On my first viewing, the events depicted in the 29-minute film were unsettling. No empathy. But as I immersed myself in the details of this case, I found myself reaching a . By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. A Tale of Love, Family Conflict And Battles Over Care For An Aging Mother. The family members I spoke with dont think that was the case. The court placed her as the guardian of a woman she never met in person, never knew on a personal level, only knew her paperwork. The Associated Press is reporting a legal dispute in Alexandria, Va., between Hill's daughter Patricia Barber and Barber's sister, Rebecca Wright, who took their mother to marry 95-year-old Eddie Harrison. I reached out to Laura Checkoway, the films director, who told me in an initial interview that she became interested in chronicling the romance of Edith and Eddie in the summer of 2014 when they were reportedly the oldest interracial newlyweds in America. It was concerning, since Im the one who was legally responsible for her and I didnt know what was going on, Niesen said. Eddie Harrison died Tuesday in a hospital after suffering from influenza, said Rebecca Wright, who was caring for the couple in their Alexandria, Virginia, home. I had no idea she would take my mother off and get her married.. Shockingly, Eddie died only a few weeks later. A son, Lewis McDaniel, died in early 2012.). Financial issues played a large factor in determining where Hill would live, since one option to pay for her care would have been to sell the home. Dad and I had conversations about it. I started wondering about questions the film failed to address. I reached out to Ediths family members including several who werent included in the documentary. I also contacted Ediths independent guardian and several lawyers involved with this case and reviewed Virginia court records, including a series of orders involving Edith between 2011 and 2015. Niesen wasnt sure where Edith and Eddie were living; when she asked Wright for that information she was reportedly told they were moving between two Virginia houses on an unpredictable schedule. She, in turn, told him that she did not want him to be an official boyfriend (Dads words, not mine), just a friend who had fun (also Dads words). Now that Edith was married, there was no question of her leaving Eddie and returning immediately to Florida, Barber said in an interview. The reason? Karma and Hell are two of the many things rotten people have going for them. "This whole thing is a travesty, what happens to old people," she said. But they disagreed among themselves. No remorse. There was a woman in my Fathers life who (in my opinion) took advantage of him. Meanwhile, because the co-guardianship arrangement had. But in a document filed with the Alexandria court on July 11, 2011, Edith registered opposition. I hope she loses her clientele over what she did. McLEAN, Virginia A judge says a 96-year-old woman whose late-life marriage to a 95-year-old beau made national news should be returned to her longtime northern Virginia home after the musician Cher promised to pay to fix it up. In a court deposition, Cher said she was inspired last year when she a saw news story about Edith Hill and her newlywed husband, Eddie Harrison. (Eddie, who had never flown on an airplane before, declined repeated invitations, according to Barber and Niesen.). One of Hill's daughters says the marriage was improper and that Hill's estate is now in question. End of story for some viewers, maybe. There are those people who will say they are acting in the best interest of an elder person. This woman is still a practicing attorney. Similarly, Wright reportedly declined to let Niesen see Edith or tell her when she was taking Edith to the doctor, according to the appointed guardians court filings. At that point, emails show Niesen let Wrights lawyer know she wanted Edith to go to Florida for several weeks while she looked for an assisted living facility or an alternative living situation. But as I immersed myself in the details of this case, I found myself reaching a familiar conclusion: Real life is more complicated than in the movies. Jessica didnt seem to have a care in the world about them when she showed up and how she spoke to them was awful. While in Richmond, after his surgery, he went into cardiac arrest. Some state guardians are in it for the moneyyou cannot get more cold hearted that this woman. Could her distress have been alleviated if she had received reassurance rather than being torn between conflicting factions? When I received the call that we needed to prepare ourselves, that we needed to make decisions about end of life care for Dad, I never thought once about making sure everyone was there in the room with the doctors to