Woman says fake obituary intended to keep creditors at bay
Updated 12:10 p.m., May 21, 2008
Fake obituary
This is the obituary that Melanie Grant submitted to the funeral home. It was published in The Post and Courier 5/15/2008 - 5/16/2008.
GRANT, Melissa Entered into eternal rest on Sunday, May 11, 2008, in the Republic of Iraq, Lt. Melissa Hope Grant, US Air Force, the beloved daughter of Mrs. Melody Grant and Mr. Michael "Candy" King,step-daughter of the late Mr. Marcus Grant; sister of Kelondria Pendergrath, Kelvin Pendergrath, Raheem Brown, Akhaeem Brown, and Becole "Cola" Scales; granddaughter of Mrs. Darnell Grant and Mr.Henry "Muffin" King; niece of Shirline Denise Wright, Quindella "Que" Simmons, Meka Butler, and Marvin "Butter" Myers; cousin of Xavier D. Stewart, Sr., Karin L. Bland and Mercedes A. Jones. Funeral notice later. Friends may call at 836-A White Oak Drive,Charleston, SC. Online memorial messages may be sent to the family at www.suburbanfuneralhome.com Arrangements by SUBURBAN FUNERAL HOME, INC. Visit our guestbook at www.charleston.net/deaths.
A North Charleston woman who claimed to be the mother of a female Air Force officer killed in Iraq conceded Tuesday the officer doesn't exist.
Melanie Grant, 39, said she thought she could buy time with creditors if she told them her daughter had died. A paid obituary published Thursday and Friday in The Post and Courier stated Lt. Melissa Hope Grant, 24, died May 11 in Iraq.
"I just made it up. Honestly, I don't know what I was thinking," a tearful Melanie Grant said.
A photograph accompanied the obituary. Grant said she tore the photo from the pages of a bridal magazine.
Full obituaries and funeral notices are arranged through the newspaper's classified ad department. The Grant obituary was sent in from Suburban Funeral Home. The newspaper bills the funeral home, in this case $242.77, and the funeral home passes the cost on to the family.
Skip Mikell, executive vice president and general manager of Suburban Funeral Home, said he never suspected anything unusual about the "death."
Two women who identified themselves as aunts of the "deceased" sat in the funeral home's family room May 14 and gave Mikell basic information, he said. Grant said Tuesday that neither woman is a relative, but one is a longtime friend.
Though Mikell never met Grant, he said she called him last week. She told him she had to travel to a military base to pick up paperwork, which she would deliver to him Friday. Mikell said he became suspicious when Grant never showed. On Monday, he contacted a U.S. Department of Defense casualty officer who said she'd check all branches of the military for a Lt. Melissa Hope Grant. Mikell was still waiting Tuesday afternoon for word from Defense.
Grant said she got scared after the obituary was published.
Readers began posting online messages in the guest book for Lt. Melissa Hope Grant the day the obituary appeared, although most said they didn't know the woman or the family. Like many, Robbie Bray, chaplain of the Tri-County Blue Star Mother's Chapter of Charleston, expressed sympathy for the family and gratefulness for the woman's service to her country.
Bray's sadness turned to shock Tuesday when told there was no Lt. Melissa Hope Grant.
"What? Oh my gosh, why? Oh my goodness gracious. Oh my gosh, that is awful. My heavens. What a misrepresentation," Bray said.
Grant said she decided to come clean when questioned Tuesday by a Post and Courier reporter. She said she lives on disability on a fixed income and is raising two grandchildren and one stepgrandchild.
The idea of creating a death "just came in my head," as a way to get creditors to give her some space, she said.
Grant's criminal history obtained through the State Law Enforcement Division showed 15 variations on her name and several old convictions on loitering for the purpose of prostitution. The majority of her arrests were in the 1980s and 1990s. There is a pending fraudulent check charge from February.
Grant acknowledged Tuesday that she'd been arrested before, but said she'd worked hard to clean up her life. She said she's embarrassed that she duped so many people.
"It just wasn't worth it," she said.
Mikell said he'll consider the experience a lesson learned, and the funeral home will not try to collect the cost of the obituaries from Grant, who is already "ducking" creditors, he said.
Reach Nita Birmingham at 937-5433 or nbirmingham@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
This article has 92 comment(s)
Posted by auger on May 21, 2008 at 1:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Melanie Grant is slime. Persons who falsely claim military service or military decorations which they didn't earn can be convicted under federal law. Hopefully, the prosecutor assigned to this case (if one is assigned) can use that law to include false claims of parental loss of a non-existent service member. Melanie, you have committed an act of disrespect for all who have made the supreme sacrifice for their country. I feel so sorry for your sick, sick mind.
