Planning a funeral is something nobody actually wants to get good at. It’s heavy. It’s confusing. When you’re looking at Haskins Funeral Home in Goldsboro North Carolina, you aren't just looking for a building with some pews and a guestbook. You're looking for someone to hold the line while everything feels like it’s falling apart. Honestly, the funeral industry in Wayne County has a lot of history, but the way we handle death is changing fast.
Death doesn't follow a schedule. It happens at 3:00 AM on a rainy Tuesday. It happens right before a holiday.
Haskins Funeral Home & Cremations, located on North Spruce Street, has carved out a specific reputation in the Goldsboro community. They’ve been around long enough to see the shift from strictly traditional, somber black-suit affairs to the modern "celebration of life" style that’s becoming the norm in North Carolina.
Why the Location on Spruce Street Actually Matters
Goldsboro isn't a massive metropolis, but it’s got deep roots. When you visit Haskins Funeral Home in Goldsboro North Carolina, you’re right in the heart of a community where people still check in on their neighbors. The physical space at 601 N. Spruce St is designed to be functional, sure, but it’s the proximity to local churches and cemeteries like Willow Dale that makes the logistics of a service here manageable.
You’ve probably seen the white columns. They suggest a certain level of dignity that families in the South still value deeply.
Some people think every funeral home is the same. They aren't. Not even close. Some are corporate-owned giants where you’re just a file number on a spreadsheet. Others, like Haskins, maintain that local, independent feel. That matters when you’re trying to figure out if you can afford a mahogany casket or if a simple cremation is more your speed.
Navigating the Costs at Haskins Funeral Home in Goldsboro North Carolina
Money is the elephant in the room. Always.
Nobody likes talking about "merchandise" when they’ve just lost a parent, but the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has these rules for a reason. You have the right to a General Price List (GPL). At Haskins, and any reputable spot in Goldsboro, they have to show you the breakdown.
Basically, you’re looking at three main buckets of spending:
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- The Professional Services Fee: This is the non-declinable base cost. It covers the funeral director’s time, the overhead of the building, and the expertise required to handle the legal paperwork.
- The Body Preparation: Embalming isn't legally required for every situation in North Carolina, but if you’re having an open-vow viewing, most homes will require it for public health and aesthetic reasons.
- The Extras: This is where the budget fluctuates. Limousines. Flower arrangements. Programs. Death certificates.
A common misconception in Wayne County is that you have to buy everything from the funeral home. You don't. If you want to buy a casket online and have it shipped to Haskins Funeral Home in Goldsboro North Carolina, they have to accept it without charging you a "handling fee." That’s federal law. However, most local families stick with what’s in-house because, frankly, who wants to deal with shipping logistics during a wake?
The Complexity of Modern Grief
Grief is messy. It’s not just crying; it’s paperwork.
When a death occurs in Goldsboro, the funeral director at Haskins basically becomes a temporary family member. They handle the Social Security notification. They help with Veterans’ benefits—which is huge in a town so close to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. If your loved one served, the protocols for a military honors ceremony are specific. You need the DD-214. You need the flag folding.
Haskins has a track record of handling these military honors with the precision that the Goldsboro community expects.
What People Get Wrong About Cremation
There's this weird idea that cremation is "the easy way out." It’s not. It’s just different.
In North Carolina, the cremation rate has been climbing steadily for a decade. Why? Because it’s often cheaper, yes, but also because it allows for more flexibility. You can have a service at Haskins Funeral Home in Goldsboro North Carolina months after the passing if family members need time to travel.
One thing to keep in mind: the "cremation container." You don't need a $5,000 casket for a cremation. You can use an alternative container—basically a sturdy cardboard box—and it’s perfectly legal and respectful.
How to Prepare Before You Walk Through the Door
Walking into a funeral home unprepared is like walking into a storm without a coat. You’re going to get soaked.
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If you are currently in the position of planning a service at Haskins Funeral Home in Goldsboro North Carolina, take a breath. Bring a folder.
You will need:
- The full legal name and Social Security number of the deceased.
- The names of the parents (including mother’s maiden name).
- Education level and occupation details.
- A high-resolution photo for the obituary.
- Clothing (including undergarments) for the viewing.
It feels clinical to list it out like that. But having these things ready prevents you from having to make three trips back to the house when you’re already exhausted.
The Digital Shift in Goldsboro Funerals
We live on our phones now. Even in a traditional town like Goldsboro.
The "Book of Memories" or online tribute walls provided by Haskins serve a real purpose. It’s not just for show. For family members who moved away—to Raleigh, Charlotte, or out of state—the ability to watch a livestreamed service or leave a digital candle is a lifeline.
Don't skip the online obituary. It’s the primary way the community finds out about the service times. In the old days, you checked the Goldsboro News-Argus. Now, you check the funeral home’s website.
A Note on Directness
Let's be real for a second. Some funeral homes are better at the "people" side, and some are better at the "logistics" side.
The feedback regarding Haskins Funeral Home in Goldsboro North Carolina often highlights their ability to handle large, traditional African American homegoing services with a specific level of poise. These services are often long, musical, and highly emotional. Handling that kind of volume and intensity requires a staff that doesn't get rattled easily.
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If you’re looking for a quiet, 15-minute graveside service, they can do that too. But their "bread and butter" is the full-scale, dignified service that honors a long life lived.
Actionable Steps for Families in Wayne County
If you are reading this because you’ve just lost someone, or because you’re pre-planning (smart move, by the way), here is what you need to do next.
First, locate the life insurance policy. Before you sign a contract with any funeral home, you need to know how it’s being paid for. Many homes, including Haskins, allow for insurance assignments where the insurance company pays the funeral home directly. This saves you from paying thousands out of pocket while waiting for a claim to process.
Second, choose your "point person." If you have five siblings, don't all try to call the funeral director at once. Pick the one who is the most organized and least likely to lose their cool. This person should be the primary contact for Haskins Funeral Home in Goldsboro North Carolina.
Third, write the obituary yourself or with family. Funeral directors are great, but they didn't know your Grandpa’s favorite fishing spot or the way your Mom used to make biscuits. Write the personal details. Let the funeral home handle the service dates and times, but you provide the soul of the story.
Fourth, verify the death certificates. You’ll likely need more than you think. Banks, cell phone providers, the DMV, and the VA all want originals. Order at least five to ten copies. It’s cheaper to get them all at once through the funeral home than to go back to the Register of Deeds later.
Fifth, think about the "after." The funeral is one day. The grief lasts much longer. Ask the staff at Haskins about local grief support groups in Goldsboro or bereavement resources. They usually have a pulse on which churches or community centers are currently hosting sessions.
Navigating death is a heavy lift. Choosing the right partner in that process—someone who knows the local laws and respects the local culture—is the only way to get through it with your sanity intact. Focus on the legacy, and let the professionals handle the permits and the preparation.