Finding yourself looking for a funeral home is never how you planned your Tuesday. It’s heavy. It’s confusing. And if you’re in Simpson County, you’ve probably seen the name Booker Funeral Home Franklin pop up more than a few times.
But here’s the thing: if you drive around West Cedar Street looking for a sign that says exactly that, you might get a little turned around.
The story of the Booker legacy in Franklin is basically a masterclass in how small-town institutions evolve. It isn't just about a building; it's about a lineage of care that started with a man named V.N. "Pete" Booker back in the 1940s.
The Transition from Booker to Gilbert
Honestly, the most common thing people get wrong is thinking the Booker name is gone. It isn't. It just grew.
Pete Booker and his son Harry were the heart of the operation for decades. They bought the property at 325 W. Cedar St. in 1945. Harry ran the show until he passed away in 1980. For a long time, if you were a Franklin local, "going to Booker's" was the standard way to talk about paying your respects.
Then came 1995. The Gilbert family stepped in.
They didn't just slap a new name on the door and call it a day. They spent 1996 and 1997 gutting and remodeling the place to make it actually accessible. For years, it operated as Booker-Gilbert Funeral Home. It was a bridge between the old guard and the new era. Eventually, in 2017, the name shifted to Gilbert Funeral Home of Franklin, KY, following another massive exterior renovation.
- 1945: Pete and Harry Booker buy the Cedar St. property.
- 1980: Harry Booker passes, leaving a deep legacy in Simpson County.
- 1995: The Gilbert family purchases the firm.
- 2017: The final name transition to Gilbert Funeral Home & Crematory.
Why People Still Search for the Booker Name
Why do we still search for the old name? It’s about trust. When you’ve lived in a town like Franklin for sixty years, you remember who buried your grandfather. You remember who sent the flowers.
Even though the signage has changed, the Booker Funeral Home Franklin identity is baked into the local soil. Kevin and Kim Gilbert, the current owners, seem to get that. Kevin is a sixth-generation funeral director. Think about that for a second. That kind of institutional knowledge isn't something you can just buy. It’s passed down.
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What Services Look Like Now
Modern funeral service is a weird mix of old-school tradition and high-tech logistics. You aren't just picking out a casket anymore.
- Cremation on-site: This is a big one. They have their own crematory, which means your loved one never actually leaves their care. Most people don't realize that many funeral homes outsource this to third parties in other counties.
- Veterans Honors: Franklin has a massive respect for its vets. The staff handles the flag folding, the taps, and the paperwork for military honors, which is a massive relief when you're grieving.
- Personalization: They do the tribute videos and the live streams now. If you have family in California who can't make the drive to Kentucky, they can watch the service online.
Dealing with the Logistics of Grief
Let's talk about the "Funeral Rule." It sounds like something out of a textbook, but it's your best friend. Federal law says any funeral home—including the one on West Cedar—has to give you an itemized price list the second you ask about costs.
You have the right to buy a casket online and have it shipped there. They can't charge you a "handling fee" for it.
Most people are too overwhelmed to care about the math, but the Gilberts tend to be pretty transparent about the "General Price List" (GPL). Whether you're doing a full traditional burial or a simple "celebration of life" in their chapel, you deserve to know where the money is going.
Finding Obituaries and Archives
If you are looking for an old obituary from the Booker era, don't panic. The archives are mostly digitized now. You can find them on the current Gilbert Funeral Home website, but if you're looking for something from the 60s or 70s, you might need to head to the Simpson County Historical Society or use the digital archives at the Franklin Favorite.
The history of Booker Funeral Home Franklin is really the history of the families who lived here. Every name in those old ledgers represents a life that shaped this town.
Practical Next Steps for Families
If you are currently in a position where you need to make arrangements, start by gathering the basics. You don't need to have all the answers immediately.
- Locate the Will: See if there are specific burial instructions or a pre-paid plan (Pre-Need).
- Call the Home: Even if it’s 3:00 AM. They have people on call 24/7.
- Request the GPL: Get the price list before you commit to the "bells and whistles."
- Check for Insurance: Look for life insurance policies or burial pods that might cover the costs.
The legacy of the Booker family continues through the standard of care provided today. It's a different name on the brickwork, but the mission of serving Franklin families remains the same as it was in 1945.