Mr. Rogers,
I got your email address and work phone number from an online search. I thought I would try emailing you before calling your office.
My husband, Gregory Kenneth Wooten, passed away on November 16th, 2022. After a car accident in 2016 from passing out due to a leaky heart valve, then spine surgery, MRSA and another spine surgery, he retired. Once he was on disability, he wanted to move to the beach. It was always his dream to move there, so we did in 2018.
Unfortunately, over time, he got sicker and weaker. He had heart surgery, an emergency appendectomy and part of his intestines removed. He then found out he had CLL and was in stage 4 of kidney disease. I was his Caregiver until his last breath.
What I am emailing you about is our lock box which is located at Truist in Ocean Isle Beach, NC. In 2017, we chose to transfer it from Cherryville, NC. My name was added to his account at Truist and his name was added to my account at SECU. He had been with Truist for many years and I had been with SECU for many years.
After Greg's passing, I visited Ocean Isle Truist at least 3 times, Shallotte 2 times, Cherryville 1 time and Gastonia 1 time. I only had to visit the Brunswick County Courthouse twice. They were sympathetic, understanding and accommodating. I cannot say the same about Truist.
Everyone was so secretive and non-trusting. I felt like I was being treated like a criminal. After all the visits over 6 months or so, they finally told me who the beneficiaries were. When I went to open the lock box at the Ocean Isle Beach branch, they asked for a key. I did not have one and offered to pay for a new one. They then told me the only name on the box was Greg's. I asked them what would happen to his items and they told me that over time, his things would be transferred to Florida, I believe.
I am so upset about this. I was his wife and caregiver and there is no way he would not want me to have what is in his lock box. Like I stated before, I was with him when we opened the account at Ocean Isle and when he told them he wanted the lock box transferred.
Why am I not entitled to what he has? I am so upset, disappointed, and would love to get some answers. Can you help me?
Sincerely,
Lisa Wooten
Desired outcome: I would like to open our lock box and retrieve the contents.