A Kentucky woman who died in November placed the blame partly on President Donald Trump, but a local newspaper refused to publish a line saying so in her obituary, USA Today reports.
Frances Irene Finley Williams, 87, died on Nov. 21, 2018 after her heart and lungs gave out. About six months before her death, Williams, a lifelong Democrat who closely followed news and current events, told her daughter that "If I die soon, all this Trump stuff has had an effect."
In Williams’ obituary, Cathy Duff wrote that her mother was survived by her husband, two children, five grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and two sisters. That she attended the Keystone Sunday School Class at St. Matthews United Methodist Church, and that her favorite things included dancing, birds, flowers, fashion, Elvis Presley and Willie Nelson. Duff also wrote that "Her passing was hastened by her continued frustration with the Trump administration."
Duff sent the obituary, along with payment, to the Courier-Journal in Louisville, which informed her and her brother, Art Williams, that the newspaper would not run the obituary unless the line about Trump was removed.
The newspaper’s parent company, Gannett, wrote in an email, "we are not able to publish the obituary as is, due to the negative content within the obituary text."
Williams wrote about the incident on Facebook, saying that the Courier-Journal exists “by reason of freedom of speech,” and that "my mom would have been offended — and I hope you are too.”
Courier-Journal editor Richard Green later said that the newspaper had made a mistake.
"Mrs. Williams' obituary should have published as it was presented to our obits team and as requested by the family," said Green.
"In this political climate we now find ourselves, partisanship should have no role in deciding what gets included in an obituary that captures a loved one's life… I'm certain she is missed greatly by those who loved her. We send the family our deepest condolences and apologies."
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