By Jeff Devine, Editor-in-Chief
Dale County Chronicle
It is a story that may be bittersweet but is also a heartfelt reminder that everyone deserves the dignity of a proper burial and remembrance.
The Dale County Coroner’s Office recently held a solemn and respectful ceremony in Newton Cemetery to inter the remains of ten individuals whose families could not be located or whose remains were never claimed.
Coroner John Cawley and Chief Deputy Coroner Adam Bruhn were joined by members of the Dale County Sheriff’s Office, local officials, clergy, and community members for the burial service. Those in attendance included Deputies Lopez and Holliday, as well as Sgt. Watson, Chief Deputy Kyle Anderson, Newton Mayor Pruett, Charles Zeigler, Chaplain Matt Sasser, Chaplain Jim Peters and his wife, as well as Deputy Holliday’s children.
Each individual was laid to rest in their own grave, with a small granite marker placed at each site bearing the person’s name, year of birth, and year of death. The Coroner’s Office emphasized that the project was made possible through the support of the Dale County Commission and the cooperation of the Sheriff’s Office.
Officials expressed gratitude to Sheriff Mason Bynum and Chief Deputy Kyle Anderson for their assistance and support in ensuring the project was completed with dignity and care.
“Everyone, regardless of their situation, deserves a decent and proper burial,” the Coroner’s Office stated.
Following the ceremony, the office shared a quote reflecting the significance of the moment:
“Show me the manner in which a nation or a community cares for its dead. I will measure exactly the sympathies of its people, their respect for the laws of the land, and their loyalty to high ideals,” — Sir William Gladstone Ewart.
The burial marked a meaningful act of compassion and respect, underscoring the county’s commitment to honoring every life as precious and deserving of honor and remembrance.
