Today's News - May 9, 2009

Sheri Coleman’s Family Receives Court Order

Additional Visitation To Be Held Near Chicago

Sheri Coleman and her sons Garett and Gavin, the three Columbia residents who were found dead in their Columbia home on Tuesday, were not buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Chester today as originally planned. At the Monroe County Courthouse on Friday, Circuit Judge Brian Babka agreed to a request from attorneys representing Sheri’s family for a temporary restraining order. According to court documents, the order allowed Sheri’s family to temporarily take possession of the bodies so a visitation could be held closer to family members living near the Chicago suburb of La Grange Park, where Sheri’s mother, Angela DeCiceo, lives.

The attorneys from both parties discussed their clients’ wishes and soon agreed to allow the legal means for a second visitation. Sheri’s family was represented by Jack Carrie of Belleville and an attorney from a law firm in northern Illinois, while Attorney Art Margolis of St. Louis, Mo., represented Chris Coleman.

Earlier Saturday morning, a private funeral was held at Grace Church Ministries of Chester, but instead of being buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Chester, the three caskets were picked up by a hearse from a Chicago area funeral home. A second visitation will now be held the first part of next week in La Grange Park. The bodies will then be transported back the follow day to Chester for burial.

Several Columbia residents traveled to Chester Friday afternoon to attend the Coleman’s visitation. Those making the trip included fellow Parkview Elementary students of Gavin and Garett along with teammates on the boys’ baseball and Bluejays football teams.

The City of Columbia has organized a Community Candlelight Vigil in honor of the Coleman family on Sunday, May 10. It will begin at 8 p.m., at Bolm-Schuhkraft Memorial City Park (Columbia City Park near Parkview Elementary). Those attending are asked to bring candles to the event and gather near the tennis courts.