One Inch Obit

Jarod, a young African American from Birmingham, Alabama, passed away earlier this week. He was thirty four years old. I didn’t know Jarod personally and, after reading his obituary, I can’t say that I know much more about him other than his name, age, race, place of birth and the funeral home handling his burial. I don’t even know the cause of his death. I only know he died. His obituary was painfully sparse.  Apparently, no one preceded him in death.  He left no survivors. No parents. No brothers and sisters. No aunts, uncles, nephews or nieces. For all practical purposes, he came into this world as he left it: alone. 

Like so many obituaries, he is nothing more than a passing thought. I’m not sure how much obits costs. I assume the cost is word based. Thus, for those with little, little is included in their final announcements

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There were other meager one paragraph obituaries in today’s newspaper.  Like Jarod’s, a reader learns very little about the deceased other than their names and dates of death. It’s sad that so many people leave this world as naked as they entered. They are simply corpses to be handled and buried as quickly and as efficiently as possible. In Jarod’s case, his is a young corpse, much too young to die. But life doesn’t come with guarantees or warranties. There is no limit on the span of life. Some leave moments after they arrive. Others are blessed with decades upon decades.

The contrast between obituaries of many who lived full lives compared to the Jarod’s of the world is stark. The former include much relevant information such as the names of parents, siblings and survivors, branch of military service, the company worked for, etc.  In some cases, a lot of irrelevant information is cited. Who cares if Abel was the most avid Alabama fan? How can anyone arrive at such inane superlatives?  Who is to say there isn’t a more avid Alabama fan somehere in this state or in this nation? I’m sure the many cemeteries throughout the state have buried the most avid of Tide fans.  

Despite the lack of information I have to believe someone, somewhere is mourning Jarod’s death. Someone, a family member or friend, loved him or at least knew him. It’s a shame that that information could not have been included if for no other reason than to appease those like me who wonder about such things.

I’ve never given much thought before to those whose lives and deaths are captured in a one inch obit. Surely they were important to someone.  I don’t know much about Jarod. But, I believe he deserved more than one inch of space. Everyone does.

© July 2015

William Charles