PLEASE READ ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM...
The Franklin County Coroner's Office in Columbus, Ohio, is searching for the family of Norma Francis, a 79-year-old black female who is believed to have lived around the Charleston area. Her father is listed as Egbert Francis and her mother is listed as Malinda Hill. The family may have lived for a while in Paris, France, but the deceased has Charleston listed as her hometown. If you have any information regarding family for Ms. Francis, please call the Franklin County Coroner;s Office at (614) 462-5290.
Note:
I found this lady's obit while looking threw the Charleston Gazette this evening.I thought it would be a good idea adding her to this site in order to help the Franklin County's Coroner office in Ohio locating her relatives.If anyone has any information on her please call the number listed in the news article above.
I also found this piece written in the paper about her:
Norma Francis used to leave her apartment on the bus and return home later the same day. No one, including her neighbors and landlord, knew where she would go. They described her as a loner.
So when the 79-year-old black woman died last month, the coroner suspected it might be tough locating her next of kin.
But they never imagined it would be this tough.
No relatives or friends have come forward since Francis passed away of natural causes Oct. 4 in her Columbus, Ohio, apartment.
She was found after a security officer in her subsidized housing complex noticed newspapers piling up at her door, said Jack Sudimack, chief investigator with the Franklin County Coroner's Office. The officer forced his way into her apartment and found her.
Investigators believe Francis had ties to Charleston, or perhaps lived here at one time.
The coroner's office, headquartered in Columbus, has tried tracking down family members, but to no avail. They published a notice in Charleston newspapers this week asking for anyone with any information about her to come forward.
They've come up empty-handed after combing through her apartment for anything that might offer hints about her personal life.
Her apartment was unkempt and magazines and newspapers were stacked everywhere, Sudimack said.
Investigators found no personal documents.
"No address books, no birth certificates, no correspondence, no birthday cards," Sudimack said. "We found a phone bill, but no phone calls were made on it."
Investigators were able to retrieve tidbits of information through the Social Security office.
When she last filled out a Social Security application, she listed Charleston as her hometown.
That's the only clue linking her to West Virginia's capital, Sudimack said. She had lived in the Columbus area for at least 30 years.
The coroner's office this week published obituaries in Charleston newspapers seeking the public's help in identifying anyone who knew Francis. Obits in Columbus newspapers have also been printed.
So far, authorities have determined only the names of her parents and a brother.
Her father is listed as Egbert Francis and her mother is Malinda Hill. The brother's name is Chet Francis, of Littlerock, Calif. The whereabouts of all three are unknown, Sudimack said.
"We've run names on the Social Security index and still cannot verify their deaths," he said.
In other forms Francis filled out, she indicated that she was neither married nor a mother.
It is also believed she was born in Paris, France, and that her parents once lived there.
"That led us to draw a conclusion that her folks or her dad was in the military," Sudimack said.
In information left at a physician's office, Francis had given her mother's name as a primary contact and listed Lancaster, Calif., as her hometown.
Still, investigators have hit brick walls trying to gather additional leads.
"One problem we've encountered is that no middle name or initial has been found for Norma Francis," Sudimack said. "It could be hard to differentiate her from other Norma Francises. We do not have middle names for her parents, either."
Original documents such as a birth certificate have not been obtained because they may be on record somewhere in France, he said.
Authorities believe she was last employed in 1999 at a bar called Mally Gal's Lounge in Columbus. The business is still operating, though no one knows anything about her.
Sudimack said he's checked with local offices on aging and adult protective services to come up with nothing.
A search of police records showed she had a clean record, not even a parking ticket.
Publishing ads in newspapers is one of the last resorts in locating family members, Sudimack said.
"This is pretty rare," said the 23-year investigator. "This ranks among the 10 most baffling cases.
"We've had cases where we've found friends, maybe not a next of kin, but someone who was willing to take financial responsibility. We haven't been to the point where we didn't get anybody at all, with the exception of some John or Jane Does."
With the holiday season around the corner, Sudimack hopes someone might try to call or send a card to Francis. Her birthday is also on Dec. 19.
The coroner's office usually keeps bodies for about a year. Sudimack said his office's main goal with any death is to turn the body over to loved ones and to treat them respectfully.
"Every major event -- a holiday or birthday -- that takes place in a person's life would be celebrated or noted someway by a loved one in a calendar year," Sudimack said. "If a person doesn't answer the phone or a letter, that might prompt that person to find the loved one."
Coroners may go forward in giving Francis a proper burial if no one turns up for her.
Sudimack said they found two uncashed Social Security checks and a fair sum of cash on her, enough to pay for burial arrangements.
"Out of respect to her, that's something we will try to accomplish," he said.
If anyone has information about Francis, call the Franklin County Coroner's Office at (614) 462-5290.
