Family Sought for Three Men who Passed Away Recently in Birmingham
In a bid to locate and inform family members, Jefferson County Coroner’s Office in Birmingham, Alabama seeks public assistance regarding three men who lost their lives recently. The bodies of the deceased are prepared for burial, stirring intense efforts by the local authorities to notify their kin.
Details about the Deceased Men
Matthew Lee Gilmer, aged 37, was found lifeless on July 26th under the Elton B. Stephens Expressway bridge. Gilmer, believed to be homeless, was discovered unresponsive around 4:41 p.m. and was pronounced dead at the scene. His cause of death remains uncertain, with no evidence suggestive of trauma or wrongful actions. His last known address placed him in the 100 block of 14th Street North in Birmingham, although he is known to have previously resided in both Center Point and Leeds.
The second man, Lee Campbell Lewis, aged 56, slipped away on August 1st during his residence at Oak Knoll Health and Rehabilitation while receiving care from Expect Care Hospice. Lewis was identified to have passed away due to natural causes. Initially from Longview, Texas, he had former addresses in many areas across Alabama, including Pelham, Hoover, Alabaster, Vestavia, Ashville, Shelby, Indian Springs, Wilsonville, and Harpersville, as well as Nashville and Centerville, Georgia.
George Alton Walker, the youngest among the three men at 47, was discovered dead at 6:50 a.m. on August 2nd in the 1800 block of Seventh Avenue North. Walker was found unresponsive on a sidewalk directly opposite Fire Station #1 by the Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service. His record uncovered various addresses in Anniston dating back to 1998. However, the cause of his death remains unascertained, with the officials ruling out signs of trauma or foul play.
No Success Despite Exhaustive Efforts
Attempts at establishing connections to any potential family members residing across various cities for these deceased individuals have been in vain so far. The Coroner’s Office urges any family members or individuals with relevant information to contact them at 205-930-3603. It remains crucial in providing a proper burial for these men and offering any possible immediate family some closure.
Instances of Concern
These incidents bring attention to the growing issue of identifying relatives of those who die with little to no family connections readily available. All too often, these individuals slip away unnoticed or without familiar faces around them. The continued efforts of the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office and similar institutions show determination amid such unenviable circumstances to provide these individuals with the respect and dignity they deserve in death, as they may not have received during their lifetime.
