HOUSTON – Imagine losing your mother’s ashes, only to have a stranger find them under a tree 12 years later. That’s exactly what happened to Michael Alexander, leading to an emotional reunion he never expected.
The ashes of Alexander’s late mother were unexpectedly found in north Harris County on February 11th, bringing both shock and relief. He told KPRC 2’s Zorrie Jones it was a chance to reconnect with his mother in a way he never imagined.
The ashes belonged to Kathleen Harmison, who was cremated on January 6, 1997. For years, they were kept safe by Alexander’s father, who passed away in 2013. After his father’s death, Alexander’s stepmother moved, and he never saw his mother’s ashes again.
“From pictures of my mom, from pictures to me as a kid. I’ve never seen nothing else,” said Alexander.
The sudden appearance of the ashes in an unlikely location remained a mystery until a local resident stumbled upon the box containing the ashes while walking her dog in the Willowbrook area near a closed-down rehabilitation center.
Taking to social media, the resident posted a heartfelt message on the “Ask Tomball” page: “I’m hoping someone might know Ms. Kathleen and come pick her up. She is located under a tree in the Willowbrook area at a closed-down rehabilitation center.”
The post quickly gained attention, leading to the discovery that the ashes belonged to Alexander’s mother.
Supportive community members on and off social media played a big role in spreading the word and helping connect the ashes to Alexander’s family.
Susan, one of the people involved in the effort, said, “There [were] a lot of different people who wanted to help out… and wanted to make sure that your mother was safe.”
Their efforts made ensured the message reached the right people, leading to this heartfelt reunion.
Alexander met with one of the people who helped connect the ashes to his family at Brookside Funeral Home & Memorial Park to finally bring his mother’s ashes home.
“It felt so refreshing to me to… actually get [my mother] back… in our family," Alexander said.
The General Manager of Brookside Funeral Home & Memorial Park, Kineta Lewis-Harrison, helped make this reunion happen.
“[Alexander] has his mother. That’s what’s most important,” Lewis-Harrison said. “And then secondly, that he has options which we’ve offered to him to have a permanent memorial so that he… and his family can have a place for generations to come to remember her.”
With tears in his eyes, Alexander told KPRC 2’s Zorrie Jones what this reunion meant to him.
“My mom was my best friend and always has been... I was praying about two months ago [and] talking to a friend of mine… [saying] I need my mom’s remains.” Reflecting on her influence, Alexander added, “[Mother] did everything that she could do for me... I have three daughters now, and… treat them like my mom treated me.”
Thinking back on the reunion, Alexander shared how much comfort it brought him. “It’s important because she needs a [placement]. My mom was very important to me… without her, there’s nothing that would have happened. [Going] to college [and] anything that I’ve ever done in life.”
The unexpected discovery has touched many people, reminding them of the deep connections we have with our loved ones, even after they are gone. The community stood behind Alexander, offering support and sharing in his emotional moment.
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Lewis-Harrison added, “We are connected to our community, which is how we found out about this incident.”
This journey, filled with unexpected twists, has given Alexander a sense of peace. Through the kindness of strangers and the power of community, he has been able to reclaim an important piece of his past and honor his mother’s memory in a way he never thought possible.
