When No Family Came Forward, Woman Buried in ‘Potter’s Field’

Fayette County officials buried a woman from Carmine in the County potter’s field last Friday, August 20.

The woman was 76-yearold Harriett Hemmil of Carmine. She died July 19 at Baylor Scott and White Medical Center in College Station. She lived in a rent house. The hospital attempted to locate Hemmil’s next-of-kin, but they couldn’t find anyone to claim the body.

At that point, the County ended up with Hemmil’s re mains. Fayette Memorial Funeral Home in La Grange cared for the body while the County Judge’s Office continued searching for relatives. They still haven’t found anyone.

Pct. 2 Commissioner Luke Sternadel oversaw the burial. His precinct includes the pauper’s cemetery, which is located at the corner of Mode Lane and Reynolds Street in La Grange.

“It’s kind of unusual that this is our second pauper burial this year,” Sternadel said.

Such burials don’t happen too often. Sternadel, who was elected in 2018, couldn’t recall any before this year. Only a few gravestones mark burial sites in the cemetery. The most recent one was from 2006. The oldest date to the early 1900s. Sternadel said he knows the cemetery contains many other unmarked graves. That created a challenge when Sternadel had to select a site for the grave.

“We don’t want to dig up someone,” he said.

Sternadel employed a pair of dowsing rods to “witch” a spot for the grave. He admitted that many observers doubt the effectiveness of his rods. But he pointed to the empty hole as proof.

“We didn’t dig up any bones,” he said.

Fayette Memorial Funeral Home arrived with Hemmil’s body in a cardboard casket. Sternadel, his assistant Brett Harper, and staff from Fayette Memorial lowered the casket into the ground.

No one was there to offer a eulogy or prayer.

So ended the earthly journey of Harriett Hemmil.

May she rest in peace.