Sherman Hemsley died two months ago and his remains are still sitting in a freezer in a morgue in El Paso, TX. There’s a current dispute between the person he left his estate to and a man claiming to be Sherman’s brother, who has been ordered to take a DNA test to prove his claim. Sherman left his estate to a woman named Flora Isela Enchinton, who Sherman said was his business partner and person he lived with for 20 years. Now there is a battle between his brother, his business partner, and a third man who stepped forward claiming he was a family member who knows Sherman has a plot near his mother’s resting place that is keeping Hemsley from meeting his final resting place. Read more below.

Julie A.

Two months after Sherman Hemsley’s death, his body remains frozen at an East El Paso funeral home as a legal battle continues between friends and family members over the late actor’s remains and estate.

Two parties trying to claim Hemsley’s body came to court Monday contesting his last will, further delaying any type of burial for the actor.

A Philadelphia man claiming to be Hemsley’s brother, Richard Thornton, filed a lawsuit contesting the will.

Hemsley’s will left his entire estate to the woman he lived with, his business partner and friend of 20 years, Flora Isela Enchinton. Enchinton said she just wants to carry out Hemsley’s final wishes.

“I just want what Sherman would want and I know exactly what that is, that’s why he’s stayed in this town for so long,” said Enchinton.

Enchinton said she knows the TV Icon, probably best known as the wise-cracking George Jefferson, on the comedy “The Jeffersons,” wouldn’t be happy over the legal drama surrounding his remains and estate.

“How would he feel? Believe me, he would have been screaming right now, he would be putting everybody in their place,” said Enchinton.

Hemlsey died of lung cancer at his East El Paso home in July. But his body remains frozen at an El Paso funeral home, until, the people claiming to be his relatives contest his will in court.

“Its certainly unfortunate that the final resting place, and the dignity that is associated with it is going to be set aside for however long,” said Enchinton’s attorney Alex Neill.

In his June 13 will, six weeks before he died, Hemsley named Enchinton, whom he called a “beloved partner” as the sole beneficiary of his estate. Court documents show the estate is estimated at more than $50,000.

“The will is clear and valid and prepared by a well-respected attorney here in town. It is our position that the will is valid and there hasn’t been any evidence to date that makes me change that opinion,” said Neill.

The bench trial was postponed after Thornton’s lawyer asked for a genetics test to see if Hemsley’s DNA matches Thornton’s.

The judge agreed but added the testing needs to be done by Oct. 15. Enchinton’s lawyer said despite the results of the DNA test, Hemsley’s will is legally binding and Bernal is the sole beneficiary.

Another hearing to determine who will take possession of the remains has been scheduled for Oct. 30.

A third man claiming to be an estranged family member has come forward saying neither Enchinton nor Thorton should claim the remains, alleging there is a burial plot for Hemsley in Philadelphia next to his mother.

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