History & Staff

Michael Sutherland Owner

Thank you for visiting our website. I have been in the funeral business in the Centralia area all of my life. My mother Dorothy Sutherland was born and raised in Central City. She worked at J.C. Penny's here in Centralia until 1959 when she went to the office at Hillcrest Memorial Park. She was expecting me when she was working at Hillcrest so, I can say I was in the funeral business 9 months before I was born. My Grandfather Paul Owens worked on the grounds when my mother was a small girl. My grandmother Aleida Boggs and my uncle George Owens have also been involved in the business over the years. I am very proud of the training and mentoring I have received over the many years working in the business. I married to Judy (Storey) in 1984 and we have two children. our son John and our daughter Amanda Sutherland Ponyi. Amanda is married to Floyd and they have a daughter Maggie whom I can not get enough of. Both of our children are in the business with us and are licensed Funeral Directors.

We opened Hillcrest Funeral Home and Cremation Center in 2007 on the cemetery and purchased Garnier and Sons in 2011. We named the business Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home and have been blessed with the trust of many families in the area. Being the only cemetery and funeral combination in the area we are able to help area families all at one location.

If you have any questions or if I can be of any assistance please do not hesitate to call me at 618-532-3523.
God Bless,
Mike

Judy Sutherland Owner

Thank you for visiting our website. I grew up in the Centralia area, lived off of Community Beach Road and attended Central City Grade School, then Centralia High School, and later Kaskaskia College. In 1984 I married my high school sweetheart, Mike, and we are blessed with 2 children, John Sutherland, and Amanda Sutherland Ponyi, son-in-law, Floyd Ponyi, and our granddaughter Maggie Ponyi, a treasure to our family. I started to work with Mike in 1992 at Hillcrest Memorial Park. I had the privilege to work with Mike's mother, Dorothy Sutherland for 16 years. The knowledge she had was phenomenal. Many families to this day still remember Dorothy's care and compassion, helping their families at the time of loss of a loved one. In 1998 we added Hillcrest Lakeside Chapel Mausoleum, as an alternative to traditional burial. Then in 2007 we opened Hillcrest Funeral Home and Cremation Center, and in 2011 purchased Garnier & Sons Funeral Home here in Centralia. It is an honor to serve families, through the most difficult times in their lives. I feel the best thing I can do for a family is pray for them, and let them know they are not alone. If you have any questions or if I can be of any assistance please call me at 618-532-3523.. God Bless, Judy

Amanda Sutherland-Ponyi Funeral Director / Embalmer

Amanda was born and raised in Centralia, the daughter of Mike and Judy Sutherland. She graduated from Central City Grade School, Centralia High School in 2006, and Kasaskia College. She is a Licensed Funeral Director and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mortuary Science from Mid-America Mortuary College in Jeffersonville, IN. She married Floyd Ponyi on October 22, 2011 and they have two daughters, Maggie Marie Ponyi and Millie Kay Ponyi. Amanda is very proud to be fourth generation in the funeral business and her daughters, Maggie and Millie will be the fifth generation. Amanda has committed herself to helping families with life’s most difficult decisions. Her family has taught her to treat families as if they were your own. Amanda is very compassionate and dedicated to assisting families; ask any family she has served.

John Sutherland Funeral Director / Embalmer

John was born and raised in Centralia, the son of Mike and Judy Sutherland and the grandson of the late Gerald Otis Sutherland, Dorothy Sutherland and Frances Storey. He is a licensed Funeral Director, Licensed Pre-Need Insurance Agent and Licensed Cemetery Manager at Hillcrest Funeral Home and Cemetery. John is very proud to be the fourth generation in the funeral business. John is very compassionate and dedicated to assisting families; ask any family he has served.

Roy Osborn Funeral Director / Embalmer

Jole Liddle Funeral Director Intern

Christy Lockwood Customer Service

Peggy Johnson Secretary/ Funeral Assistant

Peggy joined our family a little over a year ago. She loves her family and has deep compassion for helping families in their time of need.

Terri Smith Office Manager

William Harris Hillcrest Groundsman

Tracy Kwiatkowski