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Harrisburg funeral home director under fire

BY JOHN D. HOMAN, The Southern

Sunday, August 17, 2008 11:23 PM CDT

HARRISBURG - A complaint was filed late last April in Saline County Circuit Court by a Carbondale law firm on behalf of Gregory R. Meredith, majority owner of Gaskins-Jones Funeral Home, Ltd. in Harrisburg, against minority owner John B. Jones.

Meredith alleges that Jones, who is also corporation president, failed to properly fund at least four prepaid funeral arrangements; failed to pay real estate taxes for 2005 and 2006; is responsible for the fact there are insufficient funds to meet current funding needs of the corporation and that substantial accounts receivable remain uncollected.

The complaint states that a vast majority of corporation shareholders favor the removal of Jones from all financial management of the corporation.

Meredith alleges that he will suffer irreparable injury unless an injunction is issued by the court prohibiting Jones from having any financial management of the corporation and also be removed from his position as funeral home director.

Mount Vernon attorney Hank Villani is now representing Meredith, while Harrisburg lawyer Robert Wilson is representing Jones.

Villani said the case is to be heard by Williamson County chief judge Ron Eckiss. No hearing date has yet been set.

When contacted at his office last week, Jones said he would withhold comment until after the case is resolved. Jones is also seeking public office as the Saline County coroner.

john.homan@thesouthern.com

351-5805