Cecelia M. Conover, of Niles
Feb. 11, 1928 — Feb. 5, 2020

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:07 am Friday, February 7, 2020

Cecelia M. Conover, 91, of Niles, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020, in Beacon Memorial Hospital, South Bend.

Cecelia was born on Feb. 11, 1928, in Niles, to Ernest and Agnes (Dickeson) Libey. She graduated from Niles High School in May of 1947, and on June 22, 1947, she and Albert Conover were united in marriage. They happily shared the next 72-plus years together.

Albert survives, along with son, Gary (Linda) Conover, of Niles; daughter, Diane (Brad) Pearson, of Shelbyville, Illnois; six grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren; brother, Ernest (Dorothy) Libey, of Niles, and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father, Ernest; mother, Agnes; step-father, Malvern “Nick” Nicolay; brother, Lester R. Libey; and sister-in-law, Alice Libey.

Cecelia was a lifetime member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Niles, where she served in many positions over the years as Sunday school teacher, youth group leader, along with being a member of the Ladies Aide and choir. In her early years, she worked at various places — F.W. Woolworth, the Mushroom factory, Paris Candy, and Simplicity. Upon the birth of their son, she became a stay-at-home mother and taught 4-H. In later years, she worked at Montgomery Ward, P&H Jewelry, and Gary’s Greenhouse in Niles. She was a proud volunteer at Pawating Hospital (now Spectrum Lakeland Hospital) for in excess of 20 years. She devoted her life to her family, her church and her volunteer work. She never met a stranger.

She enjoyed sewing, flower arranging, gardening, cooking and baking (she loved to bake her family members special cakes for their birthdays) and traveling.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 10, 2020, in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Niles, with funeral services to follow at 1 p.m. Interment will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Sunday School or to Alzheimer’s Association.

Halbritter Wickens Funeral Services, 615 E. Main St. Niles, is assisting the family with the funeral arrangements. Online condolences may be made at halbritterwickens.com.

Yamini Abdullah
Sept. 19, 1944 — March 2, 2020

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:53 am Thursday, March 5, 2020

Yamini Abdullah, aka, Be’be’ (Bay-Bay) Blair was a big man that came from a small town in the South.

On Sept. 19, 1944, he was born in Sikeston, Missouri, to Roberta and Odester Blair. He spent only a few years there before his family relocated to Niles where he lived and died. He leaves behind six siblings, Charles Blair, Robert Hassan, Dorie Blair, Bayyinah Muhammad, Vernessa Blair and Wilma J. Blair Reed.

He was preceded in death by his sisters, Catherine (Blair) Moore, Armelene (Blair) Gray; and his two brothers, Cleve and James Blair.

Be’be’ was the father of four children, Hassan, Omar, Askia, who preceded him in death and his daughter Sahar. He taught his children how to ride motorcycles, drive stick shifts, plow snow, and garden. However, his most important lesson was the value of hard work. He also was a grandfather of eight. You knew he loved his grandkids because he would make their lunches, put them on the school bus and wait for them at the end of the day. Most days you would find “Paw Paw,” as they liked to call him squished up at the end of his couch, longing for the time when he could watch the news, but stuck watching cartoons.

In his younger years, dad loved spending his time riding his Harley around town on a sunny day. He only had a couple of hobbies, one of which was roller skating, yes, the big guy could rock with the best them on a pair of skates. The second was taking photographs, he took so many pictures he could have been considered an amateur photographer. Dad was a straightforward guy that would tell you exactly what he thought, even if you didn’t ask, and most of the time no one was asking. He was quick witted without trying and often offered unconventional “nuggets” of wisdom that were only for private consumption. At times, it was surprising how much he knew about the behavior of people.

Yamini worked many years at Clark Equipment Company in Buchanan, before it closed, then taking other jobs, at Dexter Wheel and Rim before retiring from McCoy Miller in Elkhart. When asked about boredom from not working, he would always reply, “It beats getting up at 5 a.m., I’ve done my time.”

During his retirement, he spent his days watching way too much CNN, Fox News and any other cable news outlet that required their guest panels to constantly argue. He also liked to sit in his chair under the tree in his front yard and just chill, watching everything and everyone going by. Askia would often ask, “Why is daddy always sitting under that tree?” It was a place of peace and contentment for him.

In the end, Yamini Abdullah was a simple man that led a simple life. He will be greatly missed by those who loved him. He passed away peacefully on March 2, 2020, at his home with his daughter by his side. He was 75 years old.

Family and friends are welcome to pay their last respects at the service for Yamini Abdullah. Viewing will be from noon to 2 p.m. on Monday March 9, 2020, at Brown Funeral Home in Niles followed by the service at 2 p.m.

Condolences, photos, and memories may be left for the family at BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services, of Niles.

Joseph Barnes, of Niles
April 4, 1945 — Feb. 8, 2020

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:45 am Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Joseph Barnes Sr., 74, of Niles, passed away at his home on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020.

Joe was born on April 4, 1945, in Shaw, Mississippi, to the late Clarence and Wyona (Thompson) Barnes.

He grew up alongside his 11 siblings.

