A contentious shop in Georgia that sold Confederate memorabilia, including Ku Klux Klan robes, has shut its doors suddenly. This follows a protracted legal fight over the estate of its late owner, Dent Myers.
A Store Steeped in Controversy
Wildman's Civil War Surplus Store, located in Kennesaw, Georgia, opened its doors in 1971. For decades, it was a source of intense local and national controversy due to its display of racist items. According to the Cobb County Courier, these included a Ku Klux Klan robe and a sign that read "White History Year."
The shop's owner, Dent Myers, died in January 2022 at the age of 90. Before his death, he had named his sister, Janice Bagwell, and the store manager, Marjorie Lyon, as co-trustees and co-executors of his estate. The trust held all of Myers's real estate assets, valued at a minimum of $1 million.
Legal Battle Erupts Between Trustees
After Myers's passing, Marjorie Lyon obtained a new business licence and reopened the store. However, in November 2024, Janice Bagwell filed a lawsuit against Lyon. Bagwell alleged that Lyon had breached the trust's terms by blocking her access to the store and other assets, as reported by the Marietta Daily Journal.
The two women fundamentally disagreed on the shop's future. Lyon accused Bagwell of "colluding with critics" who wanted the business closed. In turn, Bagwell claimed Lyon was attempting to "swindle" her out of her rightful inheritance.
Court Intervention and Store Closure
The legal stalemate was broken earlier this month when Senior Judge Adele Grubbs intervened. Judge Grubbs removed Lyon as a trustee of the estate, ruling she had failed in her legal duties since Myers's death. The court order stated that Lyon had refused to communicate with Bagwell and presented herself as the store's sole owner.
Judge Grubbs ordered a forensic accounting and audit of the estate. She commanded Lyon to hand over all documentation, financial information, and assets held in the trust. The court appointed an attorney to act as a co-trustee alongside Bagwell to oversee this process.
This decisive court action has led to the store's abrupt closure, with its future now hanging in the balance. The shop had long been a flashpoint for protests, and its licence renewal in 2022 even prompted a former city council member to resign.
Bagwell and Lyon are scheduled to return to court on Friday, December 19, as the complex estate battle continues.
