Our History
Opened by Twyman Greene in September 1991, Valley Funeral Service has cared for the families of Shenandoah County for over 25 years. Truly a family-owned and operated firm, Valley Funeral Service offers families uniquely personalized services, both traditional burial and cremation as well as pet cremations. In August of 2016, Steve and Tina Heishman purchased Valley Funeral Service and continue to offer compassionate and professional service to all of Shenandoah County and surrounding areas .
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Stephen D. Heishman, Owner/Licensed Funeral Director
Stephen D. Heishman is a Licensed Funeral Director and has been involved in the funeral business since he was eight years old, working in his family business. In 2016, Steve and his wife Tina left the family business and in August of 2016 purchased Valley Funeral Service in Bowmans Crossing and opened Heishman Funeral Service in downtown Woodstock. He is a life-long resident of Woodstock, he graduated from Central High School in 1980 and graduated in 1984 from James Madison University with a degree in Social Science.He graduated top of his class and received his degree in 1986 from John Tyler Community College in Richmond, Va. Steve is a member of the Woodstock Rotary Club where he received the Paul Harris Fellow Award, member of the Woodstock Moose and Auxiliary Member of the Edinburg VFW. He recently received the Builders Award from the Woodstock Masonic Lodge. Steve is known throughout the community for the classes he gives on Death and Dying. Steve’s passion is helping families in their time of need. His hobbies include sports, especially basketball. He enjoys spending time with his family, especially his grandson Hudson and granddaughter, Bailee.
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Tina Estep Heishman, Co-owner/Funeral Associate
Tina Estep-Heishman has been involved in the funeral business for 31 years. She is now co-owner, along with her husband Steve of Valley Funeral Service in Bowmans Crossing and Heishman Funeral Service in Woodstock. Her duties include working funerals and visitations, office work, cosmetics, and anything else that needs to be done. She also owns and operates Estep Signs in Mt. Jackson lettering vehicles, windows, banners, and magnetic signs. She enjoys spending time with her family, her kitties, traveling, and shopping. Her biggest joy is being able to spend time with her grandson Hudson Joseph and granddaughter, Bailee Elizabeth.
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Lauren Heishman Taylor, Licensed Funeral Director
Lauren Heishman-Taylor has been involved in the funeral business since she was 10 years old. She is the daughter of Stephen and Tina Heishman. Lauren grew up in the Shenandoah Valley and graduated from Central High School. She completed her undergrad at Bridgewater College and graduated in 2018 from Shenandoah University with a Masters Degree in Administration and Supervision.She taught second grade for 6 years at WW Robinson Elementary School, was an instructional coach at Ashby Lee Elementary School, and then returned to WW Robinson where she was an Assistant Principal. Lauren then decided to leave education and follow in her fathers footsteps. She recently graduated from Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science and is now a Licensed Funeral Director. Her hobbies include spending time with family and friends, playing basketball, shopping, camping and spending time with her two children, Hudson Joseph and Bailee Elizabeth.
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Shane A. Taylor, Funeral Associate
Shane A. Taylor has been involved in the funeral business since he married Lauren on June 20, 2015. Shane graduated from Stonewall Jackson High School and was previously employed with Loudoun County Fire and Rescue. His duties at the funeral home include working visitations and funerals. He is also in charge of Maintenance and Grounds keeping at the funeral homes. His hobbies include golfing, basketball, camping, and spending time with his wife Lauren, and their two kids: Hudson and Bailee.
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Erika M. Thorpe, Administrative Assistant
Erika is the newest member of Heishman/Valley Funeral Home, taking the role of Administrative Assistant at our Edinburg location. She graduated from Central High School in 2017, was involved in FFA, FCCLA, and was a member of the National Honor Society. She played on the Varsity Basketball and Softball team all 4 years of high school. After high school she attended Lord Fairfax Community College for 2 years. Before joining our Valley family, she worked at the Woodstock Cafe for 3 years and Seven Bends Veterinary Hospital for 2 years.
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Aaron Crider, Funeral Associate
Aaron Crider has been in the funeral business for numerous years. He graduated from Central High School in 1987, while then attending LFCC and Shenandoah University. In 1992 he received his Bachelors Degree in Marketing. He is a funeral associate at Valley Funeral Service, assisting with funerals and various other duties. A lifelong resident of Shenandoah County, he enjoys all types of sports as well as fishing and hunting. He is married with 3 children and 1 grandson.
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Mike Francis, Funeral Associate
Michael (Mike) Francis is a part-time funeral associate. Mike assists with all aspects of funeral services, including transport. He is recently retired from Emergency Medical Services, having served for forty plus years. Mike has been a volunteer with several area rescue squads and fire departments, a U.S. Navy Corpsman, and a Paramedic for Valley Health. He is a 1975 graduate from Friendly High School in Friendly, MD and a 1983 graduate from the Naval School of Health Sciences in Balboa, CA. Mike is married to Debbie Francis and has a daughter, a son, a step daughter, and two grandchildren. He enjoys camping, wood working and being outdoors.
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Kaitlin Lawyer, Licensed Funeral Director
Kaitlin is a licensed funeral director and embalmer. She received a Bachelor of Science in Crime and Criminology with a minor in Criminal Justice from James Madison University, along with two Associate Degrees: one in Funeral Services from Brightpoint Community College and the other in Administration of Justice from Lord Fairfax Community College. She is married and has 3 fur children. In her free time, she enjoys weightlifting and playing video games.
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Taylor Forbes, Administrative Assistant
Taylor will be serving as our administrative assistant at our Edinburg location and Erika who is currently there, will be transferring to our Woodstock location. We appreciate your patience as we adjust to these changes. A little about Taylor:Taylor is a native of Woodstock, Virginia and a part of the Central High School Class of 2021. After graduation, Taylor traded the mountains for the beach and went off to college at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, South Carolina where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sport Science degree. In October of 2023, Taylor married her husband, Nick, who served for 6 years in the United States Marine Corps. After Taylor completed her schooling in South Carolina, she moved to Surf City, North Carolina to live with her husband while he was finishing his last military contract. Taylor and Nick moved back to Shenandoah County in May of 2025 to be closer to family and to pursue further educational aspirations. Taylor is very excited to be back in the community that she grew up in and to serve the members of our amazing community!
