Melba D. Brooks
Sept. 4, 1924-March 25, 1996

NILES - Melba D. Brooks, 71, of 1009 Regent St., died at 6:05 p.m. Monday in her home after an illness. Mrs. Brooks was retired from Tony's Supermarket. She was born Sept. 4, 1924, in Caraway, Ark., and had resided in the Niles area since January 1955. On Feb. 5, 1945, in Lake City, Ark., she married Paul E. Brooks. He survives with a daughter, Dian Brooks of Dowagiac; a son, Bruce of Niles; a granddaughter, Melissa Brooks of Niles; and a brother, Shearl Eaves of Niles. She was a member of Bethel Baptist Church.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Halbritter Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from 6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at Home.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown.

Cecelia J. Brothers
Oct. 31, 1904-Sept. 13, 1998

NILES -- Cecelia J. Brothers, 93, of 2407 Bond St., died Sunday in her home. Survivors include four daughters, Agnes Lindgren, Helen Minarik, Lucia Hendershott and Mary Ann Brothers, all of Niles. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in St. Mary Catholic Church. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. today in Halbritter Funeral Home, where a prayer vigil will be at 7 p.m.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown.

 

George Alexander Brown
March 4, 1921-Nov. 13, 1994

BUCHANAN - George Alexander Brown, 73, of 4190 Curran Road, died at 3:30 p.m. Sunday in his home. Mr. Brown retired from Clark Equipment Co. He was born March 4, 1921, in Jamaica, West Indies. On July 9, 1966, in Niles, he married Mamiella Chavis. She survives with a son, Canonero Walter-Alexander Brown of Buchanan; two stepdaughters, Yvonne Ladson of San Francisco and Jan Michelle Craddock of Atlanta; two stepsons, Quentin Whitelaw of Atlanta and Stacy Whitelaw of Buchanan; 15 step-grandchildren; two sisters, Inez Cleaver and Orenthia Neilson, both of London; a brother, Walter Alexander Brown of Niles; and two half brothers, Barry Brown and Michael Brown, both of Jamaica. He was a member of American Association of Retired Persons.

Services will be at 7 p.m. Friday in St. Augustine Catholic Church. A burial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday in the church with burial in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Friends may call two hours prior to services Friday in the church. Clark Funeral Chapel, South Bend, is in charge of arrangements.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown.

I. June Brown
Aug. 9, 1920 -- Aug. 22, 2007

NILES -- I. June Brown, 87, of Wells Street, and formerly of Pucker Street, Niles, died of an extended illness at 10:50 a.m. on Wednesday, August 22, 2007, in Riveridge Manor, Niles, Michigan.

Mrs. Brown was born on August 9, 1920, in Edwardsburg, Michigan, to John Franklin and Rosa (Seals) Leonard. She was a lifetime area resident. In 1985, June retired from the Simplicity Pattern Company in Niles after 20 years of service.

She was a member of the Morris Chapel United Methodist Church in Niles. On August 12, 1939, in Benton Harbor, Michigan, she was married to George A. Brown, who died on November 1, 1974.

She was also preceded by a sister, Leona M. Skalla, who died on February 23, 2003.

Her children, Patricia B., (Larry) Munhall of Gainesville, Georgia, and Michael (Carla) Brown of Niles; grandchildren, Brian and Brett Munhall, Nick and Alison Brown, and great-grandchildren, Austin, Madelynn, Cole and Cassidy Munhall also survive. A sister, Jeanne Rice of Niles, also survives.

The funeral service for I. June Brown will be at 10 a.m. Monday, August 27, 2007, in the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with Rev. Christopher Kruchkow of Morris Chapel United Methodist Church, Niles, officiating.

Committal services will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home.

Contributions in memory of I. June Brown may be made to Hospice at Home or to the church.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown.

Mary Jo Brown
Jan. 14, 1941 -- March 13, 2007

NILES -- Mary Jo Brown, 66, of Niles, Michigan, passed away of natural causes on Tuesday, March 13, 2007, in her home.

She was born January 14, 1941, to Roger Lawton and Mabel (Burton) Riley in Dayton, Kentucky.

On July 3, 1960, at Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI, she married Dr. Harold E. Brown, who survives. Also surviving are a son, Cedric (Carreen) Brown of Mishawaka, IN; and sisters, Ruth Ann (Graham) Dingman of Niles and Cappie (Buddy) Burke of Berrien Springs.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and by a daughter, Abigail Brown.

Mary Jo was a high school graduate of Andrews Academy in Berrien Springs. She received her bachelor's degree from Indiana University of South Bend, IN, and her master's degree from Western Michigan University. She retired from a long career at Riverwood Mental Health Center where she was a Certified Master Social Worker. She loved flowers and was a former member of the Niles Garden Club. Mary Jo loved decorating, which showcased her affection for rabbits, as well as crafts and antiques.

The funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, March 19, 2007, in the Buchanan Christian Church, 112 West Third Street, Buchanan. Pastor Sean Kidd will officiate. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles, MI. Time to call on the family will be Sunday, March 18, 2007, from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the Swem Funeral Home, Buchanan.

Memorial contributions may be made in Mary Jo's name to the American Heart Association, Greater Midwest Affiliate, Memorials and Tributes Lockbox, 3816 Paysphere Circle, Chicago, IL 60674.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown.

Mary M. Brown
March 17, 1909 -- Oct. 21, 2004

Mrs. Mary Marie Brown, 95, of Lawndale Street, Niles, Mich., died following a brief illness at 9:10 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 21, in West Woods of Niles.

She was born on March 17, 1909, in Madison County, Ind., to Wallace and Pearl (Lewark) Leonhard, and came to Niles in 1946 from Chicago, Ill.

Mrs. Brown and her husband owned and operated the former Brown's Bowling Lanes, Niles, (now White's), and the former Dog 'N Suds Drive-In restaurant on South Eleventh, near Fulkerson.

She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Niles Chapter #332, and enjoyed completing crossword puzzles and sewing clothing for her family.

On March 21, 1925, in St. Joseph, Mich., she was married to George E. Brown, who preceded her in death on Oct. 11, 1985. She was the last survivor of seven siblings, having been preceded in death by six sisters and brothers.

Surviving family includes her daughters, Dorothy Parson of Bloomfield, Ind., Patricia Medders of Niles and Nancy Lewis of Louisville, Ky.; 11 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.

The funeral service for Mary M. Brown will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26, in the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with Pastor Carl L. Harrison of Trinity United Methodist Church, Niles, officiating. Committal services will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday in the funeral home with Eastern Star rites at 7:30 p.m. by Niles Chapter #332.

Contributions in memory of Mrs. Brown may be made to the American Heart Association or to the Niles District Library.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown.