COLUMBIA, S.C. - The body of soul singer James Brown has yet to be buried as attorneys and his children work to settle issues surrounding his estate, including where he will be laid to rest.

For now, his body lies in a sealed casket in his home on Beech Island, said Charles Reid, manager of the C.A. Reid Funeral Home in Augusta, Ga., which handled the services.

Brown died of heart failure Dec. 25 at age 73. His will has yet to be filed, said Buddy Dallas, an attorney for the singer.

The room where Brown's body lies is being kept at a controlled temperature, and security guards keep watch, Reid said.

The funeral home delivered Brown's body after services Dec. 30, Reid said.

Brown's home has been locked since hours after his death to protect his memorabilia, furnishing, clothes and other personal items, Dallas said.

"Just imagine what would have happened," Dallas said. "Items of James Brown would have left there like items off the shelves of Macy's in an after-Christmas sale."

The trustees for his will, along with Brown's children, will determine the burial site, Dallas said.

Tomi Rae Hynie, Brown's partner, said shortly after his death that she encountered locked gates as she tried to get into the home she says she shared with the singer and their 5-year-old son.

She wouldn't discuss the incident Tuesday, but her lawyer said Hynie should be granted access to the home, although he would not talk about whether Hynie might take legal action.

"The hope is that all parties can sit down and figure out what the problem is and what the challenges are," attorney Thornton Morris said. "And once we figure out what the challenges are we'll see if we can't resolve something that's a win for everybody."

Meanwhile, a woman who claims Brown raped her nearly 20 years ago said Tuesday she will continue her lawsuit.

Jacque Hollander has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear her sexual harassment suit, which a lower court ruled last year she had waited too long to file. A Supreme Court decision on whether to hear the case is pending.

She argues that the two-year statute of limitations in such cases does not provide equal protection to women.

"This has been a long road that ended tragically Christmas morning," Hollander said in a phone interview with the Associated Press.

"As a rape victim, I will never get to face him in court, and it hurts," she said. "But we are moving forward. We filed against his organization, as well as him. So now his organization stands in front of him."

In her lawsuit, Hollander said Brown raped her at gunpoint in 1988 while she was his publicist. She seeks $106 million in damages.

A federal appeals court tossed out Hollander's lawsuit in August.

"There was nothing to it 20 years ago and nothing to it 20 years later," Dallas said.

desertrose011 said:

Just $106 million?

novabrkr said:

How does one decide on an amount?

I'm surprised there isn't a will and testament outlining where he wants to be buried, who gets what, etc. I mean, it's not like he was still middle-aged and didn't need a will.


And I'm sorry but the new wife's marriage may be void if he failed to divorce his previous wife, because he lied on the marriage license. Can't that be cleared up by a judge in about 10 minutes?

They do it by not asking for $106 million. Anyone who is asking for $106 million is not a victim in my books, whether they really were abused or not. Shamelessly cashing in on an act of violence to that degree is even worse than commiting one. If they really were suffering, they're only making mockery of their own suffering.

novabrkr said:

true. and to carry on with the lawsuit when the brotha can't defend himself in court? nothing but pure greed, imo.

Rape is a hideous crime but it's not $106 million hideous. And I'm even that sure whether Brown wouldn't have done something like that, he just as well might have had despite his musical legend status.

The alleged rape occured in 1988? Good luck. The statute of limitations has likely long passed. Dismissed!

everything was alleged in Brown's life....all the spousal abuse, etc.

must be nice to be so famous....he and Michael walk free but are guilty

pkidwell said:

I thought his body was in the ground already....?! Is his family trying to do a Graceland thing or something, and entomb his body at his house?

novabrkr said:

No amount of money is gonna ease the mental distress of a rape.

stinka said:

At least Graceland is in a decent city.....who wants to come to Beech Island and get lost in the boondocks tryin' to look at James's house :lol.:

AnckSuNamun said:

In that case don't ask for money to ease the mental distress.

this is sad and ridiculous

Not to be all gross or disrespectful, but how can you leave a body in a house to rot, while you squabble in court? What did they do, stick him in the freezer or something?

Tom said:

Basically the body is in a temperature controlled room in the house.

Never underestimate anything or anyone when $$$ is involved.

SoulAlive said:

Agreed