I asked a friend about this; he owns an up-scale funeral home (not in this area).  His response was hard to believe. 

Apparently it’s not uncommon.  He currently has over 30 urns awaiting pickup, several over 20 years of age.

Just sitting and waiting.  Imagine that!

It doesn’t seem to make much sense. If Mr. Kirby thought she had been cremated, wouldn’t he have gotten her ashes? So, this son, would have just left the ashes with the funeral home? It doesn’t make any sense.

I don’t know much about this case or whether the funeral home was paid or not,But I’ll have to agree with jKschaich,I’m glad he doesn’t live in ALABAMA TOO! ALABAMA has enough dummies,Tennessee should keep their own at home.

when you leave the great state of Alabama, becareful and don’t trip on the state line. i would not want you to fall down and get the great state of tennessee shoved up that great snout your spouting from. ROLL TIDE

I know Ted Kirby, the only son of Edna Woods. To be exact he is my mothers supervisor. Mr. Kirby is an upper middle class citizen in Chattanooga, Tn where I currently reside. PLEASE HAVE RESPECT FOR THIS MAN AND HIS FAMILY DURING THEIR TOUGH TIME. Mr. Kirby has presented the cancelled check from Ms. Woods insurance company showing that they paid Wilson and Sons Located in the GREAT STATE OF ALABAMA as well as a death Certificate signed by Mr. Wilson showing her supposed cremation taking place on November 20,2007, if you are so shallow you must verify it is all over the news in Chattanooga, a respectable mid size southern city. How can people be so cruel as to speak of this family with such disrespect when the great state of Alabama has put them through so much by licensing an antiquated seventy six year old funeral directer! I after this thank god I LIVE ANY WHERE BUT ALABAMA. Show some compassion and respect!!!

Well I know in Mississippi the County will pay for the corpse to be buried in a wooden box in an unmarked grave in the community cemetery or a church cemetery.  There is NO REASON FOR A CORPSE TO BE LEFT UNATTENED IN A HEARSE. 

Frankly, a corpse is a Bio Hazard and special precautions must be taken in disposal of said corpse.  You cannot just put a body in a car and park it in the parking lot or out behind the shed!!!  Seriously people do you really think that this funeral home did not know what’s its legal obligation was concerning a corpse???

when was the insurance money deposited ? alot of ? to be answered for sure. but in all the f.home should have pushed the issue. they were stuck with the body. anybody know what recorce they would have had, other than long term storage?

what if this was your mother, or sister, or family member. And you was told the insurance had paid the bill. Lesson learned make sure, have it in wrighting. where was the bill to the family sent?

it will rot no matter where you put it. i don’t work for free do you?

Wait a minute…. this funeral home had possession of the corpse, whether they were paid for it by the son or the insurance policy or the state it doesn’t matter.  YOU DO NOT PLACE A CORPSE IN THE BACK OF A HEARSE AND LEAVE IT THERE TO ROT!!!