MEMPHIS, Tenn. — An 84-year-old Whitehaven woman and her son were recently evicted from their apartment, but instead of finding shelter they’ve been stuck in the excruciating heat.
They also sat outside during Tuesday night’s storm with all of their belongings.
“I was out here all night last night,” said Virdi Burns, as she was surrounded by couches, bags of clothes and other household items Wednesday afternoon.
Burns said she sat in torrential rains and high speed winds, keeping watch over her things after she was evicted from the Hickory Hill Apartments.
“I know it don’t look like it’s much but it’s mine and I don’t want anybody to take it,” she explained.
On Wednesday with the heat index in the triple digits, surprisingly Burns, who was also a diabetic, was in a good mood.
“Well after it rained I said thank you Jesus. I said all of my stuff, probably got messed up but I think you for the coolness anyway,” she said with a laugh.
Burns admited she was behind on her rent.
Court documents obtained by WREG said she owed her complex more than $1300.
Burns said she had every intent to pay her rent.
She said it was last week when she went to go buy a money order.
She said she walked from her apartment complex on Graceland to a nearby bus station when stopped but was robbed.
Everything, including that rent money was stolen.
“He run behind me and knocked me down and grabbed and took my purse,” she explained.
Walter Caldwell, Burns’ son, said he’s on disability.
He lived in the apartment too.
“It’s all been hard,” he said as he wiped tears from his eyes.
The mother and son already had plans to move, but not this soon, so now they don’t know what to do.
Despite the unknown, Burns said she’s thankful to those who have reached out to lend a hand.
“You don’t find too many people gonna help you when something happens,” she said.
WREG left a message with the apartment management company but have not heard back.
