Will dispute prevents burial of Sherman Hemsley
EL PASO, Texas (AP) — The embalmed body of actor Sherman Hemsley, who became famous for his role as television's George Jefferson, will be kept in refrigeration at an El Paso funeral home until a local court rules on the validity of his will.
In the will Hemsley signed six weeks before dying of lung cancer July 24 he named Flora Enchinton, 56, whom he called a "beloved partner," as sole beneficiary of his estate, which is estimated in court documents to be more than $50,000.
The will is being contested by Richard Thornton, of Philadelphia, who claims to be Hemsley's brother and says the will might not have been made by the actor.
Enchinton told The Associated Press on Wednesday that she had been friends with Hemsley and had been his manager for more than 20 years. Over the time she, Hemsley and Hemsley's friend Kenny Johnston, 76, lived together, she said he never mentioned any relatives.
"Some people come out of the woodwork — they think Sherman, they think money," Enchinton said. "But the fact it that I did not know Sherman when he was in the limelight. I met them when they (Hemsley and Johnston) came running from Los Angeles with not one penny, when there was nothing but struggle."
Mark Davis, listed in court documents as Thornton's lawyer in El Paso, did not immediately respond to messages left at his office.
There is no date set for the case to be heard, court officials said. Enchinton said she hopes it will all be cleared in court.
The Philadelphia-born Hemsley played Jefferson in the CBS sitcom "All in the Family," then starred in the spinoff "The Jeffersons" from 1975 to 1985. It was one of TV's longest-running and most successful sitcoms, particularly noteworthy for its predominantly black cast.
Hemsley made George Jefferson — the bigoted, blustering Harlem businessman — one of TV's most memorable characters and a symbol for urban upward mobility.
In the will Hemsley signed six weeks before dying of lung cancer July 24 he named Flora Enchinton, 56, whom he called a "beloved partner," as sole beneficiary of his estate, which is estimated in court documents to be more than $50,000.
The will is being contested by Richard Thornton, of Philadelphia, who claims to be Hemsley's brother and says the will might not have been made by the actor.
Enchinton told The Associated Press on Wednesday that she had been friends with Hemsley and had been his manager for more than 20 years. Over the time she, Hemsley and Hemsley's friend Kenny Johnston, 76, lived together, she said he never mentioned any relatives.
"Some people come out of the woodwork — they think Sherman, they think money," Enchinton said. "But the fact it that I did not know Sherman when he was in the limelight. I met them when they (Hemsley and Johnston) came running from Los Angeles with not one penny, when there was nothing but struggle."
Mark Davis, listed in court documents as Thornton's lawyer in El Paso, did not immediately respond to messages left at his office.
There is no date set for the case to be heard, court officials said. Enchinton said she hopes it will all be cleared in court.
The Philadelphia-born Hemsley played Jefferson in the CBS sitcom "All in the Family," then starred in the spinoff "The Jeffersons" from 1975 to 1985. It was one of TV's longest-running and most successful sitcoms, particularly noteworthy for its predominantly black cast.
Hemsley made George Jefferson — the bigoted, blustering Harlem businessman — one of TV's most memorable characters and a symbol for urban upward mobility.
Wonder if the 50k figure should have read 500k? He did other shows, commercials and whatnot. It wouldn't be the first time KOMO made a typographical error is all I'm sayin'.
@skepticaloptimist An estate only consists of assets that do not have beneficiaries listed or has nobody elses name on them as a co owner. It could be that his home was jointly owned and all of his other assets had POD's or beneficiaries listed.
50K? Sound's like Mr Jefferson partyed till the end!!
I thought 'Weezy gets the money?
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Weezie
50k? Pretty sad legacy to fight over. Won't even cover any attorney fees.
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Here, we have an education vacuum issue. 50k? It is already gone.
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He acted as the clown and in real life, looks like he was a clown. All gone.
@pbs7mm All of his other assets may have listed beneficiaries. If so, those assets are not part of the estate. He could have been worth millions and only 50K had no POD or beneficiary. Here in Florida, the attorney's fee for a 50K estate would be $2,250.00. Fees for probate usually depend on the value of the estate.
@pbs7mm Remember, TV actors didnt get oodles of money in the 70s or 80s. They didnt start getting insanely paid until Seinfeld. Especially not black actors.
 @pbs7mm Read it again. It says "more than $50,000".
So this woman says she was his manager for more than 20 years but also states she didn't know him in his better days as an actor. His estate is worth more than $50,000? She was a crappy manager then. I'd like to hear what his lawyer has to say about the will.
Well, I guess he won't be "moving on up" just yet....
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RIP Sherman.
Not sure I understand why they can't bury him? You can still dispute the will after he's in the ground for petes sake. Unless they have reason to believe there is some foul play involved and that they may have to do an autopsy this doesn't make sense.
 @Petwlkr That's what I was thinking, too. Unless they think he's gonna sit up and tell somebody what he meant? Now that would be a reality show! Bury the poor man already!
 @Petwlkr DNA evidence?? That could be dealt with now, then bury him...
Nothing like claiming family ties after he died. Let the man rest for crying out loud. If his last binding words were to leave a 'partner' his worldly possessions, Let it be.
 @WARevolution That's rather the point, to be sure those actually are HIS words.