Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes - Williamston

01/10/2026

Our Personal Planning Guide allows you to record your final wishes and the details of your family heritage, military history, estate information and more in a single document to share with your family.

Sign up and meet with a funeral planning advisor to get the guide and access exclusive content to help you with your planning journey. Call the chapel today to schedule an appointment!

01/05/2026

Whether your loved one died recently or decades ago, when you are grieving, New Year's does not pass by without your thinking of, and yearning for, the person you love and lost. It is normal to feel strong emotions. It is normal to not know what to do with your feelings of grief. Here are a few ideas to help you cope with grief in the new year.

Grieving in the New Year can feel overwhelming. These 25 gentle New Year’s resolutions for grievers offer compassionate support, and an invitation to continue healing together in Awaken.

01/02/2026

At our Williamston Chapel, we pause to honor and remember the lives of those currently entrusted to our care. Each name represents a life deeply loved and families holding cherished memories close.

Please join us in keeping these families in your thoughts, prayers, and kindness:

• Malissia Ruth Stone
• Dorothy Ann Runyon
• George Smith
• Sharon Marie Farrier
• Ryan Meredith-Michael Riggs
• Karen Jean Lee
• Terry Lynn Shaffer
• Nora Jean Morehouse

It is our privilege to walk alongside these families with compassion, dignity, and care as they gather to remember and celebrate the lives of their loved ones.

01/01/2026

As we step into 2026, we are grateful for the strength and care that define the Williamston community. The new year brings space for reflection, hope, and connection — and we wish each of you moments of comfort and quiet reassurance in the days ahead.

12/29/2025

Here in Williamston, we know what it means to be a close-knit community. As we move toward a new year, there are neighbors beside us who are grieving deeply, remembering quietly, healing slowly, or simply doing their best to make it through each day. Every one of those experiences matters.

Grief doesn’t disappear when the calendar changes. It walks with us into the next season... along with love, memories, and the strength we didn’t know we had. However you’re feeling right now... whether tender, overwhelmed, hopeful, thankful, exhausted, or a mix of everything: your journey is real and valid.

Please remember: you are surrounded by a caring town, compassionate neighbors, and people who understand. You are not alone. Our Williamston Chapel walks with you into the new year with care and kindness.

12/27/2025

When someone we care about experiences a loss, it can be hard to know what to say. Often, the simplest expressions of love and support mean the most. A sincere “I am so sorry for your loss,” “You are in my thoughts,” or “I am here for you” can offer real comfort during an incredibly difficult time.

In the days that follow, your continued kindness, presence, and willingness to listen can make a meaningful difference. Sometimes it is not about finding the perfect words, but about letting someone know they are not alone.

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/grief-and-sympathy/showing-support/what-to-say-when-someone-dies

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas from all of us at Gorsline Runciman Williamston Chapel.
This season invites both joy and reflection, and we are grateful to walk alongside a community that supports one another so faithfully. May your Christmas be filled with warmth, gentle moments, and the comfort of shared memories.

12/20/2025

In the October 2, 1938 issue of the Lansing State Journal, an article titled “Gorsline Family Long in Ingham” reflected on a name that had already been part of local life for more than a century.

According to the article, David Gorsline arrived in what was then the Michigan Territory in 1836, at a time when:

• Not a single house stood in what is now the City of Lansing
• Mason did not yet exist
• Williamston consisted of just one house
• Much of the county was still dense woodland

David purchased 120 acres of land at 50 cents per acre, later expanding to 240 acres, and became one of the earliest settlers in what would develop into Wheatfield Township and surrounding areas. His story is also intertwined with national history: his father served in the War of 1812 and lost his life at the Battle of Queenstown Heights.

Over the generations, the Gorsline family became deeply woven into the civic, agricultural, business, and community life of Ingham County. Among those descendants was W. Ray Gorsline (David Gorsline -> David Gorsline Jr. -> Floyd Gorsline -> W. Ray Gorsline), who served as Ingham County Coroner and later became a co-owner of what is now Gorsline-Runciman Funeral Homes.

Today, we are honored to continue a legacy that stretches back nearly 200 years - one rooted in service, community presence, and care for families during their most meaningful moments.

--
Michigan History Magazine
Michigan History Center
Ingham County Historical Commission
Williamston Museum at the Depot

12/10/2025

Choosing a funeral provider is one of the most important decisions a family can make.
This map shows the network of Dignity Memorial providers surrounding Williamston and Mid-Michigan. That cluster in the center is us — the Gorsline Runciman family of chapels.

Being part of the Dignity Memorial network means our families receive the care of a local team they know and trust, backed by national resources, protections and benefits that independent funeral homes cannot offer alone.

Families served at any Gorsline Runciman chapel have access to:
• The Dignity Memorial Bereavement Assistance Program
• The 100% Service Guarantee
• National transferability if a loved one passes away while traveling
• Access to planning tools and protection plans
• A network of more than 2,000 providers across North America

It is our honor to serve Mid-Michigan with the compassion of a hometown funeral home and the strength of a nationwide support system.

12/05/2025

We come together in remembrance as our Williamston Chapel honors the lives of George Smith, Sharon Marie Farrier, Karen Jean Lee, Terry Lynn Shaffer, Nora Jean Morehouse, Anella Leora Brandon, Constance Marie Lowrie, and Kimberley Lynn Johnson. We hold their families close and surround them with the comfort of a caring community.

With heartfelt respect.

12/04/2025

Today is a reminder that even the smallest comforts can mean the most. Sharing cookies, sharing memories, sharing a moment together... those simple acts bring warmth to the heart.

As we continue to walk alongside families with care and compassion, we’re grateful for a community that supports one another, in both big and small ways.

Here in Williamston, we’re lucky to have amazing local spots that bake joy into every treat. If you’re visiting family, attending a gathering, or just wanting to brighten someone’s day, consider supporting a local bakery to spread a little sweetness:
Dahlia Baking Co.
That New Place
Gluten free Rox (Just a little outside of Williamston, at the Meridian Township Farmers' Market, but a great option for gluten-free!)

Wishing you warmth, kindness, and maybe a fresh cookie (or two, no judging here! 😀) today.

12/02/2025

This vintage ad cheered on the hometown team decades ago — when local businesses proudly stood behind the Hornets and the whole town rallied for “Victory for Williamston!”

Among those supporters? Gorsline Bros. Furniture Store, the family business that once stood along East Grand River - our namesakes' family business, run alongside their funeral business.

As another basketball season begins on December 2, we’re reminded that community pride runs deep here. For generations, Williamston has celebrated its teams, its families, and its shared traditions — and we’re honored to have always been part of that story.

💚 Here’s to another season of teamwork, heart, and hometown spirit. Go Hornets!
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Williamston Hornets Boys Basketball
The Hive