Scheduling a funeral for a loved one is not easy, especially when you can't afford one.
That's the situation the family of Clementina Michelle Hagin, 34, found themselves in after her death Thursday.
On Saturday afternoon, Lynn Sims, Hagin's pastor at Life Changing Outreach Ministries off Martintown Road in North Augusta, organized a car wash in an attempt to raise the $6,000 needed for the ceremony.
While Sims and the family try to raise the money, Hagin's body is being kept at C.A. Reid Sr. Memorial Funeral Home, owned by Charlie Reid.
"He wants us to let him know how much money we have on Monday," Sims said. "She doesn't have a policy, so we're trying to do whatever we can to give him what he needs so that we can do something."
Hagin's three children and a number of her fellow church members were able to use the Pizza Hut parking lot, just outside the ministry's front door, for their car wash.
Even as the temperature approached 100 degrees, the group continued to work, but it collected only $847 on Saturday.
"It's real hot out," Sims admitted. "It's hard being out here, especially when your mom just passed and you got to push that aside to be able to take care of business."
Hagin's oldest child, Anthony Harley, 16, remained hopeful after the first day of what will be a two-day fundraising effort.
"It's been pretty good," he said. "I don't think it's enough for what we need yet, but we'll stay out here."
The cause of Hagin's death had not been determined Saturday.
To donate, call Life Changing Outreach Ministries at (803) 292-1131.
Comments
After the fact is a little late to plan a funeral. Leaving the mess for children to take care of is a mistake of choice. I think these young'uns are making a fine effort with the help of their church. They may have to settle for alternative options. I hope they are able to contend with their loss.
She has 3 children and the oldest is 16? How sad they are put in this position, how sad of Reid Funeral Home to place them in this position. Doesn't Augusta have a "paupers' fund" (for lack of a better word)
methinks that Mr. Reid will be giving a funeral away after this article......................
By God this is aweful. This is why people need financial planning help. I hate to see people in situations like this. My heart goes out to the family and I hope that this is a message to all who read it that you can never know the time and place you will pass on, so you better never leave anything for later that would hurt those you leave behind.
How does someone help if they want to Chronicle?
Brad
georgiasouthern,
Spoken like a true Southern Gentleman. I am so proud of your ability to see people suffering and think of such witty comments to raise spirits.
You are despicable,
Brad
It is so sad that some can be so cruel as other are suffering this heartache. Burying your Mother is never easy no matter the circumstance and she evidently raised some decent children who loved her very much. How many of us expected and were prepared to pass away at that young age? These people need love and support not hateful remarks!
It says something of the character she instilled in her children that they are out there "trying to take care of business", not sitting and wondering what to do ro letting swomeone else take care of it immediately. And almost no mother 34 years old is in that part of the planning stage of her life. I'm thinking of going for a car wash with a pretty large tip myself today. And I'd encourage the rest of you to do the same.
"Everyone should do their planning outside of the box". (Wording taken from a billboard ad for a funeral home in Columbus, Georgia)
georgiasouthern is a perfect example of what true " Southerners" are not. We cherish our Mothers and feel the pain of even those who are strangers to us, when their Mothers pass.
Amen ispy4u, georgiasouthern is definitely NOT a southern gentleman. My condolenses to the family and they have made their mother proud for standing up for what they need to do and trying to do what is right. I pray they get such an outpouring of support today that they reach the amount needed to put their mother to rest.
A $5000 term life insurance policy costs about $5 a month. Every adult should at least have that much insurance if you don't have enough assets to cover your funeral expenses. I told my neice that I will have to have her cremated if she won't let me take out a $5000 insurance policy on her. Her lifestyle is associated with early death.
Retired Army................do the math.............she had her first download at 18...........her name is Hagin.............the 16 year old boy's name is Anthony Harley..............no mention of the other downloads' names................it just does not sound like a lot of well thought out family planning to me. And edwardc is correct, a $5000 life insurance policy would have been less than 20 cents a day.....maybe this will be a lesson to others.
Someone needs to help this family choose a more affordable funeral. It is only the funeral home who profits from needless expenses in a burial. Shame on them!
