Thu, 19 April 2007 12:00:00 ET
As much as $70,000 is waiting to be paid after James Brown expensive funeral was conducted last month.
James Brown's funeral director is still waiting for more than $70,000 in unpaid payments. The legendary singer was given an elaborate send-off after following his death on Christmas day - but almost half of the hefty $150,000 bill is yet to be settled by the trust handling Brown's estate. Augusta C.A. Reid Funeral Home manager Charles Reid told USA Today newspaper: "I'm just waiting on them to get some of this mess straightened out. I really haven't pushed the issue, even though I'd like to have my money."
Trustee Buddy Dallas said a cheque to cover the remaining bills had been sent on Wednesday (18.04.07). He said: "It was the children that ran up a funeral bill of over $150,000, not the trustees. We've done our very best to do what we could to accommodate the creditors. There's no great big pile of money or surplus of money just lying around." The 'Sex Machine Today' singer - who passed away aged 73 from complications resulting from pneumonia - was commemorated in three ceremonies spread over three days, which included costume changes for the star.
Public services involved the star's body being driven through New York streets in a horse-drawn carriage. Brown was then taken back to his Georgia hometown for a service at the Augusta James Brown Arena where his body lay in an open golden casket. An attorney for Brown's six children, Louis Levenson, claims it was the trust's responsibility to pay the funeral costs, adding that the bill was a "reasonable" amount.
The singer's children have asked the court to order the trustees to provide accounting records of their father's estate. It has been claimed the trustees have been going against court orders by trying to sell some of Brown's assets. Buddy - Brown's long-time advisor - said the allegations were "bogus and baseless". A court hearing has been scheduled for later this month.
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