McCauley, one of 13 living children of Parks’ brother, Sylvester McCauley, filed a petition in Wayne County Probate Court last week seeking to be named the estate’s personal representative.
Shakoor and Steele are asking the court to recognize a will Parks signed in March 2003 giving them control of the estate. A Wayne County probate judge set a hearing for January 3rd.
Shakoor said he is only acting as Parks wanted. “It’s the role Mrs. Parks placed me in, and the role that I’m honor-bound and duty-bound to fulfill,” Shakoor said Tuesday. “I am not seeking conflict. I am just carrying out what Mrs. Parks expressed,” Shakoor said.
Last year, a federal judge named ex-Mayor Dennis Archer to represent Parks in a lawsuit against a rap group because of concerns about whether her interests were being adequately handled. Medical records show that Parks had dementia at least as far back as August 2002.
-MSNBC