September 23, 2020

A local family plans to file a complaint with the state funeral director’s board and a lawsuit against Jarrett Funeral Home after claiming Jarrett dishonestly picked up their loved one’s body and refused to release it without payment of $725. Police were called to Jarrett Funeral Home Saturday morning, as tensions were high...

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A local family plans to file a complaint with the state funeral director’s board and a lawsuit against Jarrett Funeral Home after claiming Jarrett dishonestly picked up their loved one’s body and refused to release it without payment of $725.

Police were called to Jarrett Funeral Home Saturday morning, as tensions were high.

Jessie Wright-Mitchell said the family was clear that it wanted to use Wolfe Brothers Funeral Home, noting it had already made arrangements and paid for the services of her grandmother Helen Mitchell, who passed away at Jessie’s home on Clark Street Friday evening.

“Can you imagine how hurtful this is to know that you can’t get your mother’s body, that somebody is holding her body hostage for money,” Jessie said, adding Jarrett knew the family’s wishes but picked up her grandmother’s body anyway.

Issachar Jarrett, owner of Jarrett Funeral Home, said he did not mislead the family or hold the body hostage as he has been accused.

Jarrett said when he was called at 9 p.m. on Friday night to pick up the deceased, he answered the telephone by saying Jarrett’s Funeral Home and when he had the family member sign the body release form, the letterhead was Jarrett Funeral Home.

Jarrett said he has contacted the state board himself and there is an investigation. He said it was unprofessional for Wolfe to bring the family to the funeral home and get them upset.

Jessie Mitchell said Jarrett employees knew the family wanted to use Wolfe Brothers, but they picked up her grandmother’s body anyway.

She said other families have reported similar issues.

“He was very irate about it,” Jessie Mitchell said. “He wasn’t giving that body up until he got $725 and that’s what had to be paid to get her body.”

“Then he made the statement, it’s just business,” Pastor Percy Wright added.

Wolfe Brothers is owned by Gary Wolfe, while Gary’s son, Issacar Jarrett, owns Jarrett Funeral Home.

Wolfe and Jarrett used to be in business together but they split about three years ago, according to Wolfe.

Jarrett said he changed the name of his funeral home so there would not be any confusion. He added it is the funeral home’s responsiblity to pay for the body, adding he has never charged a family for it.

Gary Wolfe said Saturday’s incident was the second time in three weeks that Jarrett has held a body, noting that family is planning to file a complaint as well.

“It makes no sense,” Wolfe said. “This is a business of integrity, supposedly. If you ain’t got that, you don’t need to be in this business. I ain’t got nothing bad to say about nobody but this can’t happen no more.”

Wolfe said he has provided services for the Mitchell family several times previously and they always pre-arrange their funerals.

“All they had to do is say, we’re not Wolfe Brothers, we’re Jarrett,” Wolfe said. Jessie Mitchell said she asked for the Wolfe Brothers on Main Street.

Family members said Jarrett rushed to get the body out of the house, knocking over items in the process.

Jessie noted she told Jarrett that Helen’s daughter, Imogene Swift, should be the one to sign the authorization form, but Jarrett insisted she sign and folded over the paperwork to hide the name.

Swift said, “That’s my mother’s body that they took and misrepresented and caused all of this hurt.”

Ultimately, Jarrett released the body after payment was made.

“This is one funeral home impostering another,” Wolfe said.

Jarrett denied the accusation.

“A grandson called me on Saturday morning and said his mother had made a mistake and they wanted to use Wolfe Funeral Home,” Jarrett said. “I told them it was no problem and for them to have Wolfe Brothers call me to make the arrangements. I did not get the call that morning and I went to Jonesboro to pick up programs for a funeral.

“My father, who works at Wolfe Funeral Home, called me and said he was there for the body. I told him to give me time to get back from Jonesboro and I asked him about reimbursing me for the cost. According to the Arkansas State Board of Embalmers, if a family switches funeral homes, the funeral home will reimburse the first funeral home for the costs. The transaction is between the funeral homes, not the family.

“My dad said he was not going to pay me anything. I called the grandson and he asked me if I could let it go.

“My dad is vindictive,” Jarrett said. “He worked for me when I owned Wolfe Funeral Home before I changed the name to Jarrett Funeral Home. He stole money from me for several years.

“He played on the emotions of the family. When I got back to Blytheville, the family was at the funeral home, along with the police, accusing me of misleading them and holding the body hostage. I did not mislead them or try to represent myself as Wolfe Funeral Home at any time. As I said, my father is vindictive."

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