By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 16th 2010 10:41PM
Filed under: Celebrity Finances
The legal and financial squabbles over the life and death of actor
Gary Coleman continue to make his death more dramatic than his chaotic and depressing life. In the latest piece of information, an independent lawyer assigned to oversee the property and cremation of Coleman's body said that there will be no funeral for the actor.
A Utah judge named Robert Jeffs special administrator over Coleman's estate, thus settling a dispute between Coleman's ex-wife and ex-girlfriend. Jeffs recently told the Associated Press that Coleman's will, which was drawn up in 2005, specifies that there be no funeral services. Coleman died May 28 after suffering a brain hemorrhage at home.
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Blacks in the News
WASHINGTON - JUNE 16: Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele attends a ceremony to unveil plaques that recognize African American slaves, during a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol on June 16, 2010 in Washington, DC. The plaques will be hung in the Capitol to recognize the contributions of enslaved African Americans used in the construction of the United States Capitol. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images *** Local Caption *** Michael Steele
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Blacks in the News
WASHINGTON - JUNE 16: Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele attends a ceremony to unveil plaques that recognize African American slaves, during a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol on June 16, 2010 in Washington, DC. The plaques will be hung in the Capitol to recognize the contributions of enslaved African Americans used in the construction of the United States Capitol. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images *** Local Caption *** Michael Steele
Blacks in the News
WASHINGTON - JUNE 16: Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele (R) attends a ceremony to unveil plaques that recognize African American slaves, during a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol on June 16, 2010 in Washington, DC. The plaques will be hung in the Capitol to recognize the contributions of enslaved African Americans used in the construction of the United States Capitol. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images *** Local Caption *** Michael Steele
Blacks in the News
WASHINGTON - JUNE 16: U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), speaks during a ceremony to unveil plaques that recognize African American slaves, during a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol on June 16, 2010 in Washington, DC. The plaques will be hung in the Capitol to recognize the contributions of enslaved African Americans used in the construction of the United States Capitol. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images *** Local Caption *** Blanche Lincoln
Blacks in the News
WASHINGTON - JUNE 16: U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) speaks during a ceremony to unveil plaques that recognize African American slaves, during a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol on June 16, 2010 in Washington, DC. The plaques will be hung in the Capitol to recognize the contributions of enslaved African Americans used in the construction of the United States Capitol. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images *** Local Caption *** John Lewis
Blacks in the News
WASHINGTON - JUNE 16: U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) bows his head during a ceremony to unveil plaques that recognize African American slaves, during a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol on June 16, 2010 in Washington, DC. The plaques will be hung in the Capitol to recognize the contributions of enslaved African Americans used in the construction of the United States Capitol. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images *** Local Caption *** John Lewis
Blacks in the News
WASHINGTON - JUNE 16: U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) (L) and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) (C), look at newly unveiled plaques that recognize African American slaves, during a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol on June 16, 2010 in Washington, DC. The plaques will be hung in the Capitol to recognize the contributions of enslaved African Americans used in the construction of the United States Capitol. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images *** Local Caption *** Nancy Pelosi;Barbara Lee;John Lewis
Blacks in the News
WASHINGTON - JUNE 16: U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) (L) and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) (C), look at newly unveiled plaques that recognize African American slaves, during a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol on June 16, 2010 in Washington, DC. The plaques will be hung in the Capitol to recognize the contributions of enslaved African Americans used in the construction of the United States Capitol. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images *** Local Caption *** Nancy Pelosi;Barbara Lee;John Lewis
Blacks in the News
WASHINGTON - JUNE 16: U.S. John Lewis (D-GA) (R) and Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)(L), look at newly unveiled plaques that recognize African American slaves, during a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol on June 16, 2010 in Washington, DC. The plaques will be hung in the Capitol to recognize the contributions of enslaved African Americans used in the construction of the United States Capitol. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images *** Local Caption *** Blanche Lincoln;John Lewis
Blacks in the News
Senator Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., speaks during a ceremony unveiling a plaque in recognition of the contributions of enslaved African-Americans to the construction of the United States Capitol was unveiled during a ceremony on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, June 16, 2010. (Pete Marovich/MCT)
Blacks in the News
Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., speaks during a ceremony unveiling a plaque in recognition of the contributions of enslaved African-Americans to the construction of the United States Capitol was unveiled during a ceremony on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, June 16, 2010. (Pete Marovich/MCT)
Blacks in the News
In 1999, Coleman's will stated that he wanted his wake to be conducted by people who had no financial ties to him and "can look each other in the eyes and say they really cared personally for Gary Coleman." He also mentioned that no one would be invited from the media if they followed his personal and financial problems into adulthood.
