Guilford County will set aside 70 seconds on Wednesday, Nov. 18 – one for each of the 70 people who died during the county’s 2025-26 fiscal year and whose remains went unclaimed.
The silence will be part of Guilford County’s first memorial service for its unclaimed deceased.
The county’s Department of Social Services and Register of Deeds Office are holding the service from 11 a.m. to noon at First Baptist Church at 1000 W. Friendly Ave. in Greensboro.
The county describes the gathering as an interfaith, non-denominational service.
Plans include live music, prayers and reflections from several faith traditions and an honor guard from the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office. The service will also recognize first responders and other public servants who regularly encounter death and loss in their work.
“At the heart of this service is a simple belief: every life has inherent dignity, and every person deserves to be remembered,” said Guilford County Social Services Director Sharon Barlow.
“For some of our neighbors, there was no family member available to claim their remains, or no one able to provide a traditional farewell.”
Guilford County Register of Deeds Jeff Thigpen said this week that the service gives the community a chance to go beyond what the law requires and say to those who died: “You were one of us. Your life mattered, and you will not be forgotten.”
Thigpen said he also hopes the service will offer some closure to the first responders and public servants who worked with some of those residents in their final moments.
County officials expect clergy, first responders, public officials, community leaders and residents to attend.
For more information, you can call Vanessa Brush at (336) 641-4967 or Jeff Thigpen at (336) 451-5300.
What a sad commentary on society.
The Lord knows and loves them. He holds their souls.