Body of actor Sherman Hemsley remains stored in El Paso funeral home freezer

Friends of Sherman Hemsley in El Paso say they have been unable to have a funeral for the beloved actor and his body remains stored in the freezer of an East El Paso funeral home as his will is contested. Hemsley's estate was left to Flora Isela Enchinton, 56, after he died on July 24 of lung cancer. Local television station, KVIA-Channel 7, first reported the story Tuesday. Enchinton and Hemsley were best friends and business partners, she said. In the hospital, Hemsley told doctors that she was his next of kin, she said. However, a man named Richard Thornton is challenging the will claiming he is the Hemsley's brother and rightful next-of-kin. Because the challenge must be settled in El Paso County's Probate Court No. 1, Hemsley's body has not been buried and instead has been kept at a local funeral home. "Realistically, I've really been very surprised," Enchinton said. "You don't know what this world is about until something like this happens." Enchinton said that she and Hemsley lived together, along with 72-year-old Kenny Johnston, for 16 years. Johnston was Hemsley's business partner and together they were going to manage Enchinton's daughter, who was a singer. Over time Enchinton joined the two men as a business partner and helped manage Hemsley. Hemsley and Johnston moved to El Paso and shared a house with Enchinton. After Johnston suffered a stroke, Enchinton and Hemsley were his caretakers. "I was not only his manager, he was my best friend," Enchinton said. "This was someone close to me. He was a large part of my life." Enchinton said the dispute over his estate has been stressful and made the grieving period tougher that she ever anticipated. "The most important thing for me is to do what is right for Sherman," she said. "To give him his dignity and respect that he deserves. This is something embarrassing for his name right now."

• So now it's Weezy and Freezy.

• "his body remains stored in the freezer of an East El Paso funeral home" His body has been moved on up to the East Side (of El Paso).

• Sad

• So it wasn't his boyfriend but his business partner in El Paso.

• [quote]the challenge must be settled in El Paso County's Probate Court No. 1, Hemsley's body has not been buried and instead has been kept at a local funeral home. I know the feeling.

  Celeste Holm - still frozen

• From The Advocate: "While there was no official confirmation during his lifetime, there was frequent speculation that Hemsley, famed for his portrayal of the bigoted dry cleaning mogul on the hit sitcom The Jeffersons, was a gay man. A 2007 VH1 story that listed three favorite allegedly gay black actors from the past put Hemsley in the top spot."

  http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/people/2012/08/30/sherman-hemsley-remains-unburied-due-will-dispute

• That bastard is STILL giving me the cold shoulder.

  Marla%20Gibbs

• Still sad

• Closeted beyond the grave. Shame, shame, shame.

  http://www.nndb.com/people/012/000023940/#FN1

• If you read the article it mentions 72 year old Kenny Johnston who I assume was the partner. Maybe he is not well enough to handle such affairs.

• Well we're moving on up, moving on up To an East Side freezer in El Paso We're moving on up, moving on up We finally got a place next to the frozen pie

• "El Paso probate court to hear dispute over actor Sherman Hemsley estate" This is my favorite line from the linked article (someone should teach the journalist the terms "great grandmother" and "aunt"): "Robert Wells, who said his mother's grandmother was the sister of Hemsley's mother, said neither Enchinton Bernal nor Thornton should be the beneficiary."

  http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_21604695/el-paso-probate-court-hear-dispute-over-actor-sherman-hemsley-estate%3Fsource%3Dmost_viewed

• I hate R1 for making laugh at such a bad joke.

• Will there be an open casket wake?

• El Paso is like hell, so Sherman's ghost must be thinking hell has frozen over but he STILL didn't get any booty.

• So did the judge rule regarding whether he's going on down?

• Story in New York Daily News says he left only $50,000.

• Freezer burn is a bitch. I throw out more meat from it than I consume.

• The guy who claims to be his brother is going to have his DNA reviewed by a judge.

• "El Paso judge rules in favor of Sherman Hemsley business partner"

  http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_21963959/el-paso-judge-rules-favor-sherman-hemsley-business-partner%3Fsource%3Demail