"I direct my personal representative to permit no members of the press to be present at my wake or funeral," Coleman stated.
Anna Gray, Coleman's ex-girlfriend, was named the administrator of his estate in 2005. Gray is fighting with Coleman's ex-wife,
Shannon Price, because they both contend that they are the lawful administrators of Coleman's estate. Price has cited a handwritten note from 2007 in which Coleman allegedly named her sole heir.
I never expected that Gary Coleman's life would become even more of a tragedy. For years, we thought he had it made, and it only seems that success at such an early age made him bitter and emotionally damaged. His ability to trust was severely hindered, in large part because his parents
squandered his wealth before his 18th birthday. Coleman reminds us that sometimes the richest people in the world don't have any money at all, and some of the poorest people in the world have billions. May he rest in peace.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce's commentary delivered to your e-mail, please click here. 
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Comments: (11)
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By: Lewis Hill on 6/17/2010 6:22AM
good decision ... Don't go please....
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By: ooozzzzz on 6/17/2010 8:30AM
Stop misleading with these titles "Gary Coleman Funeral is Not Going to Happen" because it will happen.
His situation is no different that any other deceased person with legal issues that have to be straighted out, detail defined and corrected so to print a title like this to entice and cause a stir in readership is really irresponsible and mentally stupid.
A funeral is a ceremony for celebrating, sanctifying, or remembering the life of a deceased person which can only be composed of a single person burying the deceased placed in a grave dug by that responsible person or in this case, simpl cremation does not have to be a lavish funeral at a church or the cemetary.
Please stop trying to blend his troubled life with a troubling death and be more respectful for the dead and quit trying to sell headline tabloid stories for ratings and enhanced readership with this brand of idiotic stupidity.
It makes you, the author and your organization look small, petty and amateurish.
Grow up.
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By: callling you on 6/17/2010 8:51AM
@ooooooozzzzzz you are the amateur and fake.
Have a good day!
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By: Renee Lovelace on 6/17/2010 10:12AM
Please, please, PLEASE stop repeating the FALSE claim that Gary's parents squandered his money!!! Consider the fact that his parents are devastated and love Gary deeply. The unfortunate truth is that his parents were extremely naive and trusting of Gary's managers and lawyers, who are the REAL culprits. Say what you will about their parenting skills, but please understand that the only thing they did wrong was to TRUST the wrong people.
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By: Tricia on 6/17/2010 10:46AM
Glad Gary made known his desires in a Will in 1999. Nevertheless, his life remains such a very sad story.
Price as an ex-wife needs to move on. Who in a legal case refers to a hand-written note?
Coleman was not short on intelligence. He knew who is friends were. Gary R.I.P.
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By: Dr. Marietta Brown on 6/17/2010 11:21AM
It was very sad that Gary Coleman did not get things right with his parents and forgive them and moved on.
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By: Jimi on 6/17/2010 2:35PM
Honor thy father and mother is one of the Ten Commandments. When we abandom our parants, we leave ourselves defenceless to the devil and his vultures.
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By: T-REX on 6/17/2010 4:37PM
HOPEFULLY, GARY COLEMAN WILL BE ABLE TO REST IN PEACE ONCE THE COURT'S GET THE PAPER WORK THEY NEED TO PUT HIM TO REST, IT'S SAD WHEN A PERSON IS NOT ABLE TO BE BURIED AS WE KNOW THE SOUL IS GONE, IT'S THE SHEL OF THE BODYTHAT IS LEFT IS THERE A MONEY PROBLEM, WERE ARE HIS PARENT'S AN FRIEND'S WHO KNEW HIM WHEN HE HAD MONEY, AL OF A SUDDEN HE IS JUST A NOBODY I PRAY HE WIL BE PUT TO REST SOON NO, BODY SHOULD HAVE TO WAIT SO LONG.
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By: MS PEGGY on 6/18/2010 12:19PM
Lord have mercy! The lack of love that poor man must have felt in his heart. He was given up for adoption by his birth parents, estranged from his adoptive parents, considered an outsider by Hollywood celebrites, then divorced by a woman who continued to live off of him and climb into his bed but didn't mourn his death for even a day. Lord have mercy! I hope that like the biblical Lazarus, angels took him to the bosom of Jesus Christ where he has finally found rest and comfort for his weary soul. My heart goes out to him. Lord have mercy!
He probably thought that if people didn't care enough about him to come see him when he was alive and sick, then why come to his funeral after he is dead and gone. We should give people their flowers while they live and let them know we care about them if we really do. I can't recall anybody giving Gary Coleman a tribute. Did he even have a wedding ceremony and reception? A baptism? A birthday party? Friends?
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By: C Jack on 6/18/2010 7:07PM
You are so right.
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