Until last November, no one from the church had ever met the 76-year-old Morehead. Krista Lindwall was the first person to meet him. She visited him at Northwestern Hospital in December when she learned from a doctor friend that Morehead had no family or friends.
Morehead was soon transferred to a nursing home and later to another hospital one month before he died. During that time, Lindwall and several other church members befriended Morehead, visiting him often.
They learned little of his life, but Lindwall thinks he may have lived in a hotel for transients before he entered Northwestern. Although he didn’t talk about his past, Lindwall adds, “He became just like any other friend.”
Morehead died May 2. “Since he didn’t have any family, the hospital let me sign for his body’s release and make the funeral arrangements,” Lindwall says.
She helped arrange the memorial service, which included the hymns “Great is Thy Faithfulness” and “O Love That Will Not Let Me Go.” Pastor Aaron Johnson told the gathering that Morehead’s value came from being made in the image of God.
Lindwall says she will miss Morehead. “For not knowing him very long, the grieving process has been surprisingly hard.” Click here to read Lindwall’s touching eulogy.
Morehead will receive a public aid burial at a later date.
