Authorities are asking for the public’s help in finding family members for two people who died in Jefferson County in the past week.

The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office identified them as Gary Lee Cook, 66, and Billie Ruth Watkins, 83.

Their bodies are ready to be released for burial, but coroner’s officials have not been able to locate their next of kin. Both died of natural causes.

Cook, a white male, died Jan. 20 at UAB Hospital. At the time of his death, he was a residence at Fair Haven Nursing Home.

Cook previously lived in the 2200 block of Morris Majestic Road in Morris and in the 400 block of Dean Drive in Gardendale, Alabama. He is possibly originally from Maryland and may have distant family in Idaho, Texas, Louisiana, and Wisconsin.

Watkins, a white female, died Jan. 26 at Birmingham Nursing and Rehabilitation Center East and was under the care of Affinity Hospice.

According to a childhood friend and neighbor, Watkins has no known living family. She previously listed and an address in the 700 block of Jackson Blvd in Tarrant.

Anyone with information is asked to call the coroner’s office at 205-930-3603.