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.

Crane, Thomas G.

Thomas G. Crane
Oct. 28, 1902-March 30, 1984


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, March 31, 1962, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Thomas G. Crane, 81, Hope Nursing Home, Lawton, formerly of Niles, died at 12:02 a.m. Friday at the nursing home.

He retired in 1967 from White Farm Equipment Co., in South Bend and was a member of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Niles.

Born Oct. 28, 1902 in Commerce, Ga., he was married to Sylvia Crane, who survives.

Also surviving are three sons, Thomas Crane Jr. and Donald Crane, both of Chicago, and Victor Crane of Paw Paw; a daughter, Peggy Crane of Chicago; 15 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church with Rev. W.L. Daniel officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

 

Davey, Juanita

Juanita Davey
May 22, 1928-Oct. 22, 1977


Niles Daily Star, Monday, October 24, 1977, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Juanita Davey, 49, of 2505 Reese Dr., died at 2:15 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Hospital, South Bend, following an illness of four months.

She was born May 22, 1928, in Bolton, N.C., and had lived here for 25 years, coming from Franklin, Va. She was an employee of the Aviex Corp.

Survivors include a son, Lawrence E. Davey Jr. of Niles; two daughters, Mrs. William (Susan) Christene Visel and Miss Linda Davey, both of Niles; a brother, William Best of Niles; three sisters, Mrs. Clyde (Bessie) Noble of Niles; Mrs. Ruby Corban of Niles and Mrs. Ruth Russell of Avon N.Y.; and two grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home with the Rev. Donald Smith of the Huntley Memorial Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are calling at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service.

 

DeShazer, Nancy Pauline

Nancy Pauline DeShazer
May 29, 1903-Feb. 25, 1960


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, February 25, 1960, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Herman (Nancy Pauline) DeShazer, 56, 1102 N. 8th St., died at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday in Pawating Hospital where she had been a patient since Feb. 12. She had been in failing health for three years.

Mrs. DeShazer was born May 29, 1903, in Brookhaven, Miss., and came to Niles 17 years ago from Hollandale, Miss.

Surviving are: her husband; three sons, Anzie DeShazer, Hollandale, Miss., Curtis Cotton, Brookhaven, Miss., and Johnnie Cotton, St. Louis, Mo.; three daughters, Mrs. Laurice Bryant, Brookhaven,, Mrs. Ethel Maxwell, Niles, and Mrs. Pauline Foster, Greenville, Miss.; 24 grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. Clydee Grant, Brookhaven and a half-brother, Arthur Grant of Chicago.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday in Mount Calvary Baptist Church here with the pastor, Rev. Theodis Hadley, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home beginning Saturday afternoon.

 

Gimlin, Henrietta

Henrietta Gimlin
Jan. 15, 1900-March 14, 1960


Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 14, 1960, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library


Buchanan--Miss Henrietta Gimlin, 60, of 413 E. Front St., died at 6:30 a.m. today at Pawating Hospital, Niles, following an illness of several weeks.

She was born Jan. 15, 1960 in Chicago, daughter of the late Albert B. and Bessie Gimlin. The family came to Buchanan in Oct. 1935 from Chicago. Miss Gimlin was employed in the offices of the Clark Equipment Co. for many years.

Miss Gimlin was a member of the First Presbyterian Church at Lombard, Ill. She is survived by one brother, Guy Gimlin, of Oak Park, Ill.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Swem Funeral Home. Interment will be in Silverbrook Cemetery., Niles.  Friends may call at the funeral home after 10 a.m. Tuesday.

 

 

 

Green, Gertrude

Gertrude Green
July 3, 1895-March 6, 1960

Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 7, 1960, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library


Mrs. Thomas (Gertrude) Green, 64, 1627 Cherry St., died at 1:10 p.m. Sunday in her home following an illness of seven weeks.

Mrs. Green was born July 3, 1895 in Palmetto, Ga., and came to this community 10 years ago to make her home. Surviving are her husband; a son, C.S. Henry, Atlanta, Ga.; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Mount Calvary Baptist Church with the pastor, the Rev. T. Hadley, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call until noon Wednesday at the Pifer Funeral Home.

 

Hamilton, Richard

Richard Hamilton
May 26, 1892-Oct. 24, 1962


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, October 27, 1962, page 2, col. 4-5, microfilm Niles District Library

KOKOMO, Ind.-- Richard Hamilton, 70, formerly of this city, died unexpectedly Wednesday in the Southern Florida Baptist Hospital, Plant City, Fla.

Mr. Hamilton was born May 26, 18892, in Buchanan, Mich. He married Lucile LaPointe, of Niles, Mich., on June 7, 1922. She survives.

His other survivor is a daughter, Mrs. James (Glenell) Coffey, of this city.  A brother and sister preceded him in death.

He retired from the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co. in 1959, after receiving his 25 year pin from the company in 1958.

He was a life member of the St. Joseph Valley Lodge No. 4, Free and Accepted Masons Niles; Kokomo Chapter No. 404, Royal Arch Masons; Kokomo Council No. 60, Royal Select Masons; Kokomo Commandery No. 36, Knights Templar; a 22 year member of the Order of Eastern Star, a past patron of Bethlehem Chapter No. 37, Evans City, Pa. for nine years, and was affiliated with Kokomo Chapter No. 389 in 1953. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church here.

Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Monday in the Ellers Funeral Home, where Eastern Star memorial services will be held at 8 p.m. Sunday. The Rev. Harry P. Walrond will officiate. Graveside rites, conducted by the St. Joseph Valley Lodge, will precede burial in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

 

 

 

Hayes, Infant (Male/twin)

Infant Hays
March 2, 1960


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, March 3, 1960, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library


Committal services were held this afternoon at Silverbrook Cemetery for the infant twin son of Mr.and Mrs. Clem J. Hays, 426 Bruce Ave., who was still born early Wednesday at Pawating Hospital. The Rev. Theodore Laesch, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church,  officiated.