A Mississippi family experienced additional heartache while grieving the loss of a relative when they arrived at the funeral only to discover another woman in the casket wearing their loved one’s clothes and jewelry.
Georgia Robinson, the sister of the deceased, sensed immediately that something was amiss when they arrived at the funeral home in Jackson on November 3. The family had expected to say their final goodbyes to Mary Jean Robinson, but the mix-up added to their mourning process.
Upon entering the funeral home and completing the necessary formalities, Robinson and her family sensed something was wrong as they approached her sister Mary Jean Robinson’s body.
Robinson expressed her shock, recalling that from a distance, she could tell it wasn’t her sister in the casket. To their dismay, they discovered a stranger in the casket adorned with the clothes and jewelry intended for Mary Jean, as reported by the New York Post.
Robinson adamantly asserted that the person in the casket was not her sister, and emphasized that the outfit, jewelry, and flowers belonged to Mary Jean. Robinson said she insisted on speaking with the director of Peoples Funeral Home to address the disturbing situation.
When informing the director of Peoples Funeral Home about the mistake, Robinson described the director’s reaction as rude and uncaring. According to her, he was dismissive towards her son.
The funeral home initially insisted that the family would have to cover the costs once again. Eventually, an agreement was reached, leading to the purchase of new clothes for the deceased. However, the funeral home did not replace the casket.
Expressing her distress, Robinson recounted how she explicitly instructed the funeral home not to use any items from the other woman on her sister. Despite her request, earrings from the wrong person were still placed on her sister, she said.
She expressed her deep concern, reflecting on the possibility that a closed casket could have led to the unintended burial of someone else’s loved one.
James Stewart, a director at the funeral home, neither confirmed nor denied the mix-up but claimed that the family had conveyed satisfaction with the services provided.
