CATOOSA COUNTY, Ga. – A family in Georgia was appalled when they discovered their veteran father’s body displayed on a gurney and not in a coffin during his visitation, WTVC reports.
George Taylor served our nation for 15 years and died at his home on May 8th. But because there were issues with his life insurance payment, Heritage Funeral Home in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, refused to put his body in a coffin.
"I told the guy, I said this was very disrespectful to my dad,” George’s son James Taylor said.
Taylor told WTVC they received very little notice prior to the visitation of the issue. He also claims the funeral home told him they would not bury his father until they received the payment.
"They came to me and told me that unless that$9,000 was paid, they couldn't put him into the ground, he would have to sit in the freezer until we paid it or (until) the insurance came through," Taylor said.
So Taylor and his family posted several photos on social media asking for help, and within hours, the posts spread like wildfire.
David Cummings with Heritage Funeral Home told WTVC they were trying to let the family have closure and view their loved one. "We serve this community. We love the community. we serve this community in everything we do," Cummings said.
WARNING: IMAGE BELOW CONTAINS GRAPHIC CONTENT