Conway, South Carolina — A woman is suing a South Carolina funeral home after allegedly discovering that a stranger’s body had been placed in her mother’s casket and dressed in her mother’s clothing during an open-casket viewing.
Iris Gordon filed a complaint in Horry County on Tuesday, Oct. 6, accusing Ocean View Funeral Home in Conway, near Myrtle Beach, of breach of contract, negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The lawsuit concerns an incident at the January funeral of her mother, Iris Walker-Evans, who died at age 87.
According to the complaint, Gordon is seeking a refund of the $13,820.55 she says she paid for the funeral, along with damages and attorney fees.
Daughter Alleges Wrong Body Was Placed in Mother’s Casket
Gordon’s lawsuit alleges that she arrived at the funeral home’s Conway chapel on Jan. 30 with approximately 20 other family members for a viewing scheduled for 3 p.m.
Instead of seeing her mother, the family allegedly discovered an unfamiliar person’s body inside Walker-Evans’ casket.
The complaint further alleges that the body was wearing the clothing and accessories Gordon had provided specifically for her mother’s final viewing.
The discovery reportedly left Gordon devastated. According to the filing, she began crying after seeing the stranger in the casket, describing the experience as humiliating and embarrassing.
The lawsuit claims that the incident caused significant emotional distress because the viewing was intended to give relatives an opportunity to say goodbye to Walker-Evans and preserve a final memory of her.
Family Had Provided a Special Outfit for the Viewing
According to the complaint, Gordon worked with one of Ocean View Funeral Home’s owners to arrange her mother’s funeral following her death on Jan. 14.
The family planned to hold the viewing at the funeral home’s Conway chapel before honoring Walker-Evans at True Worship United Pentecostal Church and burying her at Westside Memorial Gardens.
Gordon alleges that she paid a total of $13,820.55 for the funeral arrangements. Those expenses reportedly covered the casket, preparation of her mother’s body, funeral services and memorial prayer cards.
She also supplied a special outfit for the viewing, including black and gold African attire, a scarf, a hat and a wig.
The complaint explains that the clothing reflected Walker-Evans’ favorite dress, colors and themes. Gordon intended for her mother to appear in an outfit that reminded relatives of her Sunday best and her time singing in the church choir.
The filing states that the family wanted to create a lasting image of Walker-Evans dressed in a way that reflected her personality and the memories they shared with her.
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Viewing Was Delayed After the Alleged Mix-Up
Following the discovery, the viewing was reportedly postponed for two hours while the funeral home addressed the mistake.
According to the lawsuit, the service was rescheduled, and by 5 p.m., Walker-Evans’ body had been placed in her casket and dressed in her own clothing. However, the complaint argues that the initial incident had already disrupted an important moment for the family.
The lawsuit states that the purpose of an open-casket viewing was to allow relatives to have one final, lasting image of Walker-Evans, presented in her best, to cherish in their memories.
Gordon alleges that the funeral home failed to fulfill that purpose by presenting the wrong body and using the personal items she had supplied for her mother.
What Is the Funeral Home Lawsuit Seeking?
Gordon has accused Ocean View Funeral Home of breach of contract, negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress. She is seeking the return of the funeral expenses she says she paid, as well as additional damages and attorney fees.
The complaint was obtained by a local news outlet.
The allegations remain claims made in a civil lawsuit. The filing alone does not establish that the funeral home is legally responsible, and the outcome will depend on the legal proceedings and evidence presented.
The case centers on the family’s allegation that a mistake involving the identity of the deceased and the use of Walker-Evans’ clothing turned a carefully planned final farewell into a deeply distressing experience.
What do you think families should be able to expect from a funeral home when arranging a loved one’s final viewing? Share your thoughts in the comments.
