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Catoosa streamlines process for indigent burials

The Catoosa County Board of Commissioners listen to Dennis Thayer, the former emergency management and 911 director for Catoosa County, Tuesday, April 16, 2019, during his grievance hearing at the Catoosa County administrative office in Ringgold, Georgia. Thayer said the reasoning behind his firing was taken out of context.
The Catoosa County Board of Commissioners listen to Dennis Thayer, the former emergency management and 911 director for Catoosa County, Tuesday, April 16, 2019, during his grievance hearing at the Catoosa County administrative office in Ringgold, Georgia. Thayer said the reasoning behind his firing was taken out of context. The Catoosa County Board of Commissioners listen to Dennis Thayer, the former emergency management and 911 director for Catoosa County, Tuesday, April 16, 2019, during his grievance hearing at the Catoosa County administrative office in Ringgold, Georgia. Thayer said the reasoning behind his firing was taken out of context.

By Sabrina Bodon 2 min read

In 2018, seven people died in Catoosa County with no way to pay for a funeral. In 2019, there were six.

In all 13 cases, the county was able to provide the means for a burial or cremation.

Georgia state law requires that counties provide sufficient financial assistance for a “decent burial or cremation” for asset-less people who die within the county. Action by the Catoosa County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 28 now streamlines the process.

Before the board unanimously approved a resolution adopting policies and procedures for indigent funeral assistance, there were no applications or forms that outlined the process.

Part of the assistance includes proper transportation of the deceased to the funeral home or crematorium and to a grave site or delivery of cremains to next of kin.