Posted by auger on May 21, 2008 at 1:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Furthermore, if it is determined that no crime was committed, creditors, take everything she owns! Do it now and do it hard. No leniency, no more grace periods, take her out!
Posted by luvmydogs59 on May 21, 2008 at 2:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree auger! Take her down. With 15 variations of her name, she's very obviously a con artist. I hope there is something that she can be charged with for this fraud.
"Grant acknowledged Tuesday that she'd been arrested before, but said she'd worked hard to clean up her life. She said she's embarrassed that she duped so many people."
Seeing how far she went to dupe her creditors, you have to figure that she's been in this game for a long time. Who knows what else like this she's done, or how many times. Worked hard to clean up her life?? The only thing she worked hard at doing was coming up with her next scam. I hope she gets charged with something.
Some great example she is setting for her grandchildren.
Posted by Chief_SittingBull on May 21, 2008 at 2:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Karma is a mutha…. Ms. Grant: When the affects of your deeds come back around it is going to come with a punch. You are no lady, you are no patriot; you are a deranged criminal.
Posted by ForPnC on May 21, 2008 at 4:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well said Chief_SittingBull.
Posted by abitskeptical on May 21, 2008 at 6:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Someone needs to check on the welfare of the children she is "raising".
Posted by Lois_Lane on May 21, 2008 at 6:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This idea of Ms. Grant's is absolutely insane. She needs help. What kind of influence could this be to the children she's supposedly raising. Good Lord, help us all! I read that obit, looked hard at that photo, and wondered what had happened to that soldier. I also prayed for her soul.
Posted by SomeTruthPlease on May 21, 2008 at 6:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
While reading the obit, I wondered why the Officer in the photo, Melissa, had brothers and sisters named "Shaquan", "Lakeisha", "Trequan", and the like...couldn't figure out the common name, Melissa. We actually laughed a little about it at work, because it seemed so strange...why'd she pick a white girl?????
Posted by ChrisPia on May 21, 2008 at 7:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ms Grant,You are dispicable and Have dishonored Many Brave Men and Woman fighting for Your Freedoms.What a disgrace.
Posted by onevoice on May 21, 2008 at 7:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If this isn't fraud, then pigs can fly. If nothing else, she is totally ignorant, if she thought she could get away with this.
Posted by suec on May 21, 2008 at 7:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sometruthplease, I wondered the same thing when I read it but my fear of being labeled a racist kept me from speaking what seemed like common sense. I thought that the funeral home or PnC had goofed.
Posted by rbutterfly on May 21, 2008 at 7:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Personally, I don't feel this woman should be strung up and hung. Yes what she did was very wrong in her misrepresentation because it dishonored our family members who have died for their country.
People do desperate things sometimes when they can't find a way out and don't stop to think.
It's not our place to judge this woman, it's God's place and he will do that if she doesn't come to him and ask forgiveness in what she has done. So let him do in her life what needs to be done and show more compassion to another human being in need of help.
Walk in her shoes first before you judge so harshly.
God's blessings to all.
Robbie
Posted by grannyofsix on May 21, 2008 at 8:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
rbutterfly you are right about one thing walk in her shoes
i have seen times i would have wanted to tell creditors that when i was raising my 3 and their father wasnt working. i know how she feels BUT i felt like doing it never did. I just told them i dont have the money and come get the stuff slept on floors many a day.
Oh and good morning everyone
Posted by SCgal on May 21, 2008 at 8:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just when you thought you had heard just about everything~~what a disgrace!
Posted by Tammie on May 21, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
When I saw the names, I thought maybe the young lady may have been adopted or something. *shrug* Ms. Grant could have and should have used better judgment, all she had to do was try to make some type of payment arrangement with her creditors and they may have been able to work with her! Instead, she decides to do this dumb -ish.
Ms. Grant, may God have mercy on your soul because the readers of this paper DO NOT.
Posted by tygers1231 on May 21, 2008 at 8:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How dare you disgrace me and my fellow soldiers. there have been so many that have done what so many are afraid of. i tink that maybe we should pack her bags ans send her to Iraq so she can she herself what is really going on over there and how any of our men and women are dying or returning without limbs, etc......
Posted by summerville_guy on May 21, 2008 at 8:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Melanie Grant - Go get an education, go get a job, and pay your bills just like the rest of us.
