VI funeral homes battle for dead! One accuses other of 'stealing bodies'
The duelling funeral businesses are Davis Funeral Home in Purcell and Scatliffe’s Memorial Chapel in Road Town.
In an interview with this news site yesterday, Jeanette Scatliffe, the mortician at Scatliffe Funeral Chapel accused Davis Funeral Home of removing dead bodies from Peebles Hospital which had been meant for her business establishment.
Davis taking bodies without permission! – Mrs Scatliffe
“The other funeral home (Davis Funeral Home) is going to the hospital and picking up bodies without the permission of the family. I had persons who released the bodies of their loved ones to me and when I gone to look for them I heard they were at Davis. Robert Wright said that he has a contract with the Government for the hospital. I said I didn’t know that y’all give contracts and there are two funeral homes. Y’all supposed to call a meeting,” she related.
According to her, she was told that there was no process done to see to it that the two funeral homes bid for contracts competitively.
“When the families come for the bodies for me to prepare the bodies for them, I told them that I do not have them. Then Robert Wright called and said he had the bodies and if I want them I have to pay $475. [But I refused to pay],” she said.
According to the woman, she was advised of new hospital hours for the picking up of dead bodies. “They said it is from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and after that you can’t get a body. We can’t pick up bodies on Saturdays and Sundays. I could see you saying that for a living person but not someone who is dead,” she said.
“He could go any hour of the night or morning and pick up a body but I cannot do it. I don’t know why,” she said.
She said that despite the issues, she is satisfied with the running of her establishment. “If I get a body I am satisfied. If I don’t get a body I am still happy and satisfied. I don’t owe anybody,” she said.
Allegations shocking said ‘Storm’ Wright
Speaking to this news site, Pastor Robert ‘Storm’ Wright, operations manager at Davis Funeral Home, denied all of the accusations by Scatliffe, calling them libellous and that they warrant legal action.
“I find it very shocking that these allegations are even brought forth and more so publicly,” said Pastor Wright. “Davis Funeral Home/Tortola Memorial Services pride themselves on being a company that creates customers who bring customers; and we do that by serving people…giving them a fair price and good service,” he said.
Pastor Wright said in the time that he and his wife have owned the business they have tried their best to serve the community.
“We serve the community by picking up bodies for the police force…no contract, no money. I want to say it again…we have never been paid by the Police for picking bodies. They call us 3:00 in the morning and we pick up. We have picked up bodies that have gone to the other funeral home and when we call the family since our people have to be paid, we are told the police called you, we didn’t,” he said.
“I want to state unequivocally for the record that there is no contract with anybody in Government, in the hospital, with any politicians…there is none,” he emphasised.
He said customers choose Davis Funeral Home because of their exceptional service to their customers and for going above and beyond in the community.
“We are the only funeral home with a licenced certified mortician and with a certified and calibrated morgue,” he said.
No discrimination against locals
Debunking the allegation that Davis Funeral Home picks up bodies without the authority of the family, he said that that this has never happened and that it was unlikely to ever happen because of the checks and balances in the system.
Dismissing the claims of discrimination against locals on the part of Mrs Scatliffe, Pastor Wright said that while he is originally from Brooklyn, New York. “The owner of Davis Funeral Home is Maris Hodge-Wright, daughter of Charles and Elaine Hodge. She is local. Period,” he said. “I am her husband. I am paid to be the Operations Manager, that’s it,” he said.
Peebles Hospital reacts to Mrs Scatliffe's allegations
Speaking to Virgin Islands News Online, Director of Hospital Services at Peebles Hospital Mrs Patricia Malone-Smith debunked all of the allegations of Ms Scatliffe with regards to how bodies are collected from the hospital.
“We have nothing to do with the funeral homes aside from the instructions we have from families. There is a release that has to be signed by the family in order for a body to leave this organisation,” she said. “If that is not in place the body will not go,” she said.
“This is strictly adhered to, so much so that at one point we decided we are not going to release bodies on the weekend to make sure that this [directive] is adhered to,” she said.
“So whatever disagreement that they are having now that is outside of us. The family have to make a decision and then sign the form [stating how they are related to the deceased] and giving authorisation to release the body to either Scatliffe Funeral Chapel or Davis Funeral Home,” said Mrs Malone-Smith.
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71 Responses to “VI funeral homes battle for dead! One accuses other of 'stealing bodies'”
i believe the scattliffe woman because homeboy look reminds me of a blood of crisp.
Storm don't need friends. He got the living and the dead on his side. Smh
The only thing needed is a public apology by the one who is so obviously wrong.
TRUTH.
Now when it comes to burial and funeral arrangements that different!!! Of course the family can choose who they want.
They too frontish at ......and want to tell you what to do! Then they often get it wrong as well on the day of the burial! The St.... uses strong arm tactics for sure. Trust me he is not as innocent as he proclaims.
service is unprofessional and that is why no one chooses.... does not have a morgue either. Furthermore, bodies have the place kinda smelly and flies fill the place. Next, if people realize Davis has taken their love ones from the hospital morgue without their permission, isn't their right to take their love ones back out of his possession? I don't understand the logic AT ALL. People have choices and the last thing I heard was that one funeral home quotes one price now, and before the funeral the price escalates to thousands more. What kind of business is that???!!!!!!
If she needs help to keep her doors open then advertise your services professional, not make up false allegations about your competitor.
People watch how you handle people and how you treat your staff at your other businesses so clean up that part too.
I only need the Parlors to bring my deceased body to my property because I will have the Memorial service there as well as the Burial since I belong to no church. I don't have money for no squabbling businesses to drain my family financially. Also, the backhoe for a days work costs $500 and when you die they want to charge $1000 or more. This won't happen because I own my own backhoe and friends say they will do it for free. I would Will that person my backhoe since I will no longer need it. My cousin will build my coffin and I already have them in my Will also.
I made plans for my death so the living will not go through through financial hell. Death should not be a squabble by greedy so called caring Parlors to get rich.
I had a relative die at Peebles. The body was still in the emergency room, not even cold, and that ....was there asking us to "give" her the body. It was very upsetting.
Question: Why would a Funeral Home pick up a living person?
I can't believe you actually responded to that comment. Take my unsolicited advice; just read the comments and stop stressing yourself. I know the temptation to respond is overbearing but stop wasting your breath!!
On several occasions that Police have allegedly called for assistance from Scatliffe funeral home and was told that they were already closed. Which leaves the Police with no other choice but to call Davis funeral home who is always available at any time.
I have had professional service from both providers and I cannot say anything bad about none of them or try to bring any of them down. What for? The days when families use to get caskets build locally, go to the morgue and prepare and dress their dead were much better days. For those commenting that the lady doesn't know the business, she has worked at the morgue in the St. Thomas hospital for most of her life. Her daughter is a mortician. Yes, there are issues that both business (like any other) can do better in, but I don't see the need for a stir. Let's all get over it, wish each other well and move on. Time is too short for this kind of stuff