Charlie Watkins
Dec. 15, 1915-Aug. 23, 1990

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 27, 1990, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Charlie Watkins, 74, 782 Beebee Road, Niles, are Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Mount Calvary Baptist church in Niles.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Watkins died at 8:30 a.m. Thursday at Pawating Hospital, Niles, following a brief illness.

Born Dec. 15, 1915, in Rolling Fork, Miss., he had lived in the area since 1988, coming here from Perris, Calif.

He worked as a mechanic.

Survivors include four daughters, Lillie Slaughter of Niles, Willie Bacon of Flint, Nanette Watkins of Niles and Victoria Watkins of South Bend, Ind.; four children; and three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a son on Feb. 23, 1962.

Friends may call from 10 a.m. until time of the services on Wednesday.

Hoven Funeral Home of Buchanan is in charge of arrangements.

Milford R. Williams
Sept. 18, 1911-Dec. 8, 1967

Niles Daily Star, Friday, December 15, 1967, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Milford R. Williams, 56, of 2141 Lewis drive, died Friday, Dec. 8, in Berrien General Hospital, Berrien Center.

Funeral services were Monday, Dec. 11, in the Pifer Funeral Home with the Rev. Burdette L. Faulk, officiating.

Burial was in Silverbrook Cemetery.

His survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Joan Replogle of Buchanan; and Mrs. Carol Collier of Alexandria, Va.; two sons, Darrell of Berrien Springs; and Robert of United States Army, Germany; 16 grandchildren; and four brothers, LaVerne, David and Harold, all of Niles; Charles of Buchanan; two sisters, Mrs. Donna Cinquemani of Downey, Calif.; and Mrs. Naoma McQuaid of Niles.

Born here, Sept. 18, 1911, he was a lifetime member of this area.

Mark Williamson
July 28, 1960-Aug. 12, 1990

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 13, 1990, page 2, col. 3-5, microfilm Niles District Library

Graveside funeral services for Mark D. Williamson, 30, of 1705 E. Ontario Road, Niles, are at 3 p.m. Friday at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles by the Rev. Arnold O. Schaap of Edwardsburg.

Williamson died at 1 a.m. Sunday at 21st Street and Fulkerson Road in Niles.

Williamson was born July 28, 1960, in Niles and had been a lifelong resident. He was a student of Indiana Vocational Technical College of South Bend, Ind., and was employed by Auto Molded Plastics, Inc., of South Bend.

On Feb. 26, 1985, in Niles, he married Dianna J. Stephens, who survives him.

Also surviving are his parents, Gerald Dee Williamson of Three Oaks and Sandra Jean Deitz of Baldwin; a daughter, Courtney Williamson at home; a step-daughter, Emily J. Burrows at home; his grandparents, Charles "Max" and Marthaleen Schulke of Ludington, and Elverna Williamson of Wichita, Kan.; two sisters, Cynthi Hayes of Niles and Shelley Lynn Ingle of South Bend; three step-brothers, Charles "Chuck" Dietz and Robert Dietz, both of Niles, and James Dietz of Mishawaka, Ind.; and a step-sister, April Dietz of Buchanan.

A step-father, Charles "Jake" Dietz, preceded him in death in March, 1989.

Visitation will be private at Halbritter Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Courtney Williamson Education Fund.

John Witherspoon
Dec. 17, 1926-July 30, 1990

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, August 1, 1990, page 2, col. 7-8, and Thursday, August 2, 1990, page 2, col. 7-8, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for John Edward Witherspoon, 63, of 164 ironwood Drive, Niles, are at 1 p.m. today at the Mount Calvary Baptist Church of Niles by the Rev. W.L. Daniel, pastor.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery of Niles.

Witherspoon died at 10:15 p.m. Monday at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Ind.

Witherspoon was born Dec. 17, 1926, in Brownis, Miss., and had lived here for more than 40 years coming from Missouri.

A retiree of Clark Equipment Co. of Buchanan, he was also a member of the Mount Calvary Baptist Church.

On Jan. 26, 1990, in Cassopolis, he married Josephine Jackson, who survives him. A son James Witherspoon, preceded him in death Sept. 16, 1986.

