homegoing
noun
home·go·ing
ˈhōm-ˌgō-iŋ 
-ˌgȯ(-)iŋ
plural homegoings
chiefly US, especially in the culture of African Americans
: a person's death understood as a return to home
Even during 16 years of disability …, his life was filled with joy. The celebration of his homegoing will be 1:00 p.m. Thursday, February 4 …—
The Daily Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
The Daily Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
often
: a service marking a person's death
Those who gather at Poitier's Funeral Home on Friday night for Hubert Lee's homegoing greet each other with open arms and smiles. —Deborah Work
Deborah Work These homegoings are among the most recent public memorials that reinforce a long legacy in the African American community. Going as far back as slavery, they were the only way for Black people to bury their loved ones. Slaves viewed death as the only true way to be free as they could not return to their native Africa; death meant their souls could go home to the Lord. —Candice Frederick
—often used before another noun Candice Frederick a homegoing service/celebration
Examples of homegoing in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In an exclusive interview with AllHipHop, Ray Copeland, who served as X’s longtime manager and is the rapper’s uncle, shared details regarding his nephew’s homegoing service.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 15 Oct. 2025
Congressman Oscar De Priest and civil rights activist Ida B. Wells participated in the homegoing ceremonies.
—Victor Luckerson, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 May 2025
Popular Atlanta radio host Wanda Smith, who died on Oct. 12, will have a public viewing and homegoing service on Nov. 3 and 4.
—Axios Atlanta, Axios, 22 Oct. 2024
After Whitney was found dead on Feb. 11, 2012, in her hotel bathtub, Cissy wrote an emotional open letter in the program of her late daughter's homegoing service.
—Brendan Le, People.com, 7 Oct. 2024
The very achievement of the project is a statement in Pan-Africanist creative praxis, sourcing talent from those familiar with the ethos of homegoing and Black connectivity Wolle wanted to invoke, situating itself in the specific inheritances of Ethiopian history.
—Essence, 16 Sep. 2024
At some homegoing services, people wear memorial T-shirts emblazoned with photographs of the dead that note the span of years between the loved one’s sunrise and sunset.
—Edwidge Danticat, The New Yorker, 1 July 2024
On Saturday, Hardy's homegoing celebration is taking place and begins with a family hour at 10 a.m. followed by an 11 a.m. homegoing service.
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 10 Mar. 2024
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Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 15 Oct. 2025
Congressman Oscar De Priest and civil rights activist Ida B. Wells participated in the homegoing ceremonies.
—Victor Luckerson, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 May 2025
Popular Atlanta radio host Wanda Smith, who died on Oct. 12, will have a public viewing and homegoing service on Nov. 3 and 4.
—Axios Atlanta, Axios, 22 Oct. 2024
After Whitney was found dead on Feb. 11, 2012, in her hotel bathtub, Cissy wrote an emotional open letter in the program of her late daughter's homegoing service.
—Brendan Le, People.com, 7 Oct. 2024
The very achievement of the project is a statement in Pan-Africanist creative praxis, sourcing talent from those familiar with the ethos of homegoing and Black connectivity Wolle wanted to invoke, situating itself in the specific inheritances of Ethiopian history.
—Essence, 16 Sep. 2024
At some homegoing services, people wear memorial T-shirts emblazoned with photographs of the dead that note the span of years between the loved one’s sunrise and sunset.
—Edwidge Danticat, The New Yorker, 1 July 2024
On Saturday, Hardy's homegoing celebration is taking place and begins with a family hour at 10 a.m. followed by an 11 a.m. homegoing service.
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 10 Mar. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Homegoing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/homegoing. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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