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Death in Natchitoches, Louisiana Scientific Evidence of How Mates Die
Close Together
Dorothy Presley died two months ago. She was a Natchitoches Treasure 2007.
Her husband died late last week, in early June, proving the scientific phenomenon
of spouses dying close together is factual. The news story reminds us this is a
world occurrence played out in a small Southern town.
Cleveland Presley died at the age of 92. He was a servant to his church, community
and his country, as he joined the military as a young man and served in the war.
Those who spoke at his funeral said he was a kind and generous man with great
affection for others. He had Alzheimers, however, which made it difficult for him to
function on his own. He didn’t even know his wife Dorothy had died two months
ago and kept asking for her. Scientific studies tell us when an elderly person dies
the spouse will die soon after. Religion declares God may simply call the person
home because the deceased loved one has asked for the person to be with them.
At First Baptist North the church was crowded with friends and family in the African-
American community of Natchitoches, Louisiana. I had attended Dorothy Presley’s
funeral in March. People mourned her death and have said they miss her. When
Cleveland died, however, people said they didn’t feel as said because of his
Alzheimer’s disease and the fact that his wife Dorothy had died just recently. She
had been his caretaker, and after she died, Cleveland was cared for by his twin sons
and others in the community. People at the church on Wednesday declared they
were glad Cleveland and Dorothy were now together again just two months after
separation.
The phenomenon of spouses at about the same time is something reported in many
parts of the world. It has also been studied by science, as MSNBC reported last
year. Science has substantiated what many people have privately observed. The
rate of mortality spikes among grieving spouses not long after the death of a mate.
4000 couples were studied through the University of Glasgow over a number of
years, and the research concluded the rate of death was about 30% of a spouse
death during the first six months of the death of a partner. A study in Jerusalem
found the risk of death was 50%.
Cleveland and Dorothy lived long lives, both dying in their 90’s. It was big news in
the African American community where they lived, and many of the leaders in the
community were on hand to say goodbye to Cleveland Presley yesterday. What
they marveled at, in addition to the beautiful service and wonderful singing, was the
fact two people who loved each other greatly, and relied on one another for so
many things, are now together in death. The scientific fact was proven once again
in a small town in Natchitoches, Louisiana where the routine of death is magnified
as both science and faith coming together when people die so close together in time.
Close Together
Dorothy Presley died two months ago. She was a Natchitoches Treasure 2007.
Her husband died late last week, in early June, proving the scientific phenomenon
of spouses dying close together is factual. The news story reminds us this is a
world occurrence played out in a small Southern town.
Cleveland Presley died at the age of 92. He was a servant to his church, community
and his country, as he joined the military as a young man and served in the war.
Those who spoke at his funeral said he was a kind and generous man with great
affection for others. He had Alzheimers, however, which made it difficult for him to
function on his own. He didn’t even know his wife Dorothy had died two months
ago and kept asking for her. Scientific studies tell us when an elderly person dies
the spouse will die soon after. Religion declares God may simply call the person
home because the deceased loved one has asked for the person to be with them.
At First Baptist North the church was crowded with friends and family in the African-
American community of Natchitoches, Louisiana. I had attended Dorothy Presley’s
funeral in March. People mourned her death and have said they miss her. When
Cleveland died, however, people said they didn’t feel as said because of his
Alzheimer’s disease and the fact that his wife Dorothy had died just recently. She
had been his caretaker, and after she died, Cleveland was cared for by his twin sons
and others in the community. People at the church on Wednesday declared they
were glad Cleveland and Dorothy were now together again just two months after
separation.
The phenomenon of spouses at about the same time is something reported in many
parts of the world. It has also been studied by science, as MSNBC reported last
year. Science has substantiated what many people have privately observed. The
rate of mortality spikes among grieving spouses not long after the death of a mate.
4000 couples were studied through the University of Glasgow over a number of
years, and the research concluded the rate of death was about 30% of a spouse
death during the first six months of the death of a partner. A study in Jerusalem
found the risk of death was 50%.
Cleveland and Dorothy lived long lives, both dying in their 90’s. It was big news in
the African American community where they lived, and many of the leaders in the
community were on hand to say goodbye to Cleveland Presley yesterday. What
they marveled at, in addition to the beautiful service and wonderful singing, was the
fact two people who loved each other greatly, and relied on one another for so
many things, are now together in death. The scientific fact was proven once again
in a small town in Natchitoches, Louisiana where the routine of death is magnified
as both science and faith coming together when people die so close together in time.