant Principal at Warren High School. After spending seven years in Warren, Katie began working for a charter management company located on the Little Rock Job Corps Center in 2011. In 2019 Katie became the CEO/Founder of Graduate Arkansas, Inc, a charter school for students ages 15-21 with a central focus of dropout recovery/dropout prevention.

Katie is a licensed Funeral Director Apprentice for Williams Funeral Home in Arkadelphia.

Katie has one son, a daughter-in-law and a grandson.

Phyllis Copeland is a native of Camden Arkansas. She graduated in 1978 from Camden High School. She became a Licensed Professional Funeral Director on October 10, 1985. She started at Williams Funeral Home on Adams Ave in Camden in 1982 under the ownership of the late Benjamin F. Williams. 

She is currently the manager of Williams Funeral Home Van Buren (an affiliate of Williams Funeral Home in Arkadelphia, Arkansas) under the ownership of Roland Gosey and Robert Henderson. She has been married for 36 years and has 6 children, 12 grand-children and 2 great grand-children. She is a member of Whitest Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Camden.

Marcus Copeland is a native of Camden Arkansas. He is a 2006 graduate of Camden Fairview High School. In spring 2011, Marcus obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway Arkansas. He later attended Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia Arkansas where he earned his Masters of Education in Student Affairs & College Counseling in 2015. Marcus has also worked in funeral business for 10 years upon which he became a Licensed Professional Funeral Director on January 20, 2016.

Marcus is currently employed at Southern Arkansas University Tech in Camden Arkansas where he serves as the Director of Student Success & Academic Engagement. He is a Fall 2022 initiate of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.  When he is away from the college, Marcus is working at Williams Funeral Home Van Buren as a Funeral Director & Notary. He is involved in the African American Historical Commission of Camden, Arkansas Cultural Association, a founder of Ouachita County Royal Society, Camden Area Leadership Board Secretary and serves as a mentor throughout the community. He is a proud member of Whitest Chapel Missionary Baptist Church where he serves as choir Vice President. Marcus prides himself on being able to effectively serve others and making sure he is aware of the needs within his community.

Tecora Carter-Johnson is a native of Camden, Arkansas. She graduated in 2000 from

Camden Fairview High School. She attended South Ark Community College and Southern

Arkansas University at Magnolia, Arkansas. She obtained a certification in general studies

in 2010. She has been employed in Camden Fairview School District for 13 years. She

works as the APSCN secretary/receptionist at Camden Fairview Central Office.

She is currently Apprentice Funeral Director of Williams Funeral Home Van Buren (an

affiliate of Williams Funeral Home in Arkadelphia, Arkansas) under the ownership of Roland Gosey and Robert Henderson. She has been married for 15 years and has 2 daughters and 1 bonus daughter. She is an active member of her community serving on the Arkansas

Cultural Association and a founder of Ouachita County Royal Society. She is a member of

Greater New Calvary Church of God in Christ.