Warren County Sheriff gives unclaimed remains a final resting place

When Sheriff Mark Butler took office in 2020, he inherited more than just law and order responsibilities. He took on the somber task of ensuring proper burials and final resting places for all the unclaimed bodies of Warren County that were left in the county’s care.

Three years into his tenure, Sheriff Butler’s initiative has made significant strides. As of May 2023, the sheriff’s office reports a total of 19 unclaimed cremains of Warren County residents. In one heartening case, the remains of an individual were reunited with a long-lost loved one. Two others, both former servicemen, were entitled to a military funeral service and interment. They were honorably laid to rest on May 12, 2023, at Culpeper National Cemetery, receiving the respect and gratitude they deserved for their service to the nation.

Despite these successes, the task is not yet complete. Sixteen cremains remain unclaimed and unburied. To this end, Sheriff Butler and his office will be conducting a public funeral service on May 26, 2023, at 1:00 pm at Prospect Hill Cemetery.

• Phillip Edward Norris DOB: 06/15/1958 DOD: 12/30/2011
• Ernest William Harried DOB: 11/19/1942 DOD: 02/09/2018
• Brenda Louise Tussing DOB: 01/23/1949 DOD: 07/29/2017
• Thomas Eugene Lowe DOB: 06/15/1958 DOD: 05/14/2018
• Robert Lee Carroll DOB: 01/15/1952 DOD: 09/25/2019
• Margaret Lois Strickler DOB: 04/05/1934 DOD: 02/29/2020
• Joanne Luzzette Selby DOB: 05/28/1952 DOD: 09/12/2021
• Samuel Craig Sherrill DOB: 05/01/1955 DOD: 09/09/2021
• Carlos Ruben Capo DOB: 08/17/1953 DOD: 10/23/2020
• Richard Franklin Gray DOB: 10/02/1956 DOD: 02/02/2016
• James Davis Hedrick DOB: 12/12/1050 DOD: 01/29/2017 1
• Vincent Ray Shepard DOB: 10/02/1964 DOD: 10/24/2020
• Julius Douglas Bryant DOB: 03/10/1951 DOD: 01/06/2021
• James Samuel Graham DOB: 10/07/1939 DOD: 05/07/2022
• Mack David Rollison DOB: 10/06/1973 DOD: 04/05/2022
• Joseph Michael Bernot DOB: 05/08/1952 DOD: 02/11/2022