Contact writer Jake Stump at [email protected] or 348-4842
The Franklin County Coroner's Office in Columbus, Ohio, is searching for the family of Norma Francis, a 79-year-old black female who is believed to have lived around the Charleston area. Her father is listed as Egbert Francis and her mother is listed as Malinda Hill. The family may have lived for a while in Paris, France, but the deceased has Charleston listed as her hometown. If you have any information regarding family for Ms. Francis, please call the Franklin County Coroner;s Office at (614) 462-5290.
Note:
I found this lady's obit while looking threw the Charleston Gazette this evening.I thought it would be a good idea adding her to this site in order to help the Franklin County's Coroner office in Ohio locating her relatives.If anyone has any information on her please call the number listed in the news article above.
I also found this piece written in the paper about her:
Norma Francis used to leave her apartment on the bus and return home later the same day. No one, including her neighbors and landlord, knew where she would go. They described her as a loner.
So when the 79-year-old black woman died last month, the coroner suspected it might be tough locating her next of kin.
But they never imagined it would be this tough.
No relatives or friends have come forward since Francis passed away of natural causes Oct. 4 in her Columbus, Ohio, apartment.
She was found after a security officer in her subsidized housing complex noticed newspapers piling up at her door, said Jack Sudimack, chief investigator with the Franklin County Coroner's Office. The officer forced his way into her apartment and found her.
Investigators believe Francis had ties to Charleston, or perhaps lived here at one time.
The coroner's office, headquartered in Columbus, has tried tracking down family members, but to no avail. They published a notice in Charleston newspapers this week asking for anyone with any information about her to come forward.
They've come up empty-handed after combing through her apartment for anything that might offer hints about her personal life.
Her apartment was unkempt and magazines and newspapers were stacked everywhere, Sudimack said.
Investigators found no personal documents.
"No address books, no birth certificates, no correspondence, no birthday cards," Sudimack said. "We found a phone bill, but no phone calls were made on it."
Investigators were able to retrieve tidbits of information through the Social Security office.
When she last filled out a Social Security application, she listed Charleston as her hometown.
That's the only clue linking her to West Virginia's capital, Sudimack said. She had lived in the Columbus area for at least 30 years.
The coroner's office this week published obituaries in Charleston newspapers seeking the public's help in identifying anyone who knew Francis. Obits in Columbus newspapers have also been printed.
So far, authorities have determined only the names of her parents and a brother.
Her father is listed as Egbert Francis and her mother is Malinda Hill. The brother's name is Chet Francis, of Littlerock, Calif. The whereabouts of all three are unknown, Sudimack said.
"We've run names on the Social Security index and still cannot verify their deaths," he said.
In other forms Francis filled out, she indicated that she was neither married nor a mother.
It is also believed she was born in Paris, France, and that her parents once lived there.
"That led us to draw a conclusion that her folks or her dad was in the military," Sudimack said.
In information left at a physician's office, Francis had given her mother's name as a primary contact and listed Lancaster, Calif., as her hometown.
Still, investigators have hit brick walls trying to gather additional leads.
"One problem we've encountered is that no middle name or initial has been found for Norma Francis," Sudimack said. "It could be hard to differentiate her from other Norma Francises. We do not have middle names for her parents, either."
Original documents such as a birth certificate have not been obtained because they may be on record somewhere in France, he said.
Authorities believe she was last employed in 1999 at a bar called Mally Gal's Lounge in Columbus. The business is still operating, though no one knows anything about her.
Sudimack said he's checked with local offices on aging and adult protective services to come up with nothing.
A search of police records showed she had a clean record, not even a parking ticket.
Publishing ads in newspapers is one of the last resorts in locating family members, Sudimack said.
"This is pretty rare," said the 23-year investigator. "This ranks among the 10 most baffling cases.
"We've had cases where we've found friends, maybe not a next of kin, but someone who was willing to take financial responsibility. We haven't been to the point where we didn't get anybody at all, with the exception of some John or Jane Does."
With the holiday season around the corner, Sudimack hopes someone might try to call or send a card to Francis. Her birthday is also on Dec. 19.
The coroner's office usually keeps bodies for about a year. Sudimack said his office's main goal with any death is to turn the body over to loved ones and to treat them respectfully.
"Every major event -- a holiday or birthday -- that takes place in a person's life would be celebrated or noted someway by a loved one in a calendar year," Sudimack said. "If a person doesn't answer the phone or a letter, that might prompt that person to find the loved one."
Coroners may go forward in giving Francis a proper burial if no one turns up for her.
Sudimack said they found two uncashed Social Security checks and a fair sum of cash on her, enough to pay for burial arrangements.
"Out of respect to her, that's something we will try to accomplish," he said.
If anyone has information about Francis, call the Franklin County Coroner's Office at (614) 462-5290.
Contact writer Jake Stump at [email protected] or 348-4842
PLEASE READ ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM...
