My heart was broken when I read about the murder of NFL great, Steve McNair. My heart went out to his family for their loss. I even defended Steve against those who wanted to villify him for the questionable circumstances under which he was killed.
But while I absolutely insist that there were many admirable qualities about McNair, one of his least admirable choices was to leave his family without a will. For that, I will never forgive him. Even those who can look past infidelity in a marriage will say that men and women should be sure to handle their business at home. That is the unspoken rule that McNair violated in life and one that will haunt his loved ones in death.
In this episode of Financial Lovemaking, we talk about what happens when you don't properly plan for your death.
Click the image to listen to the latest episode.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Finance Professor at Syracuse University. He is also the author of "Financial Lovemaking 101: Merging Assets with Your Partner in Ways that Feel Good." To have Dr Boyce commentary delivered directly to your email, please click here.
Deaths in 2009
Steve McNair, July 4: A fan favorite during his 13 years in the NFL, McNair was found dead in a Nashville condo, the victim of a gunshot wound to the head.
Chris Gardner, AP
Michael Jackson, June 25: The King of Pop died at the age of 50.
Reuters
Dolla (Roderick Anthony Burton II), May 18: Up-and-coming rapper signed to AKON's production company was murdered.
Getty
Dom DeLuise, May 4: The portly actor and iconic comic was 75.
Getty
Mayme Johnson, May 1: The widow of Ellsworth Harlem gangster "Bumpy" Johnson died at the age of 94.
Image from 'Harlem Godfather'
Marl Young, April 29: The pianist and arranger had a law degree and helped integrate Los Angeles' all-black Local 767 and all-white Local 47 musicians unions. He was 92.
Rev. Timothy Wright, April 23: The Grammy-nominated gospel singer and New York pastor was 61 and had been fighting to recovery from a car crash that killed his wife, Betty, (pictured here) and grandson, D.J., 14, in July 2008.
David "Pop" Winans, April 9 The gospel music patriarch -- BeBe and CeCe are his kids -- was twice nominated for Grammys, in 1989 for his album with wife Delores, pictured, and again in 1999 for a solo album. He died at a Nashville hospice, seven months after suffering a heart attack and stroke.
John Hope Franklin, Mar. 25: Franklin was a revered historian of life in the South and the African-American experience. He was 94. His 1947 book, "From Slavery to Freedom," sold 3.5 million copies.
Duke University
Altovise Joanne Gore Davis, Mar. 14: Mrs. Davis was dancer and actress and the widow of Sammy Davis Jr. She was 65.
Chris Wood / Getty Images
Comments: (11)
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By: ADMR on 7/19/2009 4:45PM
As a Wife, I would attended His Funeral
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By: Dimples on 7/20/2009 8:55AM
Who censors these comments?
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By: Prince Akbar on 7/20/2009 3:25PM
Dr. Boyce you should be ashamed of yourself. In 2009 ANY BLACK MAN OR WOMAN claiming to have EDUCATION and EVEN calling himmself a FINANCIAL EXPERT (Mcnair KNEW MORE ABOUT MONEY THEN YOU) would know better then pookie the GED man on the street. NFL players DONT EXPECT TO DIE at 36. DO YOU HAVE A WILL NOW SIR? Who competed with you to get the HONOR to speak for blackvoices as AN EXPERT.
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By: monique on 7/20/2009 7:08PM
Everyone can die at any age, and any man with a family should have a will. You have obviously not been educated. Also, black men die very young, so the idea that you are not preparing for your family's death means that I would never want to be your spouse. You're an idiot.
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By: Prince Akbar on 7/21/2009 4:15AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0lM8bCC2fI I am going to expose you as a fraud on youtube. Mcnairs mother and wife never asked you to forgive steve for anything. Steve never even asked you forgiveness. Jesus never said YOU are the person who has permission to never forgive a human being. I mean this is some phd type type evil shit.
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By: Mike on 7/20/2009 9:03PM
Everything that McNair owned goes to his wife. If there is no will that says other wise.
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By: monique on 7/20/2009 10:20PM
It goes to his wife, but the state gets a lot of his assets too. Attorneys get more than they would normally get and his other relatives get screwed. It was a bad idea to die without a will.
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By: TiaVawn on 7/20/2009 10:18PM
Maybe some of us will one day learn not to be so typical!
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By: sheila on 7/21/2009 12:56AM
In Tennessee where he lived, the spouse will get 1/3rd of his estate and the remainder goes to his heirs. Since he did not have a will, his wife has become to administrator to his estate. The sad part about that, is that she did not list his other two children as heirs, only the two he had with her.
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By: monique on 7/21/2009 9:40AM
That's the saddest part of all this. His wife determines what happens to the kids who he had with other women. She is probably not going to take care of them the way she takes care of her own kids.
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