Charlotte minister: Why pets belong on obituary pages alongside humans

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Pet obits: Not up to us to decide if they’re profane

The writer works as a hospital chaplain and is ordained in the United Church of Christ.

Regarding “Funeral Director: Publishing a pet obituary alongside humans is profane” (Jan. 14 Opinion):

Charlotte funeral director Ken Poe appears to have a real calling to serve and support families as they grieve the passing of a human loved one. I honor and respect that calling and his work.

At the same time, I think he’s misguided in several points in his op-ed piece objecting to the inclusion of a dog obituary among the ones for humans on Jan. 5 in the Observer.

Creation is a result of God’s activity of love; God’s love penetrates all of creation; and animals are part of God’s creation. So, honoring/remembering a beloved animal companion — part of God’s beloved creation — is sacred, just as honoring/remembering a beloved human is sacred.

Honoring all of God’s creation is not profane. On the contrary, the Bible is filled with references to the sacredness of all creation. Paul wrote in Romans 1:20: “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see God’s invisible qualities — God’s eternal power and divine nature.”

Poe acknowledges that animal companions are part of the family, yet he clearly does not believe that the grief families feel over the loss of their animal companion is worthy of being expressed in the “real obituaries,” as he says. As such, he is dismissing the grief people feel over the passing of their beloved animal companions as something lesser than, something not on the same level as the grief for the passing of a human.

Who is Poe to judge how profoundly any person grieves the loss of an animal companion or a human companion?

What Poe writes about the obituary is accurate — a place to celebrate a life, express why that life mattered and seek solace and comfort as families grieve the passing of that life. I would submit that definition fits equally in honoring the lives of animal companions and human companions.

Finally, there are a lot more important things to focus on in this world than the proximity of obituaries. Let God worry about what’s profane to God, and let us humans allow one another to grieve their loved ones (animal or human) in the ways that seem fitting to them.

Rev. Gregg Walker, Charlotte

Honoring Coach George Williams at St. Augustine

The writer is St. Augustine University’s vice president of Institutional Advancement, Marketing, and Communications.

Regarding “Dean and Roy have NC highways. This coaching legend deserves one, too.” (Dec. 16 Opinion):

The University regrets that op-ed columnist Barry Saunders believes former St. Augustine University Track and Field Coach George Williams was treated poorly.

The facts reflect that in the spring of 2020, the University decided a change in leadership was needed for its athletics programs and desired to select a new athletic director. Such changes in the athletic director position routinely occur at all types of universities and colleges, big and small.

The University offered Coach Williams the opportunity to serve as the athletic director emeritus while continuing to serve as the head track and field coach for the University. Coach Williams rejected the University’s offer. He was subsequently terminated.

President Christine Johnson McPhail discussed with Coach Williams different options for him to consider for maintaining a relationship with the University, such as serving as athletic director and track and field coach emeritus or special assistant to the president for sports fundraising.

President McPhail further discussed having a retirement gala for Coach Williams, honoring Coach Williams at graduation, and establishing a hall of fame to display Coach Williams’ many track and field achievements. Coach Williams declined all of these offers and opportunities.

There is no doubt that Coach Williams’ name is synonymous with track and field excellence. The University’s athletic stadium and a street on campus even bear his name.

Carolyn Carter, Raleigh