The Franklin County Coroner's Office in Columbus, Ohio, is searching for the family of Norma Francis, a 79-year-old black female who is believed to have lived around the Charleston area. Her father is listed as Egbert Francis and her mother is listed as Malinda Hill. The family may have lived for a while in Paris, France, but the deceased has Charleston listed as her hometown. If you have any information regarding family for Ms. Francis, please call the Franklin County Coroner;s Office at (614) 462-5290.
Note:
I found this lady's obit while looking threw the Charleston Gazette this evening.I thought it would be a good idea adding her to this site in order to help the Franklin County's Coroner office in Ohio locating her relatives.If anyone has any information on her please call the number listed in the news article above.
I also found this piece written in the paper about her:
Norma Francis used to leave her apartment on the bus and return home later the same day. No one, including her neighbors and landlord, knew where she would go. They described her as a loner.
So when the 79-year-old black woman died last month, the coroner suspected it might be tough locating her next of kin.
But they never imagined it would be this tough.
No relatives or friends have come forward since Francis passed away of natural causes Oct. 4 in her Columbus, Ohio, apartment.
She was found after a security officer in her subsidized housing complex noticed newspapers piling up at her door, said Jack Sudimack, chief investigator with the Franklin County Coroner's Office. The officer forced his way into her apartment and found her.
Investigators believe Francis had ties to Charleston, or perhaps lived here at one time.
The coroner's office, headquartered in Columbus, has tried tracking down family members, but to no avail. They published a notice in Charleston newspapers this week asking for anyone with any information about her to come forward.
They've come up empty-handed after combing through her apartment for anything that might offer hints about her personal life.
Her apartment was unkempt and magazines and newspapers were stacked everywhere, Sudimack said.
Investigators found no personal documents.
"No address books, no birth certificates, no correspondence, no birthday cards," Sudimack said. "We found a phone bill, but no phone calls were made on it."
Investigators were able to retrieve tidbits of information through the Social Security office.
When she last filled out a Social Security application, she listed Charleston as her hometown.
That's the only clue linking her to West Virginia's capital, Sudimack said. She had lived in the Columbus area for at least 30 years.
The coroner's office this week published obituaries in Charleston newspapers seeking the public's help in identifying anyone who knew Francis. Obits in Columbus newspapers have also been printed.
So far, authorities have determined only the names of her parents and a brother.
Her father is listed as Egbert Francis and her mother is Malinda Hill. The brother's name is Chet Francis, of Littlerock, Calif. The whereabouts of all three are unknown, Sudimack said.
"We've run names on the Social Security index and still cannot verify their deaths," he said.
In other forms Francis filled out, she indicated that she was neither married nor a mother.
It is also believed she was born in Paris, France, and that her parents once lived there.
"That led us to draw a conclusion that her folks or her dad was in the military," Sudimack said.
In information left at a physician's office, Francis had given her mother's name as a primary contact and listed Lancaster, Calif., as her hometown.
Still, investigators have hit brick walls trying to gather additional leads.
"One problem we've encountered is that no middle name or initial has been found for Norma Francis," Sudimack said. "It could be hard to differentiate her from other Norma Francises. We do not have middle names for her parents, either."
Original documents such as a birth certificate have not been obtained because they may be on record somewhere in France, he said.
Authorities believe she was last employed in 1999 at a bar called Mally Gal's Lounge in Columbus. The business is still operating, though no one knows anything about her.
Sudimack said he's checked with local offices on aging and adult protective services to come up with nothing.
A search of police records showed she had a clean record, not even a parking ticket.
Publishing ads in newspapers is one of the last resorts in locating family members, Sudimack said.
"This is pretty rare," said the 23-year investigator. "This ranks among the 10 most baffling cases.
"We've had cases where we've found friends, maybe not a next of kin, but someone who was willing to take financial responsibility. We haven't been to the point where we didn't get anybody at all, with the exception of some John or Jane Does."
With the holiday season around the corner, Sudimack hopes someone might try to call or send a card to Francis. Her birthday is also on Dec. 19.
The coroner's office usually keeps bodies for about a year. Sudimack said his office's main goal with any death is to turn the body over to loved ones and to treat them respectfully.
"Every major event -- a holiday or birthday -- that takes place in a person's life would be celebrated or noted someway by a loved one in a calendar year," Sudimack said. "If a person doesn't answer the phone or a letter, that might prompt that person to find the loved one."
Coroners may go forward in giving Francis a proper burial if no one turns up for her.
Sudimack said they found two uncashed Social Security checks and a fair sum of cash on her, enough to pay for burial arrangements.
"Out of respect to her, that's something we will try to accomplish," he said.
If anyone has information about Francis, call the Franklin County Coroner's Office at (614) 462-5290.
