Page 10 - Better Business Bureau

SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION
Matthew C. Smith
Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home
Matthew C. Smith deals with a problem that many business owners face, especially owners whose businesses have a long history and tradition. And that problem is how to hold onto the past while also dealing with the present and looking ahead to the future.
Smith is owner of Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Homes & Crematory, which was founded more than 100 years ago and was eventually co-owned by John Spicer and James Mullikin. Smith’s father, Harvey Smith Jr., purchased the business in 1968 and Matthew Smith—a 1997 graduate of William Penn High—has been running the operation since 2011.
Spicer-Mullikin currently has three locations, in New Castle, Newark and Delaware City, and they’re building a new facility in Middletown, which is scheduled to open this year. The company has a staff of 12, including six full-time funeral directors.
Many people have predetermined conceptions about what a funeral director does, and Smith knows some people think it’s a macabre way to earn a living. But he says those people just don’t understand the services he delivers, and it’s not just a matter of putting people six feet under.
“We put a great emphasis on family support, before, during and after the funeral,” he says. “We realize families are often in shock and, of course, they’re grieving over the loss of a loved one. Sometimes they’re not sure how to proceed or what avenue to take, and we’re here to help them.”
Spicer-Mullikin puts so much emphasis on that aspect of the business that it employs a full-time director of communications and family support, as well as a full-time grief counselor.
“That’s very important to us, because we’re a service industry and that’s one of the most important services we perform,” Smith says. “We understand that the grief and uncertainty remain after the funeral services are over and we make sure our families know that they can reach out to us at any time if they need help.”
Helping other people also has a long tradition in the Smith family, and Matthew Smith—who was an Eagle Scout at the age of 14—says he inherited that sense of community from his grandfather and father.
“They taught me that I’m part of something bigger than myself and it’s important to find your place in your community,” he says. “And that’s something I’ve always tried to live up to.”
Smith says BBB Serving Delaware helps his business build trust with customers.
“Our BBB A+ rating gives our communities the reassurance that Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Homes & Crematory provides the highest level of service to all the families we serve.”
For more information, call (302) 368-9500 or visit www.spicermullikin.com.
BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU OF DELAWARE
2016
FUN FACTS
1,580,986
# OF PAGES READ ON DELAWARE BBB WEBSITE
B10 I www.DelawareToday.com I APRIL 2017