FDIC/Owner/Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer
James M. Curry, II is a licensed funeral director/embalmer in the state
of Florida, and the owner of Blackburn-Curry Funeral
& Cremation in Macclenny.
He was born in West Virginia to James M. Curry of Logan, West Virginia, and Carolyn (Blackburn) Curry of Maxville, Florida. His family eventually moved back to Florida from West Virginia to be closer to his maternal grandmother,
Katherine (Caldwell) Blackburn of
Maxville and her family.
James has been a Baker County resident since
he started 3rd grade at Westside Elementary in Glen St. Mary and is a graduate
of Baker County High School, class of 1987.
His interest in funeral service was sparked early
in high school when James traveled with his family to Atlanta to attend the
graduation of his uncle from Mortuary College. It was his
uncle’s career in funeral service that ultimately led him into the industry as
well. James started his funeral career working for his uncle, Jack A.
Blackburn, as a staff associate, when Jack was the manager of Fraser Funeral
Home in Macclenny. After several years of mentoring, James went on to attend John A. Gupton Mortuary College in Nashville, Tennessee. He graduated
in 2000 with a degree in Mortuary Science. Once licensed in Florida, James served
the families of Columbia and surrounding
counties from 2002 until April 2017, when he left Gateway-Forest
Lawn Funeral Home in Lake City to embark on
the journey of being a funeral home owner back home in Baker County.
James is married to Shannon M. Curry, who is also a
licensed funeral director/embalmer, and has six children.
Telephone: 1-904-259-2806
Owner/Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer
Shannon M. Curry is a licensed
funeral director/embalmer in the state of Florida, and the owner of Blackburn-Curry
Funeral & Cremation in Macclenny.
She grew up in Live Oak, Florida, the daughter of Travis C. Murphy of Kissimmee
and the late Virginia L. (Padgett) Murphy of Live Oak. Shannon is a graduate of
Suwannee High School, class of 1994.
Her interest in funeral service started when she was a senior in high school.
Shannon worked with a funeral home as a reception/administrator and would
occasionally receive a thank you card from a family she helped while working
there. That led her to pursue mortuary college and become a funeral
director/embalmer.
She attended John A. Gupton Mortuary College in Nashville, Tennessee, and
graduated in 2000 with a degree in Mortuary Science. Shannon started her internship
in 2001 and received her license in 2002. She served the families of Duval and
surrounding counties from 2001 until July of 2014 when she left the corporate
funeral industry to be a stay at home mom.
Shannon has been married to James since the fall of 2003. Together, they have
two living children; a son, Michael who has autism, and a daughter, Megan.
Their first son was born prematurely and passed away due to complications.
Shannon spends much of her free time as an Autism Advocate as well as volunteering
in the community.
She is blessed to help her husband James achieve his dream of owning his own
funeral home and honored to serve the families of Baker and surrounding
counties.
Telephone: 1-904-259-2806
Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer
Office Administrator
Kimberly Shumate Crews was born and raised in Baker County. She graduated from Baker County High School and married the love of her life, Allen A. Crews, in 1987. They have two daughters and four grandchildren.
Kim joined our Blackburn-Curry family in August of 2019 as a Funeral Assistant after she had an opportunity to assist grieving families with Allen. She stepped into the role of Office Administrator in September of 2022.
Kim enjoys teaching Sunday School and singing at The Lord's Church in Taylor. She loves spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. Her hobbies include gardening and raising chickens.
Preneed Advisor