Posted by jcncamscott on May 21, 2008 at 8:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Pure trash. Dreggs of society. I'm embarassed for her to reside in this State. If this ex-prostitute street trash, low-life welfare recipiant gets away with this, then what's next? She's already on 'disability'. For what? A non'existant injury? She seems to be hard at work at getting out of work! or paying her bills that we working class people end up (in one way or another) paying for. She's overdue for jail and the grandkids should be taken away.
Posted by SuzieQJones on May 21, 2008 at 9:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What was she thinking?????
Posted by RTC on May 21, 2008 at 9:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have heard of people doing all kinds of things to try to get creditors off of their tails, but this beats them all.
She didn't know what she was thinking? Oh, she knew exactly what she was doing.
She owes an apology to every single military family, especially those that HAVE lost ones in the war.
You tell horrendous lies like this, and it will come back on you everytime.
Posted by Iwonder on May 21, 2008 at 9:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i saw no arrest in the 80's only 90's and as recent as 2-2008.
Posted by soul2soul on May 21, 2008 at 9:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Okay this is funny and sad at the same time. When I first read the obituary I knew something was fishy then, I read it over and over because looking at the picture and names like Raheem, Akhaeem, and Quindella was strange because those name aren't commonly use in well the white community that's funny part. The sad part is this lady has totally disrespected all the men and women serving to protect this country with her foolery there is no excuse for what she did. She can asked to be forgiven by God (rbutterfly) but in this life she will be punish for what did, she set herself up for this one.
Posted by Larz13 on May 21, 2008 at 9:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
She probably has one of those bogus handicapped placards.
Posted by Marianne0558 on May 21, 2008 at 9:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What the hell is wrong with this "woman"?????
Her creditors should double her debt just for that.
And the Post and Courier should investigate obituaries to make sure they are actually deceased.
Irresponsible and extremely manipulative. What a piece of trash.
Posted by masmith53 on May 21, 2008 at 9:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If Melanie Grant is black, what was the funeral home thinking?? I saw the obit too, and I was saddened by her death, but at the same time, something about that picture didn't feel right to me. Now I know why. She said her reason was to buy herself some time with her creditors. I think she should be paying time!
Posted by Iwonder on May 21, 2008 at 9:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Not sure who made up all the names but Ms. Grant is a white female according to her arrest records. And she is only 39 yrs old which means she musta had kids very young to already have grandkids to raise.
Posted by BigSargeofSC on May 21, 2008 at 9:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So, I gather this must be the mother of Dumb and Dumber?
Posted by Yolie on May 21, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This story is such a violation on so many levels. I too saw this obituary it evoked sad emotions for the family. As a Charlestonian and Veteran myself, I normally read the obituaries daily. When I first read it I went to the Army Times website and searched for this soldier and couldn't find her information. I often check just to see if any of my former comrades has made the ultimate sacrifice. I thought perhaps her info wasn't updated yet. Now to find out that this was a sham is an abomination. They were 3 guest book pages filled out for this young lady on Charleston.net....
Lady, you will surely reap what you sow........It's a shame people will now have to second guess themselves when leaving memorial sentiments for soldiers who have lost their lives.
Readers you can check armytimes.com to see if a soldier has really made the ultimate sacrifice. Just go to the website and look for GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN....
Shame on you lady...
Posted by proudmomma on May 21, 2008 at 9:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I thought the same thing about the names, but being adopted myself, I disregarded it.
So what of Melissa Grant? She is alive? What does she think about this? I agree it was very disrespectful to those that are serving, and the families to those who have lost their loved ones.
Even stranger still, why are we all reading the obits?
Posted by Tammie on May 21, 2008 at 9:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Proudmomma..my stepdad always said "If you're looking for a job, the obits is the best place to start." Yeah, he had a sick sense of humor but so do I. Lol I read the obits everyday just out of habit, I saw that one of my old coworkers died. Her obit is in the paper today.
Posted by Chief_SittingBull on May 21, 2008 at 9:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wanted to see what you all were talking about with regard to the obit. I went to the obituary and saw a beautiful white woman [who we now know was cut from a bridal magazine], then I read the names of “her people”….I’m sorry about stereotying names, but the following alone should have raised some eyebrows:
GRANT, Melissa Entered into eternal rest on Sunday, May 11, 2008, in the Republic of Iraq, Lt. Melissa Hope Grant, US Air Force, the beloved daughter of Mrs. Melody Grant and Mr. Michael "Candy" King, step-daughter of the late Mr. Marcus Grant; sister of Kelondria Pendergrath, Kelvin Pendergrath, Raheem Brown, Akhaeem Brown, and Becole "Cola" Scales; granddaughter of Mrs. Darnell Grant and Mr. Henry "Muffin" King; niece of Shirline Denise Wright, Quindella "Que" Simmons, Meka Butler, and Marvin "Butter" Myers; cousin of Xavier D. Stewart, Sr., Karin L. Bland and Mercedes A. Jones.
