Help Bring Gregory Home to His Mother After 50 Years

Over 50 years ago, my grandmother lost her first son at the young age of 17. Just 3 months old, Gregory Elliot Harden died a sudden and unexplained death, documented as SIDS. For over 5 decades, every December 23rd (his birthday) and April 8th (his death date) my grandma cries over not only her son’s death, but also for the traumatic experience of having to attend her own child’s funeral while just a child herself. Had the funeral been proper closure for her, my grandma may have been more at peace with his passing, but still, she spends every Easter and Christmas highly upset at the events that took place after his death as well. During the funeral, the priest officiating the service told my grandmother that his death was all her fault and that she did not deserve a child. To add to her grief, little Gregory was also hastily buried in a pink coffin, much to the parents’ dismay, as they had wished he would be buried in blue but could not find one at the time. Due to her age, grief, and lack of resources, she could do nothing to make his burial better. After his death and the birth of another son, she started her life over and later moved to the Atlanta area where she lives still, hours away from her firstborn. Every year, she visits him, bringing him the gifts she always wishes he could have had. As she has gotten older, she wishes only to have him with her, and for Gregory to be at rest with the service him and the family always deserved. This has become even more important as Gregory’s father, Alvin, passed away in recent years, and never got to experience the proper burial of his son. While the past cannot be changed, me, my sister Kristin, and my father (Gregory’s little brother) Chris, want to give my grandma some closure and right the wrongs of the past by having Gregory’s remains cremated, and brought home to spend with his mother for the rest of her life. We have received a quote for these services, and have an idea of the urn his ashes will be placed in, but we greatly need financial assistance in order to do this. The funeral home services fees and the price of the urn are in a quote in the attached images. To cover the fees the platform takes from each donation, as well as possible additional fees, we are hoping for a total of $1600. Anything above that would go towards a service we will put together for family and friends. Please help us make this possible for my grandmother to finally have her son with her after over 50 years! Our goal is to do this for my grandmother’s birthday in May. Thank you so much!