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.

Finley, Harriet E. (Shreaves)

editor Obituaries

Harriet E. Finley
June 10, 1965-July 8, 2004

Funeral services for Harriet E. Finley, 39, of Greendale Avenue, Niles, are Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Niles Westside Seventh-day Adventist Church, Niles, by Pastor Isaias Santos of Edwardsburg Seventh-day Adventist Church and Pastor John Abbott of Niles Westside Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Finley died Thursday at 3:30 p.m. at St. Mary Hospital in Grand Rapids, following a brief Illiness.

She was born June 10, 1965, in Sheridan, Wyoming, and had lived in Niles since 1993, coming here from California.

On July 10, 1992, in Loma Linda, Calif., she was married to Cary Finley, who survives.

Finley was a member and deaconness of the Edwardsburg Seventh-day Adventist Church.  She shared her love for Christ through her sickness and recoveries, witnessing to others at Silverbrook Manor and other nursing homes.  Her life was one filled with miracles and opportunity to share her faith, which she did on a personal level.

Survivors, in addition to her husband, include three sons, Steaven E. Finley, Cary "C.J." Finley and Mason A. Finley, all at home; and her parents, Dr Edward and Carmen Shreaves of Glendale, Calif.

Friends may call Wednesday from 11 a.m .to 1 p.m. at the Church.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Harriet E. Finley Memorial Fund at the Edwardsburg  Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Arrangements were made by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.


Niles Daily Star, Sat. July 10, 2004, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library
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Finley, Martha

editor Obituaries

Mrs. Martha Finley
Sept. 1, 1903-Dec. 10, 1976

NILES--Mrs. Martha Finley, 73, 0f 251 Cass St., died at 1:12 a.m. today at the Dor-A-Lin Nursing Home after an extended illness.

She was a member of the Franklin AME Church, the Miriam Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star, and was a retired Girl Scout leader after having served for more than 35 years.

She was born Sept. 1, 1903 in Dowagiac and and lived her lifetime in the area.

On Jan. 29, 1923 in Niles, she married Harold C. Finley, who died Jan. 23, 1960.

Survivors include a son, Harold J. of Niles; a daughter, Mrs. Larry (Barbara) Roberson of Niles; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m Monday at the Franklin AME Church with the Rev. Charles E. Wilson of Franklin officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetry.

Friends may call from 2 to 4  and from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to the Franklin AME Church or the Niles Senior Citizens Center.


Niles Daily Star, Friday, December 10, 1976, page 2 col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library

Finley, Schuyler C.

editor Obituaries

Schuyler C. Finley
Nov. 7, 1868-Aug. 8, 1951

Schuyler C. Finley, 82, of 815 Sycamore street, died at 3:05 p.m. Wednesday at his home.  He had been ill for one month.

Finley was born here Nov. 7, 1868, and was a lifetime resident. He was a retired cook.

Surviving are his wife; Emily; a daughter, Mrs. Percy Gay, of Niles, a son, Harold, of Niles; eight grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Herbert, of Inkster, and Garfield, of Ladysmith, Wis.

[Illegible] .. services will be held at 2 p.m Saturday.  The Rev. Thomas Harden, of Franklin AME church, will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, August 9, 1951, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Blank, Lloyd H.

editor Obituaries

Lloyd H. Blank
Aug. 18, 1899-Dec. 9, 1976

NILES--Lloyd H. Blank, 77, of 2476 U.S. 12 E., died at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at Pawating Hospital after an illness of six months.

Retiring from the New York Central Railroad in 1962 in Springville township, Ind. He moved to Niles in  1920 from Michigan City, Ind.

On June 24, 1920 in St. Joseph, he married Nellie M Lindborg, who survives.

Also surviving are three sons, Lloyd W., Dr. LaVern W. and Dr. William L., all of Niles; two daughters, Mrs. Marguerite Coble of Clearwater, Fla., and Mrs. George (Shirley) Elrod of Niles; a brother, Ben E. of Niles; two sisters, Mrs. Minnie Austin of Michigan City and Mrs. Bertis Martin of Indianapolis, Ind.; 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the First Presbyterian Church of Niles.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 p.m. Saturday at the Pifer Chapel of  the Swem-Smith Funeral Home.


Niles Daily Star, Friday, December 10, 1976, page 2 col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library

Stewart. Howard

editor Obituaries

Howard Stewart
May 2, 1906-Feb. 4, 1982

Howard Stewart, 75, of 1207 N. 8th St., Niles, died Thursday at Pawating Hospital after a short illness.

He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and a retired employee of the U.S. Post Office. He had lived in the area since 1932, coming from Elkhart, Ind.

He was born May 2, 1906 in Union City, Tennessee and married Alene Copley Nov. 12, 1942 in Niles. She survives.

Surviving are, Mrs. Audrey King, and Mrs. Florence Taylor of Niles, Mrs. Georgia Thomas, Mrs. Ruth Ivory, Mrs. Luella Chavis of Elkhart, all are sisters.  A brother, James Stewart, of Niles, also survives.

The Rev. W.L. Daniel of Mt. Calvary Baptist church will officiate at services at 2 p.m. Monday at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home.  Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.


Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 8, 1982, page 2, col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library

Gay, Percy

editor Obituaries

Percy Gay
Sept. 23, 1894-April 12,1971

NILES--Percy Gay, 76, of 310 N. Ninth St., died at 3::35 a.m. today in Pawating Hospital, after a brief illness.

A retired employe of Clark Equipment Co., Mr. Gay was born Sept. 23, 1894, in Mexico Mo., and had lived her since 1923. His wife, the former Ella Crocker, survives.

Mr. Gay was a member of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church and chairman of the church board of trustees; the Eastern Star, Miriam chapter; the Niles branch of the NAACP and was a World War I veteran of the U.S. Army.

Also surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Helen Jones and Mrs. Mary Skinner, both of Niles, and five grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in Mt. Calvary Baptist Church,  with the Rev. W.D. Daniel officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 Tuesday night at the Halbritter Funeral Home.

The family requests that memorials be given to the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church Building Fund.


Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 12, 1971, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library.

Gay, Ella M.

editor Obituaries

Ella M. Gay
Jan. 29, 1904-Feb. 6, 1982

Mrs. Ella M. Gay, 78, of 310 N. 9th St., Niles, died at 12:40 a.m. Saturday at Pawating Hospital following an extended illness.

She was a member of the Franklin A.M.E. Church and sewing and missionary circles of that church.

She was born Jan. 29, 1904 in Birmingham, Alabama. She lived in the area since 1949, coming from Chicago.

She married Percy Gay, Dec. 12, 1968 in Niles. He preceded her in death, April 12, 1971.

Surviving is Mrs. Mary Skinner, a stepdaughter of Niles.  Five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren also survive.

The Rev. Alfred E. Watts of the Franklin  A.M.E. Church, will officiate at the 1:30 p.m. service Tuesday, at the Halbritter Funeral Home.  Burial will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 2 p.m. Monday at the Halbritter Funeral Home.


Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 8, 1982, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

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