Suggest a News Obituary
When someone remarkable dies, their story deserves to be told — not just announced. The Commercial Dispatch publishes news obituaries: reported, biographical stories written by our staff about people whose lives made a mark on this community.
Who qualifies?
We define "notable" broadly. A news obituary is not reserved for elected officials, award winners, or people with famous names. Some of the most meaningful lives are lived quietly — in classrooms, in churches, in businesses, in neighborhoods, across decades of service that never made headlines but shaped this place profoundly.
We look for people whose lives intersected with the community in ways that made it different. That might mean a teacher whose students span four decades, a business owner who anchored a neighborhood, a coach, a volunteer, a civil rights participant, an artist, a civic organizer, or someone who simply showed up for others in ways that outlast them.
We are selective. Not every submission will result in a story — our staff evaluates each one and makes independent editorial decisions about what we pursue. Submitting a suggestion does not guarantee publication. But we read every one, and we take them seriously.
How it works
Fill out the form below. Tell us what you know. We may follow up with you directly, and we may reach out to others you suggest. The more context you provide, the better equipped our reporters are to evaluate and pursue the story.
If you have questions, contact us at [email protected].