This is funny as hell...and kind of foul. Ole girl needs to lay off the pipe.
Posted by proudmomma on May 21, 2008 at 9:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Tammie- I read them daily also, just because I have lived here all of my life and always want to be aware if a friend's family member has passed.
But everyone always makes fun of me for doing it.
Posted by kateanderikinnova on May 21, 2008 at 10:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope the woman in the picture that she pulled from a bridal magazine gets wind of this and sues her for fraud/slander.
Posted by riddiksgirl on May 21, 2008 at 10:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My mom reads the obits to make sure she hasn't died. Everybody reads the obits because of morbid curiosity. Same reason people rubber neck. No matter how hard you try, you still sneak a peek. I feel for the families that have lost loved ones in this war, and that they have to wake up today and read this article, relive their pain plus feel anger. RIP Sgt. John P. Phillips. He was real.
Posted by Hutch on May 21, 2008 at 10:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Melanie Grant be sure your sin will be found out,
things done in darkness will come to the light.
I pray you will come to know the Lord Jesus Christ
as your savior.
Posted by Tammie on May 21, 2008 at 10:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Chief, reading all of that, I just thought either the young lady was adopted or biracial. I would have never thought that lady would have done something that despicable either.
But for real, now that I am rereading it, I cant help but let out a giggle. She didnt have to use some of those corny azz nicknames. Lol
Posted by Chief_SittingBull on May 21, 2008 at 10:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Tammie,
Did you see the picture? Maybe you do, but I don't know any biracial people who look like the woman in the picture...and I know lots of biracial people.
I can agree with you on adoption though. My favorite is "Mercedes A. Jones" she must be related to Velvet Jones...or Indiana Jones.
I got a chuckle when I read it; the situation is sick though.
Posted by Tammie on May 21, 2008 at 10:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Chief, I saw the picture and the lady was beautiful, one of the nurses I work with is biracial and she has strong caucasian features.
As far as Mercedes A. Jones, maybe her middle name is either Acura or Altima...?
Lemme quit cause the situation is "mucked" up..lmao
Posted by SCdeacinNYC on May 21, 2008 at 10:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is just ridiculous. So let me get this straight. The woman in question, "Melanie" Grant is white and chose to put in stereotypically black names in as a the siblings of her supposed daughter. Is this supposed to be a joke?
And Tammie, jokes about "Acura" aside... Mercedes may be the name of a car but it's also been a proper name for women in Spain and Latin America much longer.
Posted by Chief_SittingBull on May 21, 2008 at 10:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
...and German apparently [the name Mercedes]. You're right SCdeac about the white...stereotypical names...as far as I've gathered.
I thought it was Aston-Martin…but she just goes with “A.” out of respect for her baby’s daddy.
Okay Tammie, we’d better quit before the decorum police show up.
Posted by suec on May 21, 2008 at 10:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I bet this woman was also a Katrina victim and lost a loved one in NYC on 9/11
Posted by Girleygirl on May 21, 2008 at 10:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This was a planned out scheme and this lady got caught up. I don't feel sorry for her at all. She is a liar and lies because she can and want to. She has no morals and I wish there could be more charges brought up against her. Maybe she tried to say Melisa was dead to collect her military benfits to pay debts. She's lied so much in the past we don't know if she is telling the truth about her motives now.
Posted by Spunky_Monkey on May 21, 2008 at 11:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope to God that she is punished by the military, if no one else. This is beyond wrong.
Here's a tip! If you can't afford it - then DON'T BUY IT!!!!
15 variations on one friggin' name????? No person, except a true hardened criminal, has ANY REASON to have that many names!!!
Guess the "street corner" bidness ain't goin' so well as all those men want to purchase gas for their vehicles instead of what she's selling.
And if that's really what she's doing how can DSS let her have children to raise?????? What kind of morals are these children learning???
I think some in-depth investigating is in order because something seems fishy and I mean that in more ways than "one"!!!!!!!
Posted by Test2007 on May 21, 2008 at 11:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That has to be one of the craziest things I've heard.
