The Guilford County Department of Social Services (DSS) and Register of Deeds Office will partner to honor the county's unclaimed deceased during a memorial service on Wednesday, Nov. 18, from 11 a.m. to noon at First Baptist Church, 1000 W. Friendly Ave., Greensboro. The memorial will include 70 seconds of silent reflection in remembrance of the 70 unclaimed individuals who died during fiscal year 2025-26.
The inaugural interfaith memorial service will honor county residents whose remains were unclaimed after their deaths. Planned as a solemn, welcoming, non-denominational gathering, the service will bring together clergy, first responders, public officials, community leaders, and residents.
The event is expected to include prayers and reflections from various faith traditions, live music, a moment of silence, an honor guard presented by the Guilford County Sheriff's Office, remembrance of those who have died, and recognition of the first responders and public servants who regularly encounter death and loss in the course of their work.
"At the heart of this service is a simple belief: every life has inherent dignity, and every person deserves to be remembered," said Sharon Barlow, DSS Director. "For some of our neighbors, there was no family member available to claim their remains, or no one able to provide a traditional farewell."
"This memorial provides an opportunity for our community to do something beyond the legal requirements: to come together and say, in effect, 'You were one of us. Your life mattered, and you will not be forgotten,'" said Jeff Thigpen, Register of Deeds. "We also hope first responders and public servants who worked with these individuals in their final moments can find a sense of closure through this memorial."
For more information about the Honoring the Unclaimed Deceased Memorial Service, contact Vanessa Brush via email at vbrush@guilfordcountync.gov or phone at (336) 641-4967, or Register of Deeds Jeff Thigpen via email at jthigpe@guilfordcountync.gov or phone at (336) 451-5300.