Floyd Family Funeral Home new owners at historic business

Floyd Family Funeral Home has been completely renovated and updated as a full service funeral home. Located at 202 Caroline Street in Laurens, it was formerly Goins Funeral Home.

A funeral home first established in Laurens in 1945 has been reopened under new owner James Floyd, who wants to see the Floyd Family Funeral Home become an integral part of the community.

Located at 202 Caroline Street in Laurens, the former Goins Funeral Home has been completely renovated and updated as a full service funeral home by its new owner, James Floyd and his family.

“I’ve been working in this industry more than 20 years, but it took every one of my family members to make this happen, starting with my grandparents,” Floyd said.

New owner James Floyd stands in the completely renovated lobby of the Floyd Family Funeral Home in Laurens.

His grandfather opened Child’s Funeral Home in Clinton in 1942. Later it was run by his grandmother, and even while Floyd played basketball for Presbyterian College in the early 1980s and then and throughout his life, he spent time helping his grandparents and learning the business. Now it is owned and managed by his mom, Ann Childs, and his sister, Kim Floyd Swindler.

When he learned last year that the former Goins Funeral Home building in Laurens was for sale, he got his mother’s blessing and her encouragement to look into buying it and opening his own business there.

The building was constructed 1945 and had fallen into disrepair, but with Floyd’s construction experience he completely updated the interior of the building. In the process of removing carpet upstairs, he was excited to discover original heart pine flooring which he has also restored.

“The history of a business is significant, but I also wanted to offer a full service funeral home that is welcoming and innovative and makes people feel comfortable,” Floyd said. “We have a renovated and remodeled chapel and we created a sitting level on the first floor with monitors to see the chapel.”

His wife, Belinda, his son, J.T. Floyd III, his daughter Mia Belcher and her husband Anthony Belcher have each brought their individual skills to develop aspects of the business, Floyd said.

“It truly is a family business and we wouldn’t be open for business today without them,” Floyd said. “This is a blessing and I truly believe God put me here.”

Floyd said he’s there every day, offering the funeral services at the chapel or traveling to churches for services.

He can be contacted by phone at 864-715-0822 at the office, or by cell at 864-983-4006 and he’s available day and night. He can also be contacted by email at james.floyd@floydfamilyfuneralhome.com, or through the website, www.floydfamilyfuneralhome.com.