Michelle Obama’s Burr Oak Cemetery Connection
EmailABC News's Yunji de Nies and Sunlen Miller report:
The first lady's office confirms that Michelle Obama's father, Fraser Robinson, is buried at Burr Oak Cemetery. Workers at the cemetery are accused of digging up the dead, discarding bodies, and in some cases reselling burial plots.
Mr. Robinson died in 1991. There is no word on whether his grave was disturbed.
The first lady's office would not go into detail about the case.
"I can confirm that Mr. Robinson is buried at Burr Oak Cemetery but we will have no further comment on the matter," said Camille Johnston, Mrs. Obama's communications director.
– Yunji de Nies and Sunlen Miller
UPDATE: Johnston issued another statement saying Mr. Robinson is NOT buried at Burr Oak Cemetery.
In a statement, Johnston writes, "There has been some confusion that has been cleared up. Fraser Robinson III was buried at Lincoln Cemetery NOT Burr Oak. Mrs. Obama’s father is Fraser Robinson III and he is NOT buried at Burr Oak. I do not know where her grandfather was buried, but I do not believe he is at Burr Oak either."
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Gruesome.
Posted by: Danilo | July 14, 2009, 1:42 pm 1:42 pm
Oh snap! They messed with the wrong cemetery! When my mom passed, after the funeral, I made the family limo wait until I saw the casket I bought lowered into the ground and covered. I’ve never trusted the whole “emotional spending” pressure the funeral homes push. It’s been a few years since I last visited. I think a visit to Mom’s spot is overdue.
Posted by: Jiva | July 14, 2009, 2:06 pm 2:06 pm
For God’s sake doesn’t anyone check spelling? It’s CEMETERY not Cemetary.
Posted by: Michael Carroll | July 14, 2009, 2:14 pm 2:14 pm
Minor nit to pick. C-E-M-E-T-E-R-Y.
Posted by: Axey | July 14, 2009, 2:14 pm 2:14 pm
The caskets were buried then dug up so even if they watched them be lowered into the ground they were dug up at a later date and resold.
Posted by: JC | July 14, 2009, 2:15 pm 2:15 pm
I hope her father’s grave has not been disturbed. I can speak from experience the emotional trauma of having a loved one’s final resting place disturbed.
Posted by: Axey | July 14, 2009, 2:18 pm 2:18 pm
Eesh. The whole thing is just sick sick sick.
Posted by: MayBee | July 14, 2009, 2:20 pm 2:20 pm
Chicago media is now saying Michelle’s father is NOT buried at Burr Oak Cemetery. He is buried at Lincoln Cemetery.
It’s still a gruesome story for the families whose loved ones were buried at Burr Oak Cemetery.
Posted by: Danilo | July 14, 2009, 3:34 pm 3:34 pm
The White House has issued a correction. Michelle’s father is not buried there.
What an embarrassing mixup for the White House.
Posted by: MayBee | July 14, 2009, 3:38 pm 3:38 pm
My folks house is a couple of blocks away from the cemetery. We passed by the location by car while the first FBI units were there. Helicopters flying overhead and we saw thousands of people searching the cemetery to see if their loved one’s site was ok. Then someone found a body and the whole place was shut down.
From what my parents tell me, that cemetery was one of a few places that African Americans could bury their dead for a long time. That makes this case all the more painful-it’s not like most of them chose this cemetery.
Lastly, I want to extend my deepest sympathy to the families affected by this. Seeing the cemetery myself and so many people deeply upset moved me profoundly. May God, who knows everything, guide the authorities to provide restoration and justice to this terrible betrayal.
Posted by: JB | July 14, 2009, 3:51 pm 3:51 pm
“I can confirm that Mr. Robinson is buried at Burr Oak Cemetery ” said Camille Johnston, Mrs. Obama’s communications director.
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Talk about letting no good crisis go to waste!!!
Posted by: Kate | July 14, 2009, 6:13 pm 6:13 pm
So now the comentater on Channel 7 says that it is a Racial issue?
I hope not. Because just take a look at those who dug the bodies up. They are Black. Look local.
Posted by: Daver | July 17, 2009, 7:11 pm 7:11 pm