How Much Respect for Lauderdale's Dead?

 

If you read AL.com, you've noticed that once or twice a month that publication will feature photos of Birmingham area dead who can't be identified or for whom no relatives can be found. Did you ever consider what happens when the homeless die in the Shoals? Within the past year, we can recall at least three "street people" who died in accidents. While their deaths made the news, there was no obituary or death notice.

If the bodies aren't claimed, what happens then. Years ago there was a "pauper" section at the city cemetery on East Tennessee Street. We have no idea if that is even used at this time. No matter how few frills are involved, properly disposed of remains cost counties money. Most entities today cremate unclaimed bodies and store them in hopes relatives will eventually be contacted. With that in mind, here's an interesting tale that we present in the, ahem, fiction department.

There's a new coroner in town. He is given the vehicle used by the former coroner and immediately discovers boxes of cremains inside. What should he do?

When he asks a county support worker, he's told simply to take them to the dumpster in the back of the courthouse. Before this can be done, the head of another department hears of the situation and stops the new coroner from carrying out the ignominious disposals.

Just to add more drama to our little story, what if we make the support worker one who previously announced no concern for freezing animals who face almost certain death?

We live in a cruel world. Perhaps added to an IQ test on employment applications, we should add one for empathy and compassion?