Posted by graysmoak on May 21, 2008 at 12:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I wish I lived in your world; a world where the worst thing that ever happened was that someone you don't know and never met took out an ad in the paper announcing the fake death of a person who never existed. Most comments on here are acting like they knew that girl and they used to go to high school with her and they are so sad she's gone and they didn't get to say goodbye. OH NO WAIT, Non-existent girl didn't die. So what's the problem? Yeah she shouldn't have made up an obituary, but I don't think she's some criminal mastermind the likes of a James Bond villain and now her evil plan for world domination has been found out. Instead of calling down the wrath of God, maybe try thanking Him that you've never been so desperate.
Posted by Lois_Lane on May 21, 2008 at 12:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Bravo to the reporter who busted her.
Posted by Tammie on May 21, 2008 at 12:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
SC, I didnt know that. That's interesting to know. No, I'm not being sarcastic. :-)
And sorry graysmoak, that wasn't desperate, that was just dumb.
Posted by SGiesha on May 21, 2008 at 12:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
graysmoak, I completely agree with you. There are much worse things in this world then what this person did. and to Tammie, maybe it was dumb, but also desperate. Desperate times call for desperate meausures. Be thankful you have never been put in that position.
Posted by Girleygirl on May 21, 2008 at 12:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I live in a world where I never would have done this crap this lady did. I don't sit around and plot with people to try to outsmart bill creditors because I don't want to pay them. I don't write checks knowing I don't have the money in the bank to cover it. I don't lie and scam people like she admitted she has done and I never prostituted my body for nothing. I have never been so desperate to try to hurt other people for my ill gain no matter if someone was hurt or not. Oh yeah she was scared when the OB came out but she DID NOT tell the truth (or her truth) until the PC questioned her. Yeah you right though, thank God that I don't have the mentality of this crooked women. Thank God that he gave me common sense to know what's right and what's wrong. Thank you God!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Tammie on May 21, 2008 at 12:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
SGiesha, I wouldn't wish death on myself, nor anyone else. I stand by what I said, I really think what she did was dumb. I HAVE been in that situation before, working 2 jobs, going to school and taking care of my mother who back at the time didn't have the strength to write her own name. I worked my way through it and thank God I am on the other side of it. I was BEYOND desperate. Like I said, she could have called her creditors and worked out a payment plan to get her situation straight, I've done it. I just think she could have been a little smarter.
Posted by ashleyatwork on May 21, 2008 at 1:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think its stupid and funny at the same time. I dont see the crime though. She just made herself look ridiculous.
The DofD is not going to give her any benefits based off a local news obit. so who got defrauded?
Posted by SGiesha on May 21, 2008 at 1:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tammie, who said anything about wishing death on anyone? Everyone has been on a deperate level I am sure, people just handle it differently then others. The fact of the matter is that this isn't the end of the world. Yes, maybe she could have been smarter about it, but who is to say she even had the ability to do that? Would this have been any different if this was a mentally retarded person that did this? Denial: never underestimate it's power.
Posted by Tammie on May 21, 2008 at 1:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ashley, I think the angle they're going for is the fact that she used a "military" person and given the high level of respect that our military brothers and sisters have, it was just messed up that she used that for her scheme. *shrug* JMO
Posted by Tammie on May 21, 2008 at 1:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
When I talked about "wishing death", I'm talking about her saying that her daughter had died. All I can say, I really hope she learned her lesson from all of this, it could have saved her a lot of embarrassment and shame, if she feels either one of those things.
Posted by walleyedwoman1215 on May 21, 2008 at 1:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am posting this before reading other posts so I'm probably echoing what's already here, but... WTF? Bad karma is going to dog this woman forever. What goes around comes around and her payback is going to be hell on earth.
Having said that, when I read some the survivors' names in the obits, i.e., "Muffin" "King," etc. and then there was no cause of death or other details, I looked at my husband and said, "Something is fishy here."
Peace to all our brothers and sisters who risk their lives in the armed forces.
Posted by My_50Cents_Worth on May 21, 2008 at 1:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I find it appalling that anyone feels compelled to defend a woman [in this case I use ‘woman’ loosely] who has concocted a person in her mind, made her a soldier and killed her in Iraq. Is that not a problem?
Desperate times call for desperate measures? Being in debt calls for assessing your income to spending, not making up stories to play on the sympathies of bill collectors…and the public. In such times people reach out to friend, to family, to their church…not defraud insurance companies and the US military of agencies. If anyone knew the affects of being in a unit in which you deal with a fallen comrade and his or her family, they’d never fake this or condone/defend this behavior.
