Volunteers in Swedesboro are raising money for the family of a murdered homeless man.
Sylvester Combs, 61, was found murdered in Swedesboro Wednesday, April 6, 2016. (Photo courtesy Joe Giacobbe) SWEDESBORO -- Funeral services for the slain homeless man who was known throughout the borough have been set for Tuesday and residents are coming together to raise money to help the family bury their loved one.
Sylvester Combs, known as Buttons to Swedesboro residents, was found dead in a commercial trailer he was known to frequent Wednesday evening. He had been beaten, sustaining multiple blunt force injuries to the head, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office, which is investigating the case as a homicide.
Combs, 61, was known to locals throughout the small town with volunteers from a local Christian thrift store often offering him a place to sleep on cold nights and giving him food and clothing.
"For three years he's been a client of Kings Things, Mary Rambler, one of the organization's volunteers and board members, said. "Knowing how frail and sick he was, to have him hit in the head is devastating."
Those volunteers, along with at least one local businessman, have started a fundraiser to help Combs' family pay for a funeral, which has been set for 10 a.m. Tuesday at May Funeral Home in Sicklerville.
Cash donations are being collected at the Farmer's Insurance office of Joseph Giacobbe at 1506 Kings Highway.
"This is a sleepy little quaint town. This is our first murder that I can remember on record," Giacobbe said. "We can show what kind of people we are in town, bring people together and get everyone united."
"Funerals are expensive," Rambler added. "Any money collected will go to the funeral home."
The volunteers are hopeful that the borough's community will come together to help the family, as they are known to do whenever tragedy strikes in the small town.
"Even if they didn't know Buttons I think they know the manner in which he died was completely unfair and they will be willing to help his family," Rambler said. "We have a wonderful community and they really do gather around and they'll do it. They'll come through."
Anyone with information about Combs' death is asked to contact Det. Greg Malesich of the GCPO at 856-384-5626 or Det. Chris Beckett of the Woolwich Police Department at 856-467-1667, ext. 1224. Information can also be emailed anonymously to the Prosecutor's Office at tips@co.gloucester.nj.us.
Rebecca Forand may be reached at rforand@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @RebeccaForand. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.