Funeral Manager Resells Woman's Casket

Woman Cremated On Cot

 

 

LINK TO VIDEOS:

http://www.wsmv.com/news/20245036/detail.html

 

 

TULLAHOMA, Tenn. -- Madeline Coker of Tullahoma died in May 2007. Her family's wishes were for her to be cremated in a wooden casket, for which they paid more than $2,000.

"To prey on a person in their time of need is just not right," said Amy Palmer, Coker's niece. "You're hurt enough. Why does someone else have to hurt you?"

According to the state Board of Funeral Directors, the manager of the Tullahoma Funeral Home took her body out of the casket and resold the casket to another family..

The state suspended the license of Stephen Rees, the manager they said made the switch. He no longer works for the funeral home.

"I tried to follow what she had asked me to do very specifically," said Palmer.

"It's an unfortunate situation. We take our responsibilities to our families very seriously," said the current manager of the funeral home, Todd R. Howell.

The funeral home was fined $2,000.

"She was the ultimate gentile woman from the South -- just what you would think of the Southern belle," said Palmer.

Channel 4 was unable to reach Rees. A family member said he has moved to St. Louis, Miss.

The funeral home refunded the money to both families involved.

"To prey on a person in their time of need is just not right," said Amy Palmer, Coker's niece. "You're hurt enough. Why does someone else have to hurt you?"

 

According to the state Board of Funeral Directors, the manager of the Tullahoma Funeral Home took her body out of the casket and resold the casket to another family.

Coker was cremated on a cot.

 

"You're betrayed. I mean, the man had been so accommodating. You're hurt," said Palmer, who

lives in Ohio.

 

The state suspended the license of Stephen Rees, the manager they said made the switch. He no longer works for the funeral home.

 

"I tried to follow what she had asked me to do very specifically," said Palmer.

 

"It's an unfortunate situation. We take our responsibilities to our families very seriously," said the current manager of the funeral home, Todd R. Howell.

 

The funeral home was fined $2,000.

 

"She was the ultimate gentile woman from the South -- just what you would think of the Southern belle," said Palmer.

 

Channel 4 was unable to reach Rees. A family member said he has moved to St. Louis, Miss.

 

The funeral home refunded the money to both families involved.