The Jefferson County Coroner's Office is currently engaged in a search for family members of six deceased individuals, each having passed under various circumstances, with the goal of notifying their next of kin. The office is appealing to the public for assistance in this matter, highlighting the complexities involved in tracing relatives when the deceased have lived in multiple locations.
Victor Lee, aged 71, was discovered deceased in his Birmingham apartment on the 200 block of 3rd Avenue SW on December 30. Initial investigations have found no signs of trauma or foul play, though the coroner's office is awaiting further lab studies to confirm the cause of death. Lee's connections spanned several cities including Birmingham, Center Point, Montgomery, Los Angeles, and Santa Barbara, complicating efforts to find his kin.
Beverly A. McBrayer, an 81-year-old woman, died from natural causes on December 10 at St. Vincent's Hospital. Her life had taken her through Carbon Hill, Jasper, and Nauvoo, which adds layers to the search for her family.
Hugh Donnie Lawson Jr., at 54, also succumbed to natural causes on December 27 at UAB Hospital. His residences included Carbon Hill, Jasper, Nauvoo, and Parrish, further illustrating the challenge of tracing family when individuals have multiple addresses.
Kimberlie Dawn Caldwell, aged 48, passed away on December 30 at St. Vincent's Hospital due to natural causes. Her connections were primarily in Birmingham and Center Point.
Monty Hale Wilson, 74, was found deceased in his home in the 1900 block of Mountain Drive, Tarrant, on January 7. Similar to Victor Lee, there are no immediate indications of trauma or foul play, with lab studies still pending. Wilson had listed Perry Oliver as an emergency contact in records from 1983 and 2002, but efforts to reach Mr. Oliver have been unsuccessful.
Lastly, Warnie Robert Booth, who was 78, died on January 11 in the 2800 block of Highland Avenue South, Birmingham. Booth was under hospice care at Greenbriar at the Altamont Nursing Home, managed by Compassus Hospice. His history shows he had lived in Mobile from 1979 to 1990.
The Jefferson County Coroner's Office is urging anyone with information about the family members of these individuals to come forward. They can be reached at 205-930-3603. This outreach is part of a broader effort to connect with families, ensuring they are informed about their loved one's passing and can proceed with necessary arrangements.
This situation underscores the broader issue of how increasingly mobile lifestyles can complicate the process of finding relatives after someone's death. The coroner's office relies heavily on community assistance to bridge this gap, emphasizing the importance of public cooperation in these sensitive cases. The ongoing effort to locate these families not only seeks to fulfill legal and ethical obligations but also to provide closure and support during a time of loss.