offer their input. I found out after, after he was gone. Edith and Eddie, ages 96 and 95, are America's oldest interracial newlyweds. It devastated my heart! Was the marriage legal? Her two sisters, Wright and Barber, then became their mothers co-guardians, court records show. In that capacity, his job was to oversee the families arrangements, and was involved with her case, off and on, for several years. I also contacted Ediths independent guardian and several lawyers involved with this case and reviewed Virginia court records, including a series of orders involving Edith between 2011 and 2015. She successfully took her away from her spouse, against her will, in the last weeks of his life, and has not had the decency to either get Edith home to say goodbye nor arranged appropriate funeral services. Unfortunately, Edith is forced to leave behind her home and Eddie, who dies shortly after her departure. Edith Hill and Eddie Harrison in their Annandale, Virginia home. Two months later, Caldwell, the geriatric care manager, flew to Florida to perform a follow up evaluation. Posturing by lawyers and case filings inevitably dehumanize the elderly and we were not interested in exploring these predictable events.. A judge appointed a new guardian for Hill to protect her interests, removing Barber and Wright as guardians, but left the marriage intact. Shell be back in two weeks? He bought her dinners, took her places, paid the tabs (I managed his money, I saw the checks and debit card transactions). Similarly, Wright reportedly declined to let Niesen see Edith or tell her when she was taking Edith to the doctor, according to the appointed guardians court filings. She should at least resign. Bull crap! And. While they were fond of each other and spoke frequently over the phone, they saw each other relatively infrequently in the intervening years. Eddie Harrison missed his wife, Edith Hill, dearly, and he longed for the times they were together, which all began the day they met in Virginia while playing the lottery. It's not right what is going on., Edith Hill, 96, and 95-year-old Eddie Harrison in their home in Annandale, Va. on Aug. 5, 2014. Reopened wounds from my fiancees passing because I also went through a very similar experience with his family and lets just say I was accepted and loved for over a decade and then as his terminal illness worsened, I turned into the mortal enemy. From that event he had hypoxia (lack of oxygen to the brain). Rebecca was moving her around all over the place and wouldnt return my phone calls. Please preserve the hyperlinks in the story. My sister was treated beautiful when she went down to Florida.. There are allegations from one of Ediths daughters about money issues and possession of the family home, as well as insinuations of racism (Edith is black, Eddie is white). I have only one line: It rebroke me. Court records indicate that Hill suffers from mild dementia. Was it Barber, the daughter in Florida, who believed Edith needed what she felt was a more reliable living situation? Harrison stayed in Virginia. Throughout the ten weeks of filming, our focus was solely on Edith and Eddie and their relationship. She wore whore red high heels and a whore dress to his wake. Edith passed away last March of natural causes at the age of 98, after living with her daughter in Florida through the end of her life. Hill's property there is worth about $475,000. Tech for Toys. Harrison stayed in Virginia. Long. Was it Niesen, who intervened to address what the court had already found to be an unsafe situation for Edith, even if it meant splitting up the couple for a while? He lived for her, wifes daughter says, calling theirs love story of the century, Heartbroken Eddie Harrison caught influenza and died at a hospital Tuesday. Her home wasnt sold until after her death; there was no attempt to plunder her estate by lawyers or family members. They really are. But they disagreed among themselves. Barber insists that wasnt true and that the couple spoke every day once she was in Florida sometimes multiple times a day. He knew I did not like her, we spoke of it. ", Like Us On Facebook Follow Us On Twitter. We filmed all those around them who were willing to be filmed, she responded in a written statement, explaining why she hadnt explored the broader family issues. Horrible freaking woman. Wright had allegedly emptied her mothers bank account of $11,000 and was refusing to return the funds, according to that court filing. Edith moved from an Alexandria, Va. townhome that shed owned for decades, to Yates home in Baltimore. By late November, Niesen said in an interview shed become convinced that Ediths health and well-being were in danger and that Wright had no intention of cooperating with her attempts to