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.

Gillett, Carrie Reum (Mikesell)

Carrie Reum Gillett
March 13, 1869-April 13, 1959


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, April 14, 1959, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Carrie Reum Gillett, 90, a former Niles resident, died at 1:15 a.m.  Monday in the Dunkelberger Nursing Home, Bangor.

Mrs. Gillett was born near Jones March 13, 1869. She came to Niles and married George F. Reum, a Niles businessman for many years. Mr. Reum died in 1916.  She later married Frank Gillett, of Lawton, and left Niles eighteen years ago to live in Lawton. Mr. Gillett died sixteen years ago.

Surviving are a sister, Mrs. Verna Taylor, of Niles; a niece, Mrs. Vivian Shreve, of Kalamazoo; and three nephews, Laverne Guyott, of Niles, Harold Dodge, of South Bend, and Frank Dodge, of Elkhart.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the Prindle Funeral Home, Lawton. Burial will be in Niles at Silverbrook Cemetery.

*Note: Carrie Mikesell married George F. Reum in Niles October 30, 1889.

Henry, Ezra C.

Ezra C. Henry
Nov. 24, 1875-April 1, 1959


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, April 2, 1959, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Ezra C. Henry, 83, of 22732 West Roosevelt Road, South Bend, died at 11 a.m., Wednesday, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Vinton G. Cork, with whom he resided. He had been ill for several years.

A retired merchant, Mr. Henry was born Nov. 24, 1875, in Laketon, Ind. He owned and operated a second hand store here for 20 years and moved to South Bend 11 years ago.

His wife, Charlotte, died in 1940. Surviving in addition to Mrs. Cork are: another daughter, Miss Myrtle E. Henry, Niles; a son, Ernest E. Henry, Niles; two sisters, Mrs. Jennie Farley and Mrs. Edward Rusher, both of Warsaw, ind.,; two brothers, Loren, of Silver Lake, Ind., and Franklin, of Marion, Ind.; one grandson and one great grandson.

Funeral services will be held at . .[illegible].. and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.  Other arrangements are incomplete.


Niles Daily Star, Friday, April 3, 1959, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

HENRY SERVICES SET

Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Monday in the Kiger-Halbritter Funeral Home here for Ezra C. Henry, 83, of South Bend, who died Wednesday morning in the home of his daughter, Mrs. Vinton G. Cork where he had made his home.  The Rev. John P. McLachlan, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

 

Hickerson, John David

John David Hickerson
Feb. 28, 1904-July 14, 1980


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, July 15, 1980, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--John David Hickerson, 76, of 1183 Shady Shore Drive, died at 1:43 a.m. Monday at Red Bud Estates, Berrien Springs, following an extended illness.

A member of the First Baptist Church, he was a retied employee of the Penn Central Railroad.

Mr. Hickerson was born Feb. 28, 1904 in Manchester, Tenn., and spent his lifetime in the area.

On Dec. 13, 1958 in Plymouth, Ind., he married Alfreda Cross Haslam, who survives.

Also surviving are two sons, Max of Edwardsburg, and Michael of Grand Terrace, Calif.; a step-son, John Hatfield of Niles; a daughter, Mrs. Millie Arnett of Montclair, Calif.; a step-daughter, Mrs. Shirley VanAcker of Niles; seven sisters, Mrs. Kitty Shipley, Mrs. James Campbell, Mrs. Albert Parker, Mrs. Aubrey Duke, Mrs. Albert Grosch, and Mrs. Christine Winn, all of Manchester, Tenn., and Mrs. Peter Pienizkiewicz of Niles; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be conducted at a later date.  Local funeral arrangements are being handled by the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church Memorial Fund.


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, July 22, 1980, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Memorial services will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday in the Silverbrook Cemetery for John David Hickerson, 76, of 1138 Shady Shore Drive, who died on Monday, July 14, in Berrien Springs.

The Rev. Ray C. Cunningham, pastor of the First Baptist Church, will officiate.

Local arrangements are being handled by the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church Memorial Fund.

 

 

Hurry, Hildred L.

Hildred L. Hurry
Feb. 15, 1902-July 17, 1980


Niles Daily Star, Friday, July 18, 1980, page 3, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Mildred[sic] L. Hurry, 78, of 2428 Dick St., Niles, died at 4:28 a.m. Thursday in Pawating Hospital.

SHE WAS BORN Feb. 15, 1902 in Williamston and had lived in the Niles area since 1952, coming here from Durand.

She was married on June 7, 1919 to Clifford A. Hurry in Jackson. He died May 7, 1979.

Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Virginia Glum of Lansing; a brother, Russell Leonard of Owosso; a sister, Mrs. Fern Chubb of Morrice; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a..m. Sagurday in the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles. The Rev. Arnold O. Schaap of Edwardsburg will officiate.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Halbritter Funeral Home after 4 p.m. Friday.

 

Love, Thurvin T.

Thurvin T. Love
May 20, 1905-July 21, 1980


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, July 22, 1980, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

Thurvin T. Love, 75, of 896 Carberry Road, died at 8:05 a.m. Monday in Pawating Hospital after a lengthy illness.

He was a retired employee of Simplicity Pattern Company and lived in the area since 1942 coming from South Bend.

He was born May 20, 1905 in DeKab, Miss., and married Alberta Quinn in  South Bend on Feb. 27, 1945.

She survives along with two daughters, Roberta of South Bend, Mary Sue of Benton Harbor and a stepdaughter, Johnnie Carpenter of Gary, Ind. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

He was a member of the Mt. Olive Missionary Church.

Arrangements are pending at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home.

 

Martin, Mollie

Mollie Martin
Oct. 8, 1883-April 24, 1959


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, April 25, 1959, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library


Mrs. Mollie Martin, 75, of Kalamazoo, formerly of Niles died at 11 p.m. Friday in Kalamazoo following an illness of several years.

Mrs. Martin was born Oct. 89, 1883, in LaPorte County, Ind., and moved to Kalamazoo from here in 1947. Her husband, Montgomery Martin, preceded her in death in 1947.

Surviving are: a son, Kenneth Martin, of Niles; one grandson; two great grandchildren; two brothers, Guy VanDusen, of New Carlisle, Ind., and Wesley VanDusen of Niles, and a sister, Mrs. Cynthia Lowery, of Mishawaka, Ind.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Kiger-Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. Gordon Everett, pastor of the Evangelical United Brethren Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

 

Maxwell, Ethel Mae

Ethel Mae Maxwell
Oct. 3, 1934-July 26, 1980


Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 28, 1980, page 3, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Ethel Mae Maxwell, 56, of 1425 N. Fifth St.,, died Saturday at Pawating Hospital.

A retired employee of the Simplicity Pattern Company, she was a 30 year resident of Berrien County. She was born Oct. 3, 1924 in Little Rock, Ark.

Survivors include a sons, Ronnie DeShazer of Niles; three daughters, Ms. Annie Ruth Maxwell of Boston, Mass., Miss Ella Mae Maxell of Niles, and Mrs. Mary Beth James, of Niles; a brother, Anzi DeShazer of Hollandale, Miss.; and nine grandchildren.

She was a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church, where funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday with the Rev. James Ridley officiating.

Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home, where a wake service will be conducted from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday.