Godfather of Soul, James Brown, Awaits Burial 75 Days After Death

Apparently someone's having difficulty letting go. Here's a brief synopsis of the history of a "wake" before someone's burial:

According to Fred Amerson, "England is old and small and [Centuries ago] the local folks started running out of places to bury people. As a result, they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a 'bone-house', and re-use the grave. When re-opening these coffins, about 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So, they began tying a string on the wrist of the corpse, leading it through the coffin, and up through the ground and tying it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the "Graveyard shift,") to listen for the bell; thus someone could be "Saved by the bell," or was considered a "Dead ringer."

Also, lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of "Holding a wake."

Okay. Now that we've had our history lesson, what ever happened to the burial of James Brown?

Could it be someone's waiting a little too long for him to "wake" up? The "Godfather of Soul" passed away on Christmas last year (12/25/06) and is still awaiting his peaceful, eternal rest. So why the delay?

With several paternity tests to be settled, Brown's trustees want DNA samples taken before the artist is entombed. The decomposing Godfather of Soul is being held in an undisclosed location.

Perhaps the irony in this story is that he may already be spiritually "saved"; and though his body remains with us for a little while longer, the "Godfather's" soul is long, long gone. May he rest in peace.