Contact writer Jake Stump at [email protected] or 348-4842
The Franklin County Coroner's Office in Columbus, Ohio, is searching for the family of Norma Francis, a 79-year-old black female who is believed to have lived around the Charleston area. Her father is listed as Egbert Francis and her mother is listed as Malinda Hill. The family may have lived for a while in Paris, France, but the deceased has Charleston listed as her hometown. If you have any information regarding family for Ms. Francis, please call the Franklin County Coroner;s Office at (614) 462-5290.
Note:
I found this lady's obit while looking threw the Charleston Gazette this evening.I thought it would be a good idea adding her to this site in order to help the Franklin County's Coroner office in Ohio locating her relatives.If anyone has any information on her please call the number listed in the news article above.
I also found this piece written in the paper about her:
Norma Francis used to leave her apartment on the bus and return home later the same day. No one, including her neighbors and landlord, knew where she would go. They described her as a loner.
So when the 79-year-old black woman died last month, the coroner suspected it might be tough locating her next of kin.
But they never imagined it would be this tough.
No relatives or friends have come forward since Francis passed away of natural causes Oct. 4 in her Columbus, Ohio, apartment.
She was found after a security officer in her subsidized housing complex noticed newspapers piling up at her door, said Jack Sudimack, chief investigator with the Franklin County Coroner's Office. The officer forced his way into her apartment and found her.
Investigators believe Francis had ties to Charleston, or perhaps lived here at one time.
The coroner's office, headquartered in Columbus, has tried tracking down family members, but to no avail. They published a notice in Charleston newspapers this week asking for anyone with any information about her to come forward.
They've come up empty-handed after combing through her apartment for anything that might offer hints about her personal life.
Her apartment was unkempt and magazines and newspapers were stacked everywhere, Sudimack said.
Investigators found no personal documents.
"No address books, no birth certificates, no correspondence, no birthday cards," Sudimack said. "We found a phone bill, but no phone calls were made on it."
Investigators were able to retrieve tidbits of information through the Social Security office.
When she last filled out a Social Security application, she listed Charleston as her hometown.
That's the only clue linking her to West Virginia's capital, Sudimack said. She had lived in the Columbus area for at least 30 years.
The coroner's office this week published obituaries in Charleston newspapers seeking the public's help in identifying anyone who knew Francis. Obits in Columbus newspapers have also been printed.
So far, authorities have determined only the names of her parents and a brother.
Her father is listed as Egbert Francis and her mother is Malinda Hill. The brother's name is Chet Francis, of Littlerock, Calif. The whereabouts of all three are unknown, Sudimack said.
"We've run names on the Social Security index and still cannot verify their deaths," he said.
In other forms Francis filled out, she indicated that she was neither married nor a mother.
It is also believed she was born in Paris, France, and that her parents once lived there.
"That led us to draw a conclusion that her folks or her dad was in the military," Sudimack said.
In information left at a physician's office, Francis had given her mother's name as a primary contact and listed Lancaster, Calif., as her hometown.
Still, investigators have hit brick walls trying to gather additional leads.
"One problem we've encountered is that no middle name or initial has been found for Norma Francis," Sudimack said. "It could be hard to differentiate her from other Norma Francises. We do not have middle names for her parents, either."
Original documents such as a birth certificate have not been obtained because they may be on record somewhere in France, he said.
Authorities believe she was last employed in 1999 at a bar called Mally Gal's Lounge in Columbus. The business is still operating, though no one knows anything about her.
Sudimack said he's checked with local offices on aging and adult protective services to come up with nothing.
A search of police records showed she had a clean record, not even a parking ticket.
Publishing ads in newspapers is one of the last resorts in locating family members, Sudimack said.
"This is pretty rare," said the 23-year investigator. "This ranks among the 10 most baffling cases.
"We've had cases where we've found friends, maybe not a next of kin, but someone who was willing to take financial responsibility. We haven't been to the point where we didn't get anybody at all, with the exception of some John or Jane Does."
With the holiday season around the corner, Sudimack hopes someone might try to call or send a card to Francis. Her birthday is also on Dec. 19.
The coroner's office usually keeps bodies for about a year. Sudimack said his office's main goal with any death is to turn the body over to loved ones and to treat them respectfully.
"Every major event -- a holiday or birthday -- that takes place in a person's life would be celebrated or noted someway by a loved one in a calendar year," Sudimack said. "If a person doesn't answer the phone or a letter, that might prompt that person to find the loved one."
Coroners may go forward in giving Francis a proper burial if no one turns up for her.
Sudimack said they found two uncashed Social Security checks and a fair sum of cash on her, enough to pay for burial arrangements.
"Out of respect to her, that's something we will try to accomplish," he said.
If anyone has information about Francis, call the Franklin County Coroner's Office at (614) 462-5290.
Contact writer Jake Stump at [email protected] or 348-4842
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