Our staff's commitment to you
Our staff is committed to providing support, compassion, information, and direction as needed to all members of our community, their families, and friends who are dealing with loss and grief.
Douglas has worked in funeral service since the age of 15. “I took to it like a fish to water,” shared Doug, “and wanted to be a part of everything. Maybe it was part curiosity, but it was more than that – I felt called to funeral service by God.”
Douglas loves helping others. It is evident to see when a family has lossed their dearest loved one, Douglas offers compassion and a kind word of encouragement. “I love what I do, it’s just that simple.” So much so, that Douglas is a licensed funeral director/embalmer in Virigina and Kentucky, and holds a West Virginia funeral director license.
He is a graduate of Grundy High School, class of 1984, and graduated from Gupton Jones College of Funeral Service in 1988. He is also a Virigina licensed life insurance agent, and Settler’s Life representative. “I want families to know that I’m able to help them with life and pre-need insurance, as well as their funeral arrangements.
In his off hours, Douglas loves to travel and spend time with his son, Lucas, grandaughter Ava Marie, and loyal canine companion Fritz. "I treasure my family and I also want to help other families who are hurting and may need a kind word. I also love the people of this area. This is a great town and a very loving community to have a familiy and raise children." Douglas is a member of Tookland Pentecostal Church, where is serves as Elder.
Douglas participates in many charitable events, including various food drives, and helping those in need. For complete relaxation, he prefers landscaping. “In fact, I’ve done all the landscaping at the Grundy location, the Keen Mountain loacation, and my residence", he also enjoys gardening working outdoors in his garden. When he can he travels with his son, Lucas to different areas of the country. They both enjoy water sports and hunting together.
Dennis and his wife Carol have two sons, Joey and Devan, as well as two grandchildren. He is a former coal operator, and an investor in a number of local companies, including Pacer Construction, and Subway restaurant. Dennis also serves on the Board of Directors of Grundy National Bank. He enjoys fishing and deer hunting. He and his wife attend Vansant Baptist Church. Dennis said he wanted to "give something back to county, that would help people". This was just one reason he decided to go into the funeral business. He is also a member of the Grundy Lodge#17 AF AM, 32nd Degree Mason of the Scottish Rite and a member of the Kazim Temple of Roanoke, VA.
“Dennis and I grew up together, and in 1993, we decided to come together to open the Shortridge-Ramey Funeral Home,” shared Douglas. “Dennis and I were in agreement that our community needed a more personal approach and homelike funeral home for the area. We have a full-service kitchen so families can come together to share a home cooked meal before or after a service; and we provide cookies and coffee at every visitation. Dennis and I strive for a personal touch in everything we do for our client families.”
Beulah is Douglas Shortridge's mother. She is a minister, Sunday school teacher, and counselor – and always enjoys greeting families as they come to us. She is usually at every visitation and tries to comfort families during the loss of their loved one. She, and her husband Edd Shortridge attend Christ Fellowship Church and Grundy Church of God. They have three children, Douglas, David and Rebecca. Beulah has two grandchildren, Chasity and Lucas. She has taught Sunday School for over 45 years.
She is a very devoted and loving person who goes above and beyond in every situation. She is always there for the families to comfort and support them during the death of their loved one. She volunteers her time by directing weddings, providing food and shelter for those in need, and dearly loves spending time with her grandchildren and helping anyone that needs her.
Reual has been with us since we opened our doors back in 1993. While he’s an all-around guy, Reual is our “computer guy” who is responsible for creating the service programs and folders.
Reual is a member of the Poplar Creek Church of Christ, where he serves as elder and treasurer. When he is not busy with Church activities, Reual loves to work in his vegetable garden. He, and his wife Dorothy, enjoy spending time with their children and their many grand- and great-grand children.
Shortridge-Ramey Funeral Home
Stephanie Lester is a native of the Buchanan County area, she grew up on Panther Ridge and graduated from Grundy Senior High School in 2006. She is married to Adam Lester and they live in the Vansant area with their two daughters Kelseigh and Ryleigh and canine companion Piper.
She loves to help and volunteer her time as much as she can in the community. She serves on the Little League board at her daughter’s school, Twin Valley Elementary/Middle, and can be spotted attending their various sporting events, as she loves watching them play. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, daughters, and family as often as possible. They enjoy to travel, but their favorite place to enjoy together is the beach.
She attended Southwest Virginia Community College where she graduated from the Registered Nursing program in 2018. After obtaining her license as a nurse, she decided to further her education and attended Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science where she graduated in January of 2022, which she could have not done without the support of her husband, daughters, and family.
She enjoyed caring for others in the nursing role, but after losing her own mother she felt she could do more. She wanted to return the same level of care and kindness that was shown to her in her time of sorrow. Knowing there was a need in the funeral industry for more female Funeral Director’s she decided to return to school and complete her degree. She is the first person to attend mortuary school in her family and wanted to stay close to home. She truly loves Buchanan County, the people, and the sense of community it offers.
After the care she received from Shortridge-Ramey Funeral Home when her mother passed, she contacted Douglas Shortridge about an internship and has been there in the Funeral Intern role since March of 2021. She feels that Shortridge-Ramey is truly family serving family, as the owners and employees have become close to heart and an extension of her family.
She will continue her career as a Funeral Director at Shortridge-Ramey and feels it is her true calling. She hopes that she can serve her families with the same kindness and compassion that she was shown herself.