She’s sick!!
Posted by Tammie on May 21, 2008 at 1:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
On topic, minus the seriousness...why would a grown man be called "Muffin"?
Posted by momofjah on May 21, 2008 at 1:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This woman is definitely a "con" and while the funeral home has chosen not to go after her, she should face some criminal charges for this. There are millions of people facing financial hardship but have a conscious not to "stoop" this low. You are a poor example for your grandchildren and you will always be a "con". Anyone that knows you or come in contact with you better make sure they do not leave any personal information around you because you are a "con" and a "thief".
Posted by graysmoak on May 21, 2008 at 1:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe I used to many words before, but my point is that this has very little if anything to do with anyone on here, but most people are acting like this is the WORST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED to you in your whole life. How could you react any worse if something bad did actually happen to you? I fear for tomorrow when gas goes up again because that will actually impact your life, but you won’t have the strength to deal with it because you’ll still be recovering from this life-altering experience we’re talking about today. Oh, the scandal! Will you ever be able to read an obituary about people you never knew without a certain amount of skepticism again??
Maybe you can’t tell that I’m sarcastic. Seriously it is hard to tell when you can’t hear the tone of voice. I came here to try and be helpful, to let you know there are and have already been worse things. Don’t waste all your energy freaking out over this.
Posted by Girleygirl on May 21, 2008 at 2:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I guess the difference between me is I would have stop feeling sorry for myself a long time ago because my problem is not going away. I'm an adult and I am responsible for my own actions. She could have made payment arrangements, stuff envelopes, phone sex operator, babysat some kids, pick up cans, or find a part time job. I'm more disgusted that she went out of her way to make this lie her reality. She was going to keep it that way until the bill collecters...I mean the P&C questioned her.
Posted by Chief_SittingBull on May 21, 2008 at 2:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tammie,
Have you seen the muffin man,
The muffin man,
The muffin man,
Have you seen the muffin man...
Okay, I could resist.
Posted by Chief_SittingBull on May 21, 2008 at 2:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I meant could NOT.
Posted by My_50Cents_Worth on May 21, 2008 at 3:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am just now seeing the names in the obituary. It took a good imagination to come up with these names.
Mr. Michael "Candy" King, Mr. Marcus Grant; Kelondria Pendergrath, Kelvin Pendergrath, Raheem Brown, Akhaeem Brown, Becole "Cola" Scales; Mrs. Darnell Grant and Mr.Henry "Muffin" King; Shirline Denise Wright, Quindella "Que" Simmons, Meka Butler, and Marvin "Butter" Myers; Xavier D. Stewart, Sr., Karin L. Bland and Mercedes A. Jones.
The nicknames were an added touch that just set this off right. Cola, Muffin, Que and Candy, she must have been playing pool on an empty stomach when she thought this up.
Posted by MountP on May 21, 2008 at 3:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
39 year old grandmother. They could have saved a lot of ink by just stopping the story right there.
Nothing to see folks..Keep moving. Just another under-40 grandmother from North Chuck.
Posted by Tammie on May 21, 2008 at 3:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Lmao @ Chief..now I want a blueberry muffin....
50, I think she was hungry too. She wanted some "Butter" on a "Muffin" and some "Cola" with some "Candy". This just gets too comical.
Posted by Girleygirl on May 21, 2008 at 3:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Coldbeer- the best word to describe her is a lying toothface slut.
Posted by My_50Cents_Worth on May 21, 2008 at 3:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Coldbeer:
If it is alright with you [and only if it truly alright] I would like to share with you my guess. I am guessing that greysmoak was either:
Mr. Michael "Candy" King, Mr. Marcus Grant; Kelondria Pendergrath, Kelvin Pendergrath, Raheem Brown, Akhaeem Brown, Becole "Cola" Scales; Mrs. Darnell Grant and Mr.Henry "Muffin" King; Shirline Denise Wright, Quindella "Que" Simmons, Meka Butler, and Marvin "Butter" Myers; Xavier D. Stewart, Sr., Karin L. Bland OR Mercedes A. Jones…since he/she does not see anything wrong with this criminal behavior.
Oooooooooh Girley! That was mean; you have changed.
Posted by Girleygirl on May 21, 2008 at 3:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
50- Reading the comments on this board will change you...lol
I just took the PC words and said the unrated NR-17 version on what they said. I'm disgusted with this woman so bad. I bet she probally defrauded the states onces for food stamps, medicaid, SSI, medicare, ABC vouchers, WIC, and anything else she might have gotten for free....
