CONYERS — An Atlanta record executive stepped forward Wednesday and paid for the cremation of a woman whose body was reportedly abandoned by her daughter at a Conyers crematory.

Shanti Das, a music industry executive formerly with LaFace Records and Motown Universal Records, paid the $850 to Premier Crematory to cremate the remains of a 56-year-old woman who was left at the local business on June 28 without payment.

Ray Wilson, owner of Premier Crematory, said the cost was originally $1,400 for the basic cremation service. He had discounted it to $625 for the family upon learning of their inability to pay. In the end, the final cost was $1,100, which included refrigeration cost. Family members and a friend helped cover the balance not paid by Das.

In a press release, Das said she was “astonished and sympathetic” when she read about the woman who abandoned her mother’s body at Premier Crematory. The press release continued that Das was at a photo shoot for one of her clients when she read the article. She excused herself from the photo session, contacted Wilson and then made arrangements to pay him for storage and cremation service.

“I didn’t even think twice,” said Das, in the press release. “When I read the story, my heart went out to the family, and I knew I could help them in the middle of this horrific ordeal.”

In speaking with the deceased woman’s sister, Das said she learned that the family reportedly had the funds, but the woman’s daughter did not pay for the cremation after Wilson picked up the body from Piedmont Hospital on June 25.

Wilson said the daughter never returned after promising payment a few days later.

“That made me even sadder, and the deceased woman did not deserve to be there any longer,” Das said when contacted Wednesday.

Wilson said he was satisfied the problem was resolved. He said he felt tricked after speaking with the woman’s daughter.

“This has never been about me soliciting the community for money to benefit this family. It’s been about how this family abandoned their responsibility,” Wilson said. “I’m glad to have the issue resolved and there was closure.”

The money came from May We Rest In Peace, Das’ nonprofit organization, formed to help pay for burials of unclaimed bodies. According to the group’s website, www.maywereastinpeace.org, Das formed the nonprofit last year after following the story of bodies piled up in the Wayne County morgue in Detroit. The group ended up paying for burials for 26 unclaimed bodies.