oversee Ediths welfare. But family disputes about how to care for frail, vulnerable elderly parents are my territory, inevitably complicated and full of unresolved emotional issues. In January 2014, Yates, 77, gave up guardianship because it was getting to be a bit much and there was a lot of confusion going on, she said, allowing simmering family conflicts to reemerge. Edith Hill and Eddie Harrison's love for one another is as unmistakable as the callousness with which police and Jessica Niesen, a court-appointed guardian, swoop in to separate the couple. Sabrinas Parents Love Her. Her goal, she said in an interview, was to remove Edith from an unsafe environment, not to separate her from Eddie, who shed invited to join Edith in Florida. . And did not facilitate a memorial service for Ediths husband, Eddie. As a columnist who covers aging, Im familiar with such stories. Jessica Niesen is 46 years old and was born on 08/11/1976. A Tale of Love, Family Conflict And Battles Over Care For An Aging Mother, The other way Rupert Murdoch tried to tip the scales for Trump, The Trump-DeSantis contest may come down to education, Rupert Murdochs big admission about Fox News. khn.navigatingaging@gmail.com, In December, a court-appointed guardian for Hill, Jessica Niesen, had Hill moved to Florida to live with another daughter. Wright wrote in an email that all the questions were based on false allegations and that the film shows how much she did for her mother and stepfather. Sometimes they are. All the people and records I consulted made it clear that the sisters for years had bickered over what was best for their mother. The court appoints a third-party, Jessica Niesen, to act as Edith's guardian. All rights reserved. Learn how your comment data is processed. While they were fond of each other and spoke frequently over the phone, they saw each other relatively infrequently in the intervening years. On 6 December, Hills guardian arrived to take Hill to Barbers home in Florida for what was supposed to be a two-week vacation. Two months later, Caldwell, the geriatric care manager, flew to Florida to perform a follow up evaluation. Was it Niesen, who intervened to address what the court had already found to be an unsafe situation for Edith, even if it meant splitting up the couple for a while? Later that month, Harrison died. Eddie Harrison died Tuesday in a hospital after suffering from. Omg. And did not facilitate a memorial service for Edith's husband, Eddie. In an interview, Niesen said she had no reason to contest Edith and Eddies marriage because it wasnt hurting anybody and it was making them happy.. In December, a court-appointed guardian for Hill, Jessica Niesen, had Hill moved to Florida to live with another daughter. Niesen wasnt sure where Edith and Eddie were living; when she asked Wright for that information she was reportedly told they were moving between two Virginia houses on an unpredictable schedule. Edith was gaining weight, getting physical therapy, taking all her medications and was well-adjusted, according to her court report. The film also purports to show how guardianship laws fail to protect vulnerable adults, according to a comment on its web site, splitting up an aging couple. Court records indicate that Hill suffers from mild dementia. Did Edith fully understand what was happening at that point? The recent marriage of two nonagenarians might seem romantic but the family of 96-year-old Edith Hill doesn't think so. You should never work in that field again! Daisy Birch, a family friend, said Harrison was heartbroken. Niesen now has the task of investigating . Meet Hemp-Derived Delta-9 THC. Cher said she will help pay for needed upgrades to Hill's family home in Alexandria. Jessica Niesen, your actions in this case were cruel, racist, and amoral. One month later, Wright suggested her mother visit Virginia over Easter to attend church and visit with family and friends, and Barber agreed to that plan. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window). McLEAN, Va. (AP) A judge says a 96-year-old woman whose late-life marriage to a 95-year-old beau made national news should be returned to her longtime northern Virginia home after the musician Cher promised to pay to fix it up. Contact Jessica McLEAN, Va. (AP) A judge says a 96-year-old woman whose late-life marriage to a 95-year-old beau made national news should be returned to her longtime northern Virginia home after the musician Cher promised to pay to fix it up. I think so. There was no abuse involved none at all.. I had the room, I had the resources, my boss was kind enough to offer me the time. Caldwells bottom line conclusion: I recommend Mrs. Hill move to an assisted living community.. Hill and Harrison met more than a decade ago while waiting