Also surviving are four sons, Henry Witherspoon and Joe Witherspoon, both of Tacoma, Wash., Patrick Witherspoon of Pasco, Wash., and Dwight Witherspoon of Niles; eight daughters, Delores Witherspoon of Dayton, Ohio, Annie Trotter of South Bend, Earline Witherspoon of Columbus, Ohio, Eveline Witherspoon and Kathy Williams, both of Niles, Demetria Witherspoon of West Covina, Calif., Jeweldean Miller of Marion, Ind., and Audrey Jackson of Dowagiac; four step-daughters, Cheri Jones, Jacqueline Palmer, Glenda Jackson and Leesa Jackson, all of Niles, a brother, Lloyd Lafton of Chicago, Ill.; four sisters, Earline Cross and Nella Brown, both of Gary,Ind., Evelyn Sholar and Nora White, both of Chicago, Ill.; 28 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Friends may call from 2 to 9 p.m. at the Hoven Funeral Home of Buchanan. A Wake Service will be at 7 p.m.

Edythe Josephine Marston, 100
Feb. 6, 1912-Dec. 2, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published 6:27pm Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Marston

Edythe Josephine Marston, 100, long-time Cass Street resident in Niles died at 9:40 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012, at West Woods of Niles following a brief illness.

She was born on Feb. 6, 1912, in Marcellus to Elmer and Opal (Thorpe) Brown.  She graduated from Niles High School and has lived on Cass Street in Niles most of her life.  As a young lady, she was employed at the former Montgomery Ward & Company store in Niles, served as the company nurse to the former Tyler Refrigeration of Niles and, during World War II, was employed by the bureau of weights and measures to ensure proper rationing and distribution.  She was also a Blue Star Mother with a son serving in the U.S. Navy.

Josephine participated at the Niles Senior Center, especially enjoying the bingo games.  She tended a home greenhouse and garden and, as an artist, captured still-life and landscapes in oil, watercolor and pastels.  She also enjoyed traveling, finding adventure in the journey and her greatest joy was being a mother and grandmother.

On March 3, 1930, in Niles, she married Joseph F. Marston with whom she celebrated the 50th anniversary of their wedding prior to his death on Jan. 20, 1981.  She was also preceded in death by their son, Joseph Edward Marston; their daughters, Priscilla Ann Smith and Margaret Elaine Marston; a daughter-in-law, Diana (Mrs. Joseph) Marston; and Josephine’s brother, Richard Brown.

Surviving family includes a son and a daughter, David (and Marcia) Marston and Deborah S. (and Joseph) Shelton, both of Niles; grandchildren, Mike Marston, Julie (and Jeff) Herrmann, Rebecca (and Chad) Geister, Caralyn Shelton, Cathy Smith, David G. Smith, Jeff Smith, and James (and Paula) Marston; many great-grandchildren; and Josephine’s brother and sisters, Harry (and Irene) Brown, Frannie (and Jim) Shively,  both of Three Rivers, and Kay Tobin, of Texas; and a sister-in-law, Opal (Mrs. Richard) Brown, of Three Rivers; and many nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Edythe Josephine Marston will be at noon on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012, at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Robert E. Jackson of the First Church of God in Niles officiating.  Interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends beginning at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home.  Contributions in memory of Josephine may be made to Pet Refuge.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Evelyn Elaine Hawkins, 81
Oct. 3, 1931-Nov. 27, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published 4:00pm Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Evelyn Elaine Hawkins, 81, passed away Nov. 27, 2012 at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles.

Hawkins

She was born Oct. 3, 1931, in Niles, to Ezra and Elsie Jones.  She was a lifetime area resident and attended Wesley United Methodist Church.  Evelyn liked gardening, latch hook, word search puzzles and watching television.  She loved spending time with her great-grandson and she loved her animals.

Preceding her in death was her husband, George Henry Hawkins; her parents; one daughter, Linda Gyori; and one sister, Ruth Potokar.

Surviving family include her daughter, Terry Anderson (David Stacey) of Niles; three grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and one great great-granddaughter; one brother, Delmar Jones of Alabama; and two sisters, Lois Rosetto of St. Joseph and Joy Ann Rolston of Niles.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, Dec. 3, 2012 at Hoven Funeral Home, Inc of Buchanan, with visitation one hour before the service in the funeral home.  Burial will take place in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Berrien County Humane Society or Berrien County Cancer Services.