First off my heartfelt condolences to the family, what a sad situation to find oneself having to deal with. Secondly, why not consider cremation instead of a burial? Its only about a third the cost of a funeral.
It is certainly not necessary to allow comments from the peanut gallery for EVERY story, is it AC? There are several stories that are sensitive for those involved that don't require those anonymous s.a.'s (like Georgiasouthern) to sound off.
VERY few "working class" folks plan for a funeral at 34...and it appears the death was totally unexpected and unexplained. There ARE programs for indigent burial in Augusta...sounds like this family wants more than an unmarked grave. I understand that, but perhaps if they went ahead and buried her as a pauper, and THEN raised the money for the headstone it would make more sense. Very sad business all the way around!
You don't know the circumstances. We thought my mother in law had enough insurance to bury her. After her death, we found out that a family member had cashed in one of the policies for her own personal gain. It has caused a family rift that will never heal.
Mr. Owens, I don’t know if you are from the south and don’t care. But as a man from the south I am insulted by your remark to georgiasouthern. Just because one DA from the south makes a stupid remark you insult all men from the south. You wouldn’t know a gentleman if you saw one.
God bless this family. Brad, there is a phone number at the end of the article if you want to donate. Many families in America with a death at 34 would face this same issue.
First thing is the family may need to look at Cremation as this can be donated for a very small amount. This can be done with as little as 800.00. If all the people that go to all of these mega churchs around the CSRA were to give just 1.00 this sunday she could have a funeral fit for a queen. Think about how many people are at you church, then think if you or you family were in this same situation? So call the funeral home and see if you can help these kids!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've met Mr. Reid on many occasions through a previous job, where the expired patients were placed in his care, and I do mean care. I'm sure that in his career he has donated many services for familys who don't have the funds for the deceased. And I would also say Mr. Reid has seen where the Black community will come together for a family in true need, as I believe will happen for the childeren of Ms.Hagin. Funeral services are a costly business for anyone. So if everyone who views this page would send just 5.00 dollars to Life Changing Outreach Ministry I believe the service charges would be covered for the kids who, so much at this time, need to mourn for their mom and not be washing cars. Black and White let's not just talk about it, come together for those kids. It's just the right thing to do. I am not affiliated in anyway with Reid Funeral Home or the Church, I'm just a Human Being with a heart for those who truly can't help being in situations like this. No need to say anything else except, Thanks.
I am 34 and I have a life insurance policy on me and my husband just in case the unfortunate happens. My husband has already had two siblings die early deaths and they did not have insurance. It was left to the family to pay because neither one had any children. I don't want to leave this to my family to take care of because it is my responsibility. I don't have children to turn to to help with this like she did. I actually commend what they are doing and how young they are. They really loved their mother and will do anything possible to take care of her final expenses.
rmwhitly,don't think that theNAACP won't show thetr true spirit, they just haven't heard this story yet. Where is your heart? Show the kids that some whites care too.
The children are out WORKING to do something positive and other's want to second guess the departed mom and put these people down. I hope that makes y'all feel superior on this wonderful Sunday afternoon. May God bless this family.
belle the problem with cremation is a Christian belief that we were created from dust and as we die our bodies are returned to the earth to await Christ's return. Others just plain find it hard to cremate a loved one.
I say folks should do away with Funeral Homes, all together! Why not simply have a Church Service and closed casket burial with friends and family members at the Cemetary! Would be much easier and economical for everyone!
My mother asked for cremation as she thought the huge cost of a fancy funeral was ridiculous. I feel the same way and have my desire in writing. However, in this case the family wishes for a traditional funeral for their mother and I will be sending some money for the cause. The bible says to give to those who ask of you, and these kids are asking. It's awful to lose your mother, just awful. Poor babies.
Beautifully said Cadence and God certainly will never forget yor kindness. Richmond Co. Voter time has a way of destroying the human body very quickly, decay begins at the moment the heart stops beating. Funeral homes delay the effects of death and the oders that come with it. Surely you don't suggest visitation of the departed without the services of a motitian? Closed casket won't even hide the effects of death and many, many people want to see their most beloved just one more time even in death. Think more on the subject.
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