Our Team
James Murray Funeral Directors, Newcastle
At James Murray Funeral Directors, we are committed to providing trusted funeral care across Newcastle and New South Wales. Our success is built on a strong company culture that empowers our dedicated team to deliver exceptional funeral services with professionalism and compassion.
Each member of our team plays a vital role in upholding our high standards of funeral care, ensuring that every family we serve receives the highest level of support, guidance, and personal attention. We value and appreciate our staff for their dedication, expertise, and compassionate approach to helping families through difficult times.
By fostering a culture of excellence in funeral service, we continue to provide personalised funerals, memorial services, cremation services, and pre-paid funeral plans to the Newcastle community and beyond.
Funeral Arranging Team
Emma Underwood
Funeral Arranger
Emma Underwood
With over 10 years of experience at James Murray Funerals, Emma has become a deeply valued member of our team as a Funeral Arranger. Her dedication, attention to detail, and genuine compassion have made her a trusted guide for families navigating one of life’s most difficult times.
Emma finds true fulfillment in supporting families through their grief, ensuring they feel both heard and understood. She takes pride in offering a gentle and reassuring presence, helping families feel confident that their loved one’s final wishes will be honored with the utmost respect.
With her deep empathy and care, Emma is committed to creating meaningful and personalized farewells that reflect the unique lives of those being remembered.
Emma ensures every service is handled with the highest level of professionalism, care, and respect.
Jarred Ridley
Funeral Arranger
Jarred Ridley
Jarred is a recent and valued addition to the James Murray Funeral team. With a strong background in Public Services, including policing and disability support, he brings a wealth of experience in caring for and supporting individuals during challenging times.
Jarred is known for his kindness, patience, and deep compassion. He is truly passionate about guiding families through their most difficult moments, ensuring they feel supported, understood, and at ease. His genuine care for others is evident in everything he does.
With a professional yet approachable demeanor, Jarred goes above and beyond to provide families with the best possible service. His dedication and attention to detail help create a comforting experience, allowing families to focus on what truly matters during such an emotional time.
Jarred is committed to offering personalized funeral arrangements and providing unwavering support with kindness and respect.
Donna Keegan
Funeral Arranger
Donna Keegan
Donna has recently returned to our team, following two years devoted to caring for her family. Donna brings a wealth of experience and compassion to our funeral home, helping families navigate some of life’s most difficult moments.
With a professional background in the Department of Justice, Donna has a deep understanding of the legal system and the complex challenges that can arise when planning end-of-life services. She also has a background in administration, hospitality, and customer service — ensuring that every family receives attentive, respectful, and seamless support.
In addition to her role with us, Donna is a qualified celebrant. She finds great joy in crafting meaningful ceremonies that bring comfort and peace to families, helping them honour their loved ones in a personal and heartfelt way.
Donna is a loving grandmother, her nurturing nature shines through in everything she does. She is dedicated to making people feel content, comfortable, and genuinely cared for.
Donna is compassionate and committed to supporting families through their journey of grief and remembrance.
Support Team
Steven McLennan
Funeral Director
Steven McLennan (Mac)
Mac brings a rich and diverse life experience to his role as a Funeral Director with the James Murray Funeral team. With a background spanning music, disability support, and historical research, he has developed a deep understanding of people and their unique life stories.
Having spent much of his life touring and recording as a drummer with local, national, and international musicians, Mac knows the power of connection and storytelling. His work in Disability Support and At-Risk Youth Programs, along with his Honours Degree research at the University of Newcastle—focused on the oral history of the heritage-listed Maitland Gaol—has given him a profound appreciation for history, legacy, and the importance of preserving memories.
Mac is dedicated to providing compassionate, professional funeral services and ensuring every family he supports receives the highest level of care and respect.
Outside of work, Mac enjoys adventure travel with his partner and son, especially when reptiles are involved. He is also a passionate collector (and self-proclaimed hoarder) of Rock ‘n’ Roll memorabilia.
