Anna Z. Cooper
1858-Dec. 24, 1884
Niles Democrat, Saturday, December 27, 1884, page 5, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library
We are pained to learn of the sudden death of Mrs. Z.L. Cooper on Wednesday morning last. Mrs. Cooper was the daughter of Mr. Jared Hoadley, and numbered among the young people of this city many warm personal friends. Her husband and family have the sympathy of the entire community in their bereavement.
Niles Mirror, Wednesday, December 31, 1884, page 5, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library
Mrs. Zimri L. Cooper died at their residence on Grant street, west side, Tuesday night of last week.
Niles Daily Star, Thursday, January 1, 1885, page 3, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library
Mrs. Zimri L. Cooper died at her father's home in West Niles, Dec. 24, 1884.
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.
Etta M. Carrett
Nov. 2, 1860-June 4, 1951
Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, June 6, 1951, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library
Mrs. Etta M. Carrett, 90, died at her home in Staunton, Va., at 11 p.m. Monday. She was born in Howard township, Cass county, Nov. 2, 1860, and lived in Niles 70 years before moving to Staunton in 1945. Mrs. Carrett also spent part of her summers here.
Surviving is a daughter, Mrs. M.B. Travis, of Staunton; a sister, Mrs. Anna Fox, of Denver, Colo.; a niece, Mrs. James Shipperly, of Niles, a nephew, John Clevenger, of Niles; and two grandchildren.
Committal services will be held at Silverbrook cemetery at 10 a.m. Friday with the Rev. Percy Jones, officiating. Arrangements are being made by the Kiger funeral home. The casket will remain closed.
Mitchell Walker, 90
June 3, 1921 — Jan. 22, 2012
Niles Daily Star, Published online 10:36pm Monday, January 23, 2012
Mitchell Robert Walker, 90, of Oak Creek, Wis., departed this life on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012.
Mitchell was born June 3, 1921, to the parentage of Walter and Minnie (Mays) Walker in Woodstock, Tenn. His early years were spent in Missouri and Arkansas.
Mitchell did construction work as well as factory labor and retired from El Rico in Benton Harbor. He lived in Benton Harbor before moving to South Bend, and Milwaukee would become his home throughout his later years.
He is preceded in death by his brothers, James, John, Joseph, Walter and Roosevelt Walker, and sister, Luella Banks.
In 1966, Mitchell wed Janet Henry, who survives. He is also survived by three sons, Wesley (LaDonna) Henry, Roosevelt L. (Crystal) Walker and Robert James (Lisa) Walker, all of Benton Harbor; two daughters, Jean Henry of South Bend and Victoria (Maurice) Finley of Pensacola, Fla.; 26 grandchildren; a host of great-grandchildren; brother, Alfred (Ruth) Walker of Niles; and a sister, Minnie Garrison of South Bend.
Funeral services to honor and celebrate Mitchell’s life will be held Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012, at BrownFuneral Home in Niles beginning at 2 p.m. Mitchell will be laid to rest at Silverbrook Cemetery.
Those wishing to leave a message for the family, upload a photo or write a letter of condolence may do so at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com or on our Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/BrownFuneralHomeNiles.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home in Niles.
Nellie Hunt
April 23, 1882-Oct. 26, 1974
Niles Daily Star, Monday, October 28, 1974, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library
Mrs. Nellie Hunt, 92, of 1220 S. 14th St., died at 7:50 a.m. Saturday at the Michigan Skilled Care Center, after an extended illness.
A homemaker, Mrs. Hunt was born April 23, 1882 in Indiana and lived in the area most of her lifetime. On June 18, 1904 in Valparaiso, Ind. she married Robert E. Hunt, who died July 15, 1954.
She is survived by a son, Herman of Niles; two daughters, Mrs. Edythe Rudolph and Mrs. Pearl McBain, both of Niles, nine grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home with the Rev. James B. Blair of Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church officiating.
Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends are calling at the funeral home.
Ora Lee Erving
Sept. 15, 1905-Oct. 25, 1974
Niles Daily Star, Monday, October 28, 1974, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library
NILES--Ora Lee Erving, 68, of 2016 Fulkerson Rd., died at 11:20 a.m. Friday at Pawating Hospital after a short illness.
A member of Mt. Galilee Baptist church, Miss Erving was born Sept. 15, 1906 in Sunflower, Miss. A homemaker, she moved to Niles in 1944, coming from Detroit.
She is survived by a cousin, Naomi Carter of Niles.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home with the Rev.M.D. Forrest of Mt. Galilee Baptist Church officiating.
Friends may call after 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Nathaniel F. Hubbard
Nov. 20, 1894-Sept. 24, 1974
Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, September 25, 1974, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library
NILES--Nathaniel F. Hubbard, 79, of 1141 Maple St., died at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday in Pawating Hospital after an extended illness.
A retired cabinet maker, he was born Nov. 20, 1894, in Bad Axe, Mich.
Mr. Hubbard is survived by a son, Elmer Edward Hubbard of Chicago.
Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m Friday in Silverbrook Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Halbritter Funeral Home.
Sarah M. Wells
Jan. 28, 1842-April. 12, 1924
Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 14, 1924, page 8, Niles District Library, Niles Biography Files: Wells Family
Mrs. J.N. Wells, 82, Former Resident of Niles, is Dead
Mrs. Sarah Wells, widow of J. Nelson Wells, a former resident of Niles, and mother of Mrs. Wava Platt of this city, died Saturday evening at 7 o'clock at her home, 257 Winans avenue in Benton Harbor. She was born in Canada on January 28, 1842. She is survived by two daughters and two sons who are Ralph Wells, Benton Harbor; Mrs. James Gillespie, Berrien Springs, Mrs. Wava Platt of Niles and Dale O. Wells of Los Angeles, Calif. The funeral services will be held Wesnesday[sic] afternoon at 1:30 o'clock at the Easelhort under-taking rooms in Benton Harbor. The body will be brought to Niles for burial in Silver Brook cemetery.
Note: This incorrectly states name of husband as J. Nelson Wells; she was the widow of John MILTON Wells.