Posted by geekguy2008 on May 21, 2008 at 3:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This woman has truly hexed her daughter by using this death expression. With her words, she has stirred the Universe into motion.
Posted by Girleygirl on May 21, 2008 at 3:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
excuse my spelling
Posted by My_50Cents_Worth on May 21, 2008 at 4 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with you Girley, she's participated in this behavior before and was successful. This was so outlandish that she got nervous and couldn’t figure out how to continue to pull this off. ..as if there is no database on military casualties.
I was surprised by your response since you always post in the middle. I guess I have missed quite a bit-fortunately for me. I was losing sleep over some of the things posted here. I know it can be unbelievably I mean, ignorant and over the top, but do not let it change you!
Geekguy, you are 100% on point. She has no clue what she has set herself up for…I am a strong believer in karma. SHE put that in the atmosphere.
Posted by My_50Cents_Worth on May 21, 2008 at 4:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My mom is 30, my grandma is 42, my great grandma is 54...
Posted by My_50Cents_Worth on May 21, 2008 at 4:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Those are fightin' words on the side of the island where I grew up. Mommas are always off limiits :)
Posted by Tammie on May 21, 2008 at 4:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Everyone have a great night, I'm outta here..:-)
Posted by My_50Cents_Worth on May 21, 2008 at 4:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I here ya, CB! Gettin' whupped by a girl can be a good thing sometimes. :)
Posted by Girleygirl on May 21, 2008 at 4:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If I get really disgusted I can blow up 50... :>)
Coldbeer- No more American Pie and Kumar days for you.....lol
Posted by My_50Cents_Worth on May 21, 2008 at 4:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh, oh, Allwoman...as Tom Joyner says on It's Your World...WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!
Posted by Girleygirl on May 21, 2008 at 4:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Allwoman- sher ma be investigated for other crimes with all of those surnames....It will be another story about her soon
Posted by GeecheeBoi84 on May 21, 2008 at 4:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
lmao, this story is one of the funniest things I've read in a while.... It must just be common sense to me, but wouldn't she think that any death via Iraq would bring "unwanted" publicity? I guess faking her own death to eliminate ALL debt would have proved too difficult, lol....
Posted by Zod on May 21, 2008 at 5:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I found two people named Melissa Grant in a search of the lowcountry. Melanie Grant may have one of these two Melissa's social security number. An obituary is a step used to defraud the Social Security Administration.
Posted by goodnessgracious on May 21, 2008 at 10:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This "lady" with 15 different names who spent the majority of the 80's and 90's in trouble with the law for trying to sell her skanky nasty self needs to go over to Iraq for just a day - maybe some area like Sadr City - to experience even one tenth of what our military members go through each and every day to sacrifice for our freeedoms. They do their jobs without complaint to sacrifice for the freedoms of all of us - to include this so-called disabled piece of trash.
Well obviously her mind works well enough to think up such a scam to put in the paper, maybe she can get another job or is her disability because her private part is too worn out and she has no other credentials for her resume.
I work, I have some debt as do most people I know but I sure as heck take care of my bills and do what needs to be done to be a decent law abiding bill paying citizen.
I consider myself to be a good person and try to live by my parents teaching that if you have nothing good to say, you should say nothing but sometimes you just gotta open your mouth and tell it like it is......
Give me a break , this chick needs to be locked up and I hope there is a law where she can be prosecuted to the fullest extent.
God Bless our military members - past and present - and their families who sacrifice every day as well.
I grieve every single day for my two friends who were killed in Iraq and pray for everyone who has to go through such heartbreak. Knowing them, they are probably both shaking their heads in disbelief and laughing their a**es off in heaven where they so rightly belong at this skank 'Melanie" or whatever the hell her name is this week.
She needs to be totally and absolutely ashamed of herself.
Posted by JohnS on May 21, 2008 at 11:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The person in the picture has a case against the funeral home. The funeral home should have checked out the story. I would bet this is not the only thing going on there. This place reminds me of the cremation place in Ga where they gave familes handfuls of dust as ashes.
Posted by ms_lady2u on May 22, 2008 at 8:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
She deserves the,Oscar,Emmy & Tony Awards!
