Members of West family could purchase land back

Published 12:00 am Saturday, June 20, 2009

NATCHEZ — Members of the West family may be interested in purchasing several parcels of land previously owned by West Enterprises.

Attorney John Underwood, who represents Apex Mortgage, which currently owns the property, said an associate in his firm has been contacted by an attorney representing the West family to discuss purchasing the property back from Apex.

In late May, property including the West Funeral Home and the Pine Hill Cemetery once owned by West Enterprises became Apex property in the foreclosure sale.

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“Beyond that we don’t know much right now,” Underwood said.

West Enterprises’ President Theodore “Bubber” West could not be reached for comment.

Additionally, Underwood said a date has been set to confirm the sale of the properties, despite West’s last-minute bankruptcy filing the day before the foreclosure sale.

West has previously said he believes the bankruptcy filing bars the property from being sold in the foreclosure sale.

However, Underwood maintains a bankruptcy court decision on a previous West filing, made in 2008, will permit the sale to be made.

Natchez businessman Robert Johnson III was the lone bidder on the West properties during the foreclosure sale.

Johnson’s Attorney Bobby Cox said his client still intends to purchase the property once bankruptcy issues have been settled.