Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Homes & Crematory is a family-owned business with locations in New Castle, Newark, Delaware City, and soon Middletown. The company brings a tradition of compassion and dignity to all its services, from pre-planning to grief counseling. We comfort families by creating meaningful ceremonies that celebrate the life of a loved one.
In 1906, William E. Haines opened a funeral home in Wilmington that was later purchased by John W. Spicer and then merged with a funeral home owned by James Mullikin. For years, the company maintained three locations (Wilmington, New Castle and Delaware City) and then sold the Wilmington location and purchased one in Newark. Harvey Smith Jr. purchased Spicer-Mullikin in 1968 and operated the business for more than 40 years. His son, Matthew, now operates the business.
“I watched my father interact with people at their worst hour and ease them through the pains of saying goodbye to loved ones,” Matthew Smith says. “In 2011, I took over from my father and his partner as owner of Spicer-Mullikin. Having watched my father’s deep commitment to his family, business, and community my entire life, the transition was seamless.
Smith says he’s introduced digital communication to the company business and it’s been a differentiator for Spicer-Mullikin.
“We have one of the largest, most engaged social-media communities in the country for a funeral home,” he said. “We use Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter to inspire and support our communities facing the loss of a loved one.
The company has earned the Pursuit of Excellence Award from the National Funeral Directors Association for the past four years. It also started a STEM program in 2017 to educate high school students about the science behind funerals, and was also recognized in 2018 with the first-ever NFDA Richard C. Meyers Pinnacle Award for exemplary service in recognition for its creation of an anti-bullying children’s book that featured the family’s English Bulldog Duchess as the hero.
Headquarters:
Newark
Founded:
1906
Industry:
Funeral
Full-time employees:
12
Family members:
3
Website:
spicermullikin.com
Fun fact:
To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the passing of our 16th president, Spicer-Mullikin had the honor of displaying a significant piece of U.S. presidential history — a replica of Abraham Lincoln’s coffin.
