Authorities are asking for the public’s help finding family members of four people who died in Jefferson County the last week of December.

Their bodies are ready to be released for burial, but the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office has not been able to reach their next of kin.

J.W. Davis, a 69-year-old Black male, was one of two men found dead inside a residence about 7:32 p.m. in the 1900 block of 18th Street North.  The men were pronounced dead on the scene at 8:20 p.m.

Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates said police made the discovery while performing a welfare check at the request of a concerned neighbor.

Authorities were able to find family for the other man, whose name has not been released. They told coroner’s officials they did not know Davis.

The autopsies showed no signs of foul play or trauma. The cause of death is pending additional laboratory studies.

Davis was a military veteran. In 2022, he listed a home address of 739 Barcelona Court in Birmingham.

His mother, Louise Adams, died in November 2012. Other relatives include Bettie Adams Neal, who died in 2021, Sallie Adams Stitt and Ruby Jean Brown.

Attempts to find living family members were unsuccessful.

Philip Joseph Vitale, a 67-year-old white male, was found dead Dec. 27 in his home in the 1700 block of Horn Drive in Forestdale.

Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies made the discovery at 2:15 p.m. after performing a welfare check at the request of a concerned friend.

Yates said Vitale was reportedly an only child and both of his parents are dead. He possible has extended family out of state and originally from New Jersey.

His cause of death is pending.

Robert S. Blackmon, a 76-year-old Black male, was found dead inside his home in the 2200 block of 12th Street North. The discovery was made by police performing a welfare check, also at the request of a concerned neighbor.

He was pronounced dead on the scene at 5:56 p.m. from natural causes.

Yates said Blackmon was blind and lived alone. His relatives are believed to include Ada Blackmon, who died in March 2013, Marcellous Blackmon, who died in March 2019, and Joy Blackmon, who formerly lived in Helena. No photo of Blackmon was available.

James Kevin Cooper, a 58-year-old White male, was found dead at 11:17 a.m. Dec. 28 inside his home in the 200 block of Cheyenne Boulevard.

Cooper’s medical care provider asked Birmingham police to do a welfare check on him. He died of natural causes.

Authorities believe Cooper’s mother is Betty Cooper but her whereabouts are unknown.

Family members are asked to call the coroner’s office at 205-930-3603.