East TN families want answers after grave markers never delivered

NEW MARKET, Tenn. (WATE) — Grieving families in Jefferson County are facing a double loss. They want to know what happened to the money they paid for grave markers. Many have been waiting for more than a year to honor their loved ones.

Melvina Sexton is devastated. She was expecting a grave marker to be placed at Knoxville’s New Gray Cemetery last fall. Her stepdaughter, Martaysha Flack, was killed by a random bullet while sitting in her car three years ago. Sexton said it took two years to save money for a cemetery marker.

She went to Tom Solomon’s business in New Market 16 months ago. The late Solomon operated his monument company in Jefferson County for years. Sexton knew him and his business.

“On the 4th of May, both Mr. Solomon and Tim Noe were present. [I] tried to pay with a check and he told us we could only accept a cashier’s check or cash,” said Sexton.

Sexton said Tim Noe sat next to Solomon in May 2023. Sexton handed a cashier’s check for $725 to Noe. She received a sketch of the marker from Noe, but the monument maker told 6 News he never received payment.

At the Shady Grove Cemetery in Dandridge, Barbara Mathis is heartbroken as she walks to where her late husband’s grave marker was supposed to be placed. Mike Mathis worked for Knox County’s 911 dispatch center. He died in September 2023. Mathis like Sexton went to Solomon’s monument company.

“Tom Solomon was there along with Tim Noe, they were both sitting in chairs beside each other,” said Mathis. “Mr. Solomon said Tim Noe would be making my order.”

Mathis said Noe presented a drawing of her husband’s monument and said there would be a three-month delay, it’s never been delivered. Solomon passed away on December 30, 2023. He was 87. In January, Mathis called Tim Noe. She said he assured her the marker would be coming.

“In March when I called, he changed his story and he was telling everyone to get a lawyer,” said Mathis.

In March, this note was posted on the office door, saying Solomon’s company was out of business.

Jefferson Monuments is now located at Solomon’s old business address. No one was there when we visited the office. However, there was a phone number to contact. We called it and Noe answered. We asked him about the money Barbara and Melvina handed him at Solomon’s office.

“What he did with his money about paying for orders and things, that’s all with him and his granddaughter and son-in-law,” said Noe.

He went on to say that he did not have anything to do “with the payments or anything like that.” This call took place in June.

Courtney Ball is another person who said she gave Tim Noe money for a monument, but never got it. She took Noe to court last month. Courtney paid $1,754 to buy a marker for her mother a year ago. Ball filed suit against Noe in Jefferson County Sessions Court hoping to get her money back.

Judge Will Roach was asked to decide if Noe was responsible for allegedly keeping the money paid by Ball. In his defense, Noe directed a question to Ball: “Was Mr. Solomon present when you wrote the check for the monument?”

“Yes,” Ball said, “Tom Solomon was sitting at the table with you.”

Noe then told the judge, that he initialed the receipt after Ball paid her money, but said Soloman took the money because he owned the business.

Roach wanted to know what Noe’s job was at the office. Noe said he was “just an assistant” and said after Solomon died “his family handled the money” — not him.

From the testimony he heard, Roach said there was no proof Noe profited from the sale. The judge ruled against Ball and dismissed her claim against Noe. We talked with Noe outside the courtroom and asked about his role at Solomon’s office.

“Just a helper,” said Noe. “Answer phones, take receipts, take money and write a receipt, give the money to Tom.”

The people who paid for their monuments were listening. Noe said he did not cash their checks.

“It all went to Tom Solomon and his family,” said Noe. He added that he didn’t know what Solomon did with the money.

So, what happened to the money to pay for the monuments? Noe said only Solomon’s family can answer that, but Solomon’s granddaughter, Rochelle Davis, told us in a phone call, that she and her father were not involved in any of Solomon’s day-to-day business dealings. She said her grandfather’s estate is presently in probate court.

Unfortunately, these women are left in limbo, without a marker, their money, and no closure.

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