Coleman's Funeral Cancelled; Battle Between Wife And Parents May End In Court
June 4 2010, Published 2:10 p.m. ET
Diff’rent Strokes Gary Coleman’s funeral has been delayed, and his agent says “there might be a hearing,” because of the feud between his parents and ex-wife Shannon Price.
Price had made plans to bid farewell to the 80s star in Salt Lake City this weekend.
AUDIO: Hear Gary Coleman's 911 Tape
But Coleman’s estranged parents, Willie and Sue Coleman, as RadarOnline.com first reported, have filed for Formal Probate -- and want to bury Coleman's body in Illinois.
The funeral director organizing the ceremony in Utah has confirmed that the service -- originally slated for Saturday -- was no longer taking place.
Blake Yates, from Memorial Estates in Utah, would give no more information about the cancellation -- but Coleman's agent confirmed that it was due to a family feud.
“The family Coleman's parents has different plans than what is in Gary's will,” Shielia Erickson said. “I’m telling you what I think the parents would like to do,” Erickson told RadarOnline.com.
“I had an African American magazine call me and kind of explain to me about African Americans and what they said is that… they believe strongly that the body should be buried in the hometown and they call that Zion. Wherever Zion is that’s the hometown. That’s where they think the body should be buried according to belief and customs. But that’s not what Gary desires,” she said.
Coleman died at 42-years-old on May 28, following a brain hemorrhage caused by a fall at his home.
Price yanked Coleman off his life support machine, despite no longer being his wife.
"I don't want people to sit there and think I'm a bitch, and that I didn't care about him," Price said on Thursday.
Erickson said that there was genuine love between Gary and Shannon and “Shannon is willing to spend her very last dime to make sure Gary’s wishes are fulfilled.”
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