in line to buy lottery tickets. "She says she wants to see her guitar boys," Wright said, a reference to a Falls Church honkytonk where she would go dancing with Harrison. Caregivers have wisdom and experience to share. "He actually gave his life to this effort," Wright said of Harrison and his battle to have his union with Hill recognized and to live with his wife. So Edith moved to Florida to live with Barber in mid-March. Cher at the AFI Night at the Movies at the ArcLight in Los Angeles on April 24, 2013. Now that Edith was married, there was no question of her leaving Eddie and returning immediately to Florida, Barber said in an interview. Dad would lament the passing of my Ma and talk about how he missed her and that this woman was no replacement, just company. Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and We filmed all those around them who were willing to be filmed, she responded in a written statement, explaining why she hadnt explored the broader family issues. Edith was gaining weight, getting physical therapy, taking all her medications and was well adjusted, according to her court report. Its important to note, not everything on khn.org is available for republishing. I cannot express enough in my own words how much this review hit home for me. Wright had been the biggest supporter of Hill and Harrison's marriage. From what I know, the only way you continue in your profession, it seems to me, is due to others who share the same racist and careless views. Later that month, Harrison died. I watched this documentary as part of a Oscars Watch I was doing last year. This film is distorted and hurtful, said Davis, one of Ediths granddaughters. Their marriage was problematic because Hill has been declared legally incapacitated for several years. The Upside of Stress: Why Stress Is Good for You, and How to Get Good at. Exactly. In an interview, Barber said she thought her mother would enjoy the trip and asked Wright to bring Edith back to Florida in July, in time for several doctors appointments. I wrote, backspaced, wrote again. Niesen, the court-appointed guardian, did not return a call Tuesday seeking comment. All the bad emotions mixed on one big batch. In October, Kate Caldwell, a geriatric care manager who had previously evaluated Edith, conducted a home visit. All I do know wholeheartedly is that no matter how awful people treat me, I will never, ever let go of my huge heart and will never bring myself to their level. I also contacted Ediths independent guardian and several lawyers involved with this case and reviewed Virginia court records, including a series of orders involving Edith between 2011 and 2015. Niesen, in a phone interview, said she is still gathering facts and has an upcoming appointment to meet Hill and Harrison. Now that Edith was married, there was no question of her leaving Eddie and returning immediately to Florida, Barber said in an interview. Now that Edith was married, there was no question of her leaving Eddie and returning immediately to Florida, Barber said in an interview. Consulted attorney Non compliant with court sanctions and unruly Posted by anonymous October 25, 2021 It ends months later with the couple being separated by Edith's court-appointed legal guardian, with police on the . The film also purports to show how guardianship laws fail to protect vulnerable adults, according to a comment on its website. Was it Barber, the daughter in Florida, who believed Edith needed what she felt was a more reliable living situation? I do believe all three sisters loved their mother but they each had their own idea of how to handle things, said Joshua Bushman, who became Ediths guardian ad litem in 2011 at the request of the City of Alexandria, Va. In an interview, Niesen said she had no reason to contest Edith and Eddies marriage because it wasnt hurting anybody and it was making them happy., But she had other concerns. Worse attorney. She also offered to help pay medical expenses. She killed him. These private Facebook groups are a space for support and encouragement or getting it off your chest. Who had Ediths best interests at heart? Subscribe to KHN's free Morning Briefing. In December, a court-appointed guardian for Hill, Jessica Niesen, had Hill moved to Florida to live with another daughter. I reached out to Ediths family members including several who werent included in the documentary. 