History & Staff

Reuben C Chance IV, Owner and Funeral Director and Embalmer

Reuben, owner of Chance & Hydrick Funeral Directors, has been involved in funeral service for over 50 years. Reuben has lived in Burke and Richmond Counties all of his life. He is a graduate of Edmund Burke Academy, Waynesboro, and Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service, in Atlanta. He is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in both Georgia and South Carolina and is a member of the Georgia Funeral Directors Association, the National Funeral Directors Association, and the Academy of Graduate Embalmers, and is an active member of Quest Church, Grovetown, GA. He is married to Debra Holt Chance, and together they have a daughter, Raleigh Catherine Chance-Aguirre, and a son, Pen Chance.

Phil Hydrick, Owner and Funeral Director and Embalmer

Phil, owner of Chance & Hydrick Funeral Directors, was drawn to the funeral business by his desire to help others. He is a native of the CSRA and a graduate of Evans High School, and Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service, in Atlanta. He is a member of the Georgia Funeral Directors Association and the National Funeral Directors Association, and is an active member of Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Augusta. He is married to Lora Hillesland Hydrick and they have one daughter, Mary Catherine Casella Ramos.

Debra Chance, Controller

Debra is a native of Augusta and a graduate of Hephzibah High School. She earned degrees from both Augusta College and the Medical College of Georgia. She is a member of Quest Church and past Treasurer for the Augusta Players. She is married to Reuben Chance.

Robyne Turner, Receptionist

Banita Pendrey, Office Manager

Banita, a Florida native, moved to Augusta in 1987, after ten years of property management, she was employed with Trinity Hospital, and has been with Chance and Hydrick since 2018. She is an active member at Duharts and Providence Baptist Churches, where her husband, Tim Pendrey is the Pastor. She is the mother of four sons, and eight grandchildren.

Sandra Lott, Receptionist

Sandra Lott, a proud native of Grovetown, Georgia, is a licensed Master Cosmetologist, having earned her credentials from Virginia College in 2011. Passionate about beauty and helping others feel their best, she has built a career rooted in creativity and care. In 2003, she married her high school sweetheart, Dustin Lott, and together they’ve built a beautiful life with their three amazing children—and two beloved grandpups. When she's not working, Sandra enjoys soaking up the sun at the beach, relaxing in the mountains, or spending weekends at the lake surrounded by family and friends.

Margaret Wehn, Receptionist and Visitation

Margaret, a native of Augusta, began working with Chance & Hydrick in 2011. She is an active member of Fleming Baptist Church and has spent time doing mission work in Russia and Romania.

Timothy Pendrey, Ph.D., Administrator

Tim, a native of Augusta, is a graduate of Butler High School, and has been with Chance & Hydrick since 2012. He pastors two local churches, Duharts Baptist Church and Providence Baptist Church, both in Jefferson County. Tim has served as a Chaplain at University Hospital since 2001, he has a Ph.D. in Christian Counseling and is a lifetime member of the Georgia Christian Counselors Association.

Rusty Anderson, Funeral Director / Embalmer

Wm. R. “Rusty” Anderson

Rusty joined Chance & Hydrick Funeral Directors in 2023 as a licensed funeral director and embalmer in both South Carolina and Georgia. Originally from Macon, Georgia, having made North Augusta, South Carolina his home since 1996. Rusty graduated from Gupton Jones College of Mortuary Science in 1983. Professionally, he is a member the National Funeral Directors Association and the Academy of Graduate Embalmers. He is a member of the First Baptist Church of North Augusta where he sings in the Sanctuary Choir and Vocal Team. Rusty is married to Donna Holder Anderson, and they have one daughter, Jesslyn Anderson Pearson, who is married to Zach Pearson. Rusty and Donna have two granddaughters, Evie Diane Pearson and Ellis Payton Pearson. Rusty enjoys the outdoors, playing the piano, singing, traveling, and spending time with his family.

Ronnie G. Parker, Funeral Director/Embalmer

Ronnie is a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in South Carolina and Georgia, and is a South Carolina licensed Pre-Need Insurance Agent. He graduated from Gupton Jones University with a degree in Mortuary Science and has worked for many funeral homes in the past 40 years. Ronnie Proudly served our country in the United States Army and is a Vietnam Veteran. He is a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Graniteville. He and his wife Brenda make their home in Graniteville.

Norman Bess, Ambassador

Norman is a native of Nashville, Tennessee and now a transplant to Georgia. He met my wife in August
of 1996 and they married a year later in June of 1997. They have two boys that are the light of their
lives. He enjoy the outdoors and served as a Boy Scout leader for 12 years for both of them. In his
spare time Norman loves doing yard work, watching old westerns and traveling with his wife. He worked
for CSX Railroad for 42 years until retireming in June of 2022. After retiring, he and his family moved to
Georgia in December of 2022, to help his wife care for her mother and to be closer to her family. Norman has have had the opportunity to work for Chance and Hydrick for almost two years and he has enjoyed the friendships he has made and the families he have been blessed to meet.

Rene' Bess, Ambassodor

Rene' grew up from the age of 3 in Augusta and lived in the area until 1995 when she moved to Nashville,
Tennessee to pursue a music career. While there, she would meet her husband, Norman, marry and have two wonderful boys. She and her husband raised their family in the Robertson County area of Tennessee, just north of Nashville. After her husband’s retirement she was able to relocate to Georgia in December of
2022, to be closer to family and care for her aging mom. Rene' is a lover of all things music and finds
her happy place in the kitchen cooking up a meal. She have been blessed to find a part time work at Chance and Hydrick Funeral Directors and she hopes to bring a smile to someone who may be finding their day is a struggle and in return their grief helps her find solace in her own.

Robert Cook, Ambassador

I am an ordained minister of the gospel having served churches in the CSRA for over 40 years. As my pastorates have been bivovational I have also worked in the business arena. I have a Batchelors in Theology and a Masters in Theology. I completed two years of Clinical Pastoral Education at University Hospital. I'm currently the pastor of First Friendship Church of Hephzibah.

Ricky Mayton, Ambassador