Posted by rbutterfly on May 22, 2008 at 11:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
In reading all the comments to this article, I'm wondering are there any Christians out there that have a forgiving heart to this woman? I agree what she did was wrong. She dishonored all of our soldiers who have fought hard for their country and many have not come back home to their loved ones. People make mistakes, maybe not to the extreme that she did, but not of us are perfect. Only the Lord above is. Many of us would not ever think of doing what she had done, or to kill someone. She is the one paying the consequences with it not us. We're angry because of the misrepresentation and lie to our military and loved ones lost. Again, doesn't anyone have any compassion for this woman? Haven't any of you been so low that you didn't think that you would see that light ever again? I have and it's not fun, but thru God's grace I'm seeing that light. Ye who are without sin cast the first stone.
Posted by MountP on May 22, 2008 at 11:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Allwoman.. to answer your question why it matters how old she is...
Teen Pregnancy - So What?
Teen pregnancy has serious consequences for the teen mother, the child, and to society in general.
Future prospects for teenagers decline significantly if they have a baby. Teen mothers are less likely to complete school and more likely to be single parents. Less than one-third of teens who begin their families before age 18 ever earn a high school diploma. Only 1.5% earn a college degree by the age of 30.4
Teen pregnancy is closely linked to poverty and single parenthood. A 1990 study showed that almost one-half of all teenage mothers and over three-quarters of unmarried teen mothers began receiving welfare within five years of the birth of their first child. The growth in single-parent families remains the single most important reason for increased poverty among children over the last twenty years, as documented in the 1998 Economic Report of the President. Out-of-wedlock childbearing (as opposed to divorce) is currently the driving force behind the growth in the number of single parents, and half of first out-of-wedlock births are to teens. Therefore, reducing teen pregnancy and child-bearing is an obvious place to anchor serious efforts to reduce poverty in future generations.
Children with adolescent parents often fall victim to abuse and neglect. A recent analysis found that there are 110 reported incidents of abuse and neglect per 1,000 families headed by a young teen mother. By contrast, in families where the mothers delay childbearing until their early twenties, the rate is less than half this level - or 51 incidents per 1,000 families.4 Similarly, rates of foster care placement are significantly higher for children whose mothers are under 18. In fact, over half of foster care placements of children with these young mothers could be averted by delaying child-bearing, thereby saving taxpayers nearly $1 billion annually in foster care costs alone.
Posted by FiscalConservative on May 22, 2008 at 11:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This whore lives on disability. Good to see my tax dollars at work. If she has a limited income why is she borrowing all this money. People need to be responsible for their own actions. She is not disabled enough to come up with this scheme so she could definitely find some job. If she can't let her starve. I don't want my tax money to pay for this.
Posted by FiscalConservative on May 22, 2008 at 11:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This woman is 39 and has grandchildren!!!!! We need to get rid of this welfare state to keep these people from reproducing like this.
Posted by MountP on May 22, 2008 at 12:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If the cycle continues, she could be a great-grandmother by 54, and a great-great grandmother by the time she is 72!! There is something seriously wrong with that, and if you don't see that, then you need to reassess your priorities.
Of course, I'm not even eligible to receive Social Security until I'm 67. So I will be helping foster this foolishness while I work for the next 30+ years.
By then people like this will have "spawned" even more needy children with no direction or future, who will ask for (and receive) welfare benefits. Where's my help with paying my student loan and mortgages? Anyone? Oh yeah, I screwed up and actually pursued an education. Silly me, the easy money was right under my nose the whole time.
Posted by jcncamscott on May 22, 2008 at 2:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Does anybody know if there will be any follow-up investigation done on this scumbag? I can't believe the funeral home would be so forgiving as well. This is the exact treatment she's expecting!!!
Posted by MountP on May 22, 2008 at 3:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks allwoman.. Just using that phrase since we all seem to read these kinds of stories so often that have common pieces of information in them. Like so many pieces to a puzzle. If one or more of the pieces is put together, then the picture (or story) starts getting clearer.
For instance, If you used any of the following all-too-common phrases that we read in the paper, you could probably figure out the story without even reading the whole article:
1)Berkeley County meth lab
2)Pedestrian killed while crossing Ashley Phosphate
3)Teen shot in East Side of Charleston
I'd love to know how many times in the past 5 years that the paper has printed those exact words.
Posted by tiffhug on May 22, 2008 at 4:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mayor,
It has been said that Ms. Grant is a white female according to her arrest records.
Posted by reality_woman on May 23, 2008 at 10:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is a nasty woman cheating the system and everyone else she can. She should have those children taken from her and let them have a chance to be raised properly. Put her away for a while and let her stew in prison for a few years. Fraud is fraud and she needs to pay for it.