Mac is honored to help families create meaningful farewells that celebrate the lives of their loved ones.
Joshua Wright
Funeral Director
Joshua Wright
Joshua joined James Murray Funerals in search of a meaningful and fulfilling career, and he has found great satisfaction in working across both funeral services as a Funeral Director and monumental masonry. His role allows him to help families create lasting tributes, ensuring every farewell is handled with care and respect.
Beyond his professional life, Joshua is deeply involved in the martial arts and historical reenactment community. He is a dedicated instructor in Battojutsu and Kenjutsu (Japanese martial arts), holding three black belts, and serves as an assistant instructor for the Newcastle Stoccata School of Defense, specializing in Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA). In addition, he is a training officer for a local reenactment club, actively participating in community and private historical reenactment events.
In his spare time, Joshua enjoys spending time with his family, further enriching his appreciation for history, tradition, and the importance of preserving legacies—values that align perfectly with his work in the funeral industry.
Joshua is committed to providing compassionate funeral care and ensuring every family he serves receives the highest level of professionalism and support
Briony Williamson
Funeral Director
Briony Williamson
Briony brings with her a background in dentistry and a passion for compassionate care. Briony is dedicated to learning and experiencing every aspect of the funeral industry, she is committed to providing families with the highest level of respect and support during their time of need.
Known for her caring, kind, and compassionate nature, Briony approaches her role with the utmost sensitivity and professionalism. She takes great pride in caring for loved ones entrusted into our care, always ensuring dignity and honour in every step of the process.
Outside of work, Bri has a love for all things curious, gothic, and Halloween-inspired. She enjoys collecting unique treasures, spending quality time with family and friends, and reconnecting with nature through camping adventures.
Grace Jennings
Funeral Director
Grace Jennings
With over seven years of experience in aged care, Grace brings deep compassion, professionalism, and heartfelt dedication to her role in funeral services. Having entered the care sector at just 15, she has nurtured a lifelong passion for supporting individuals and families through life’s most sensitive transitions.
Grace’s commitment to end-of-life care made her move into funeral service a natural progression. Today, she takes great pride in helping ensure every family receives the highest standard of care — marked by dignity, respect, and empathy.
To Grace, funeral care is more than a profession — it’s a calling. She feels truly at home serving others during their time of need, offering guidance and comfort with unwavering integrity.
Leadership Team
Jason Townley
Manager
Jason Townley
With over 15 years of experience in the funeral industry, Jason has been a dedicated member of the James Murray Funeral team for the past 10 years, following his move to the area. His compassionate nature and strong community connections have made him a trusted guide for families during their time of need.
In addition to his role as a Funeral Director, Jason is a highly skilled Monumental Mason, crafting beautifully designed headstones and memorials that serve as lasting tributes to loved ones. His attention to detail and craftsmanship ensure that every funeral and monument is created with care and respect.
Jason has developed specialized expertise in Orthodox funerals, providing culturally sensitive and traditional funeral services for families within the Greek, Macedonian, Serbian, and other Orthodox communities. His deep understanding of Orthodox funeral customs and traditions ensures that every service is conducted with respect, professionalism, and meticulous attention to detail.
Jason is committed to delivering personalized and dignified funeral services that honour the wishes of each family, offering guidance, support, and peace of mind throughout the process
Brodie Roper
Assistant Manager
Brodie Roper
Brodie is a valued member of the James Murray Funeral team, bringing over six years of experience in the funeral industry. Her background in signwriting and hospitality as a wedding and event coordinator in Pokolbin has shaped her attention to detail and passion for personalized service.
With a deep commitment to helping families through funeral planning in Newcastle, Brodie believes that every farewell should be a unique and heartfelt reflection of a life well-lived. She is dedicated to ensuring each funeral service, memorial, or celebration of life is a warm, personal, and lasting tribute for those saying goodbye.
We understand that every funeral is unique, and Brodie is here to guide families with care, compassion, and expertise.