From The Tribune staff reports
JEFFERSON COUNTY – The Jefferson County Coroner/Medical Examiner’s Office is requesting the assistance of the public in locating family of the following four decedents who recently died in Jefferson County:
J.W. Davis, a 69-year-old black male from Birmingham, was one of two adult males found deceased inside the decedent’s residence at the 1900 block of 18th Street North, Birmingham, by police performing a welfare check at the request of a concerned neighbor. Davis was found on Dec. 24, 2023, at 7:32 p.m., and pronounced dead at 8:20 p.m. The cause of his death is pending additional laboratory studies, with no evidence of trauma or foul play found.
“The decedent is a veteran and in 2022 listed a home address of 739 Barcelona Court in Birmingham,” Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates said. “The decedent’s mother, Louise Adams, died in November 2012. The decedent’s other relatives include a Bettie Adams Neal (died January 2021), Sallie Adams Stitt, and Ruby Jean Brown. All attempts to locate these family members have failed.”
Philip Joseph Vitale, a 67-year-old white male from Forestdale, Alabama, was found deceased inside his private residence at the 1700 block of Horn Drive, Forestdale, by sheriff deputies performing a welfare check at the request of a concerned friend on Dec. 27, 2023. His cause of death is pending.
“Reportedly, the decedent is an only child and both parents are deceased,” Yates said. “The decedent possibly has extended family living out of state and originally from New Jersey.”
Robert S. Blackmon, a 76-year-old black male from Birmingham was found deceased on Dec. 27, 2023, inside his private residence located at the 2200 block of 12th Street North, Birmingham, by police performing a welfare check at the request of a concerned neighbor. Natural causes is listed as his cause of death.
“Reportedly, the decedent is blind and lives alone at the residence,” Yates said. “The following persons are believed to be related to the decedent: Ada Blackmon (died March 2013), Marcellous Blackmon (died March 2019), and a Joy Blackmon, who once lived in Helena, Alabama.”
James Kevin Cooper, a 58-year-old white male, was found deceased inside his private residence at the 200 block of Cheyenne Blvd, Birmingham, on Dec. 28, 2023, by Birmingham police performing a welfare check at the request of the decedent’s medical care provider. The cause of his death is listed as natural causes.
“Reportedly, the decedent’s mother is Betty Cooper, but her whereabouts is unknown,” Yates said.
If you are family or have knowledge of family, please call the Jefferson County Coroner/Medical Examiner’s Office at 205-930-3603.