96-year-old Edith Hill and 95-year-old Eddie Harrison, pictured here in their home in Annandale, Va., were married earlier this year. Its not clear how advanced her dementia had become or whether she could assess what was going on as the familys feud engulfed her. And Jessica Niesen facilitated that. The fact that she did not give this man a proper funeral blows my mind. Programs that actually pay family caregivers for their dedication. He decided to remove both daughters as Hill's legal guardians and instead appointed another attorney, Jessica Niesen. McLEAN, Va. (AP) A judge says a 96-year-old woman whose late-life marriage to a 95-year-old beau made national news should be returned to her longtime northern Virginia home after the musician . Did Edith fully understand what was happening at that point? Niesen now has the task of investigating the marriage and protecting Hill's interests. Newlyweds Edith Hill, 96, and Eddie Harrison, 95, married in Alexandria, Virginia, earlier this year after being companions for over a decade. Throughout the ten weeks of filming, our focus was solely on Edith and Eddie and their relationship. Attempts to ask Wright about this issue and other questions were unsuccessful. I think this is an important story, Cher said. According to the care managers report, Barber thought her mother would be best off living with her in Palm Coast, Fla., while Wright wanted her mom to move back into her Alexandria townhome. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. If a woman is under guardianship she cannot alter her marital status become married without permission of the court, said Kelly Thompson, a Virginia attorney and immediate past chair of the special needs section of the Virginia Bar Assn. In an interview, Niesen said she had no reason to contest Edith and Eddies marriage because it wasnt hurting anybody and it was making them happy.. If Niesen finds that the marriage does not benefit Hill or her estate, she can pursue a divorce or. #Oscars 2018 #Documentary (Short Subject) Thoughts and Ponderances, Follow Thoughts and Ponderances on WordPress.com. It was concerning, since Im the one who was legally responsible for her and I didnt know what was going on, Niesen said. Police were called to the home during a traumatic 40-minute negotiation to convince Hill to leave, Wright said. Wright the only of Ediths daughters who appears in the film had wanted to become her mothers guardian. But as I widened the scope, I discovered a different, familiar story one that couldnt be told in 29 minutes: Three daughters in distress over the care of an aged mother and roiled by disputes played out in courtrooms among far-flung siblings. Edith and Eddie had met more than a decade before the events depicted in the documentary, when they happened to play the lottery together and ended up sharing $5,000 in winnings. Niesen says the marriage should be given equal treatment if found to be a good arrangement for Hill. She never went to an institution. Im really upset right now. Harrison stayed in Virginia. Cher's involvement in Edith Hill's story has extended over several months. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. said Hill's daughter, Rebecca Wright, of Annandale, in a phone interview Tuesday. The film states that Edith and Eddie never spoke again. But as I widened the scope, I discovered a different, familiar story one that couldnt be told in 29 minutes: Three daughters in distress over the care of an aged mother and roiled by disputes played out in courtrooms among far-flung siblings. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. While they were fond of each other and spoke frequently over the phone, they saw each other relatively infrequently in the intervening years. Turned out to be the most disturbing story in a very long time. Meanwhile, because the co-guardianship arrangement had become untenable, an independent guardian for Edith was appointed by the court - Jessica Niesen, an attorney in Fairfax, Va. One month later, Wright suggested her mother visit Virginia over Easter to attend church and visit with family and friends, and Barber agreed to that plan. I had no idea she would take my mother off and get her married.. Edith moved from an Alexandria, Va., townhome that shed owned for decades, to Yates home in Baltimore. Later that month, Harrison died. Yates considered moving her mother to an assisted living facility, according to the geriatric care managers report, leading to more family division. People are assholes. Niesen, in a phone interview, said she is still gathering facts and has an upcoming appointment to meet Hill and Harrison. man left with huge medical bills after insurer denies coverage following stroke in Arizona, Should I delete TikTok? The two had been companions for more than a decade before they married. Could her distress have been alleviated, if she had received reassurance rather than being torn between conflicting factions? That oneSister cared for herMother (Edith) and the other sister tooktheirMom out ofthe only house she ever knew and then refused to allow the caregiver Sister to see her Mom before she passed is criminal.