Obituaries

We now have over 7,000 obituaries collected about the interred here at Silverbrook Cemetery.

The obituaries are transcribed by the volunteers of the Friends of Silverbrook Cemetery from various sources.  If you see an opportunity for an addition or a correction, please email our obituary editor at obits@friendsofsilverbrook.org.

Helms, Frances M.

Frances M. Helms
Oct. 20, 1941-Apr. 1, 2004

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, April 3, 2004, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Frances M. Helms, 62, of Grand Rapids, formerly of Niles, are Monday, April 15 at 11 am. at Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. Alfred Deeds, Jr. of Bethel Apostolic Tabernacle in Buchanan officiating.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Helms died on Thursday at 7:10 a.m. at Metropolitan Hospital in Grand Rapids.

She was born on Oct. 20, 1941 in Paris. On March 29, 1969, she was married to Leonad Helms, who died on July 2, 1972.

Helms was a longtime resident of S. State Street in Niles until her health declined in 1993.  She attended Pentacostal Church and enjoyed music, especially gospel and country, and loved to sign, often singing harmony with her sister.

Survivors include three sons, Jerry Corcoran of Twining, Ted Corcoran of Essexville, and Leonard Corcoran of Auburn; three sisters, Mary Gallimore of South Bend, Ind., Evelyn McNinch of Buchanan and Delores Hoopcaugh of Berrien Springs; two brohters[sic] Elmer and Edwin Commins.

Visitation will be held Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the funeral home.

Funeral arrangements were handled by Halbritter Funeral Home.

 

Holloway, Edward F.

Edward F. Holloway
Nov. 27, 1892-March 21, 1945


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, March 22, 1945, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library


E.F. Holloway Dies Wednesday

 

A resident of Niles for 19 years, Edward F. Holloway, 52, of 150 Fifth street, Benton Harbor, died at 11:30 Wednesday night after nine months of illness.

A fireman for the New York Central railway, Holloway moved to Niles from Bay City 20 years ago.  He has lived in Benton Harbor for the past year.

Holloway was born in Pinconning Nov. 27, 1892. He is survived by his widow, Audra; a daughter, Mrs. Robert Kane, Niles; a son, Francis Holloway, Niles; four grandchildren; a brother, Harry Holloway, Pinconning, and two sisters, Mrs. Mabel Cellinger and Mrs. Alice Peak, Bay city.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home where funeral services will be conducted by the Rev. L. George Beacock at 2 p.m. Saturday. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Huff, Henry Burton

Henry Burton Huff
1871-March 24, 1945


Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 26, 1945, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral Tuesday for Henry B. Huff, Aged 74

 

Henry Burton Huff, 74, of 631 North Fifth street, died at 9:40 a.m. Saturday in the Berrien county hospital, Berrien Center, after five weeks' illness.

A railway worker, Huff was born on Otoe Indian Reservation, Gage county, Neb., and came to Niles from Chicago 32 years ago. He was a member of the Gleaners lodge.

He is survived by his diwod[sic] Elizabeth; a daughter, Mrs. Ralph PaPinter, Baroda, and a sister, Mrs. John Harns, Wichita, Kas.

Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home, 615 East Main street, where the Rev. Dale Baker will conduct services at 2 p.m.  Tuesday. Burial will be made in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Huffman-Johnson, Patricia A.

Patricia A. Huffman-Johnson
Aug. 1, 1939-April 4, 2004

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, April 6, 2004, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Patricia A. Huffman Johnson, 64, of Pucker street in Niles, are Thursday, April 8 at 2 pm. at Morris Chapel United Methodist Church in Niles with the Rev. O'Ryan Rickard of the church and pastor Kenneth A. Shaver of Greater Cumberland Baptist Church officiating.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Huffman Johnson died on Sunday at 10:20 p.m. at Hospice House in South Bend, Ind.

She was born on Aug. 1, 1939 in Niles. She graduated from Niles High School and returned to Niles after 20 years in Napa, Calif.

Huffman Johnson was a registered nurse and was employed for many years at Napa State Hospital and in Hospice.  She had also been employed at the former Memorial Hospital in St. Joseph and Mercy Hospital in Benton Harbor. She earned her RN through Lake Michigan Community College and was formerly a member of Morris Chapel United Methodist Church.  She was a member of the Red Hat Society and enjoyed shopping, gardening and caring for her friends.

Survivors include three daughters, Kari E. Sievers of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Robyn Shaver of Hopkinsville, Kent., and Amy Sieb of Lake Orion; a son, Christopher Johnson of Napa, Calif.; 17 grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by two brothers, William Huffman on Dec. 28, 1937, and Frederic Huffman on April 16, 1970.

Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice House.

Funeral arrangements were handled by Halbritter Funeral Home.

 

 

 

Jacobson, Harold O.

Harold O. Jacobson
Dec. 22, 1918-April 12, 2004


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, April 14, 2004, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Harold O. Jacobson, 85, of Sycamore St., Niles, died Monday.

He was born on Dec. 22, 1918, in Wisconsin to the late James M. [&] Lena (Heckathorn) Jacobson.  His wife Ora also preceded him in death.

Many people in the community knew Harold from his years of fixing shoes at Niles Shore Repair.

Survivors include a brother, James Jacobson of Niles and a host of nieces and nephews.

No service will take place. Interment will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Pifer-Smith Funeral Home in Niles.

 

Johnson, Elbert O.

Elbert O. Johnson
Sept. 22, 1893-Nov. 9, 1976


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, November 10, 1976, page 2-3, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Elbert O. Johnson, 83, of 49 River St., died at 1:15 a.m. Tuesday at Pawating Hospital following a brief illness.

A member of Huntly Memorial Baptist Church, he was a retired employe of the Penn Central Railroad.  Mrs. Johnson was born Sept. 22, 1893 in Royal Center, Ind., and had lived here since 1920, coming from Logansport, Ind.

On May 28, 1914 in Logansport, he married the former Lenna Boose, who died Dec. 24, 1966.

Survivors include three sons, George and Richard, both of Niles, and Fred of Bear Lake, Mich.; three daughters, Mrs. Beridean Weberline of Marshall, Mrs. Isabelle Ivins of Niles and Mrs. Dorothy Hepler of St. Joseph; 17 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Huntly Memorial Baptist Church with the Rev. Ronald Smith of Huntly Memorial officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are calling at the Halbritter Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Huntly Memorial Baptist Church.

 

Johnson, James Edward

James Edward Johnson
July 18, 1929-Nov. 9, 1976

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, November 10, 1976, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--James Edward Johnson Sr., 47, of 1035 Bame Ave., died at 2:50 p.m. Tuesday at Pawating hospital after an illness of three days.

An assembly line worker at the Wheel Horse Products, Ind., South Bend, he was born July 18, 1929 in Red Bay, Ala.  He had lived here for 26 years, coming from Alabama.

On Oct. 16, 1950 in Osceola, Ark., he married Edna M. Frazier, who survives.

Also survivng are a son, James E. Johnson Jr. at home, three daughters, Miss Martha Johnson of Newark, Ohio, and Tina and Edna L., both at home; six brothers, Conrad of Cherokee, Ala., Herbert of Steele, Mo., Emmett of Huron, Calif., Johnnie of Cooter, Mo., and Robert and LeRoy, both of Holland, Mo., and three sisters, Mrs. Emma Williams of E. Moline, Ill., Mrs. Lola McBoone of Cooter, Mo., and Mrs. Bertha Connell of Florida.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home with the Rev. Ralph O. Pletcher of the Coulters Chapel Church of God officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 p.m. today in the Pifer Chapel.