At the age of 15, he moved to Covert, Michigan, with his mother and siblings. In his early 30’s he became a Marshall in the Masons.

On Oct. 6, 1978, Joseph married the love of his life, Sheryl Vanessa Dixon, at a ceremony in Niles. They settled down and raised their family of four, which grew to include 12 grandchildren. “He’s a good provider” was often said by his wife’s late Aunt Candy.

Joe loved to make money, spend it and eat. He had a long career as a welder fabricator, mechanic and auto-body repairman.

In his spare time, he was all about BBQ, which led him into opening Smokin’ Joe’s and considered himself the “King of Ribs.” Joe fed thousands of people and left an imprint on the lives he encountered on a daily basis. As a result of two car accidents, Joe had to retire in 2009.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Clarence (Audrey), who passed on the same day, as well as Willie and Robert Barnes; sisters, Virgie Barnes, Elnora (Leroy) Foster, Annie (John) Davis and Pearlie (Charles) Gray.

Joseph is survived by his wife, Sheryl Barnes, of Niles; children, Seminar Dixon-Thompson, of Niles, Stacy Dixon, of Niles, Joseph Barnes II, of Niles, and Shani (Dennis) Kirtdoll, of Niles.

He was the devoted grandfather to grandchildren, Leo, Mechayla, Todd, Stacy, Jermond, Tevin, Endyia, Legend, Adriana, Lynix, Xavion and Destyn; goddaughters, Shontielle Marsh Pagel (Tobias) and Jennifer White.

He will also be missed by his brothers, Charles and J.B. (Antonite) Barnes; sisters, Maggie (Jose) Lee and Ruby Tinsley; and a host of close friends and relatives.

Services to honor Joseph’s life will be at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020, at the Niles Philadelphia Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

A time of visitation will begin at 11 a.m., also at the church. An interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Memories, photos and condolences may be left for the family at BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Niles.

Antonia Castillo, of Niles
Nov. 3, 1949 — Feb. 29, 2020

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:48 am Monday, March 2, 2020

Antonia T. Castillo, 70, of Niles, wife, mother, grandmother, pastor’s wife, shopper and “Ma” to many, died at 4:02 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020, with family gathered around her bed in Memorial Hospital, South Bend, Indiana following an extended illness.

She was born on Nov. 3, 1949, in San Antonio, Texas, to Mike and Teresa (Hill) Velasquez. She was graduated from San Antonio Cooper High School (now Cooper Academy). She has lived in Niles since 1981.

Toni was a member of the Bethel Baptist Church in Niles and had helped her husband to establish Bethel’s outreach church, Cristo Viene. She and her husband partnered with the Niles-Buchanan Habitat for Humanity as its first project homeowners. She enjoyed traveling with her husband (an over-the-road truck driver) throughout the U.S. and Canada. She also enjoyed local trips… to the mall or the outlet for shopping. She maintained a wonderful home for her family, especially in the kitchen where everyone looked forward to her Texan Enchiladas and her flour tortillas. Her greatest joy was her family.

On Sept. 21, 1972, in San Antonio, she married Luis Raul Castillo with whom she celebrated last year the 47th anniversary of their wedding.

Surviving family includes her husband, Pastor Luis Castillo, and their children, Raul Castillo, of Mexico, Sandra (Antonio) Garcia of Mishawaka, Indiana, Brenda (Nicholas Davis) Castillo, of Elkhart, Indiana, Jonathan Castillo, of Michigan, and Judith (Jonathan) Castillo, of Goshen, Indiana; grandchildren, Luis Raul Castillo III, Jennifer Castillo, James Castillo, Jonathan Castillo, Jon E. Garcia, David Adam Garcia, Aaron Macedo, Andrew Macedo, Emily Macedo, Bailey Castillo, Austin Castillo, Isabel Castillo, Seth Castillo, Delilah Castillo, J.J. Castillo, and Reyna Castillo; great-grandchildren Hayden Mervine, Ava Thompson, Royce Thompson, and Nicolas Macedo; Toni’s siblings, Paul H. Valesquez, Jamie H. Valesquez, Frank H. Valesquez, Josephine Jones, Rose Marie Elizondo, and Margaret V. Reyes, all of San Antonio, and many nieces and nephews of several generations.

She was preceded in death by her parents and by two brothers, Mike Valesquez, Jr. and Robert Valesquez.

The family of Toni Castillo is gathering privately for funeral services at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. R. Allan Poage, retired officiating. Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles. Online condolences may be left at: halbritterwickens.com.

Toni loved people in her community by preparing hundreds of tortillas for the volunteers at Habitat, and partnering with her husband to minister to an underserved community. She loved her husband by spending days on the road with him, and loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren by being the ultimate “Ma.”

Randy A. Clanton, of Niles
April 21, 1957 — Feb. 26, 2020

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:53 am Friday, February 28, 2020

Randy A. Clanton, 62, of Niles, passed away at home on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020.

Randy was born on April 21, 1957, in Niles, to the late Albert and Mary (Russell) Clanton.

He is preceded in death by his parents and a sister Racheal Renee Clanton.

On May 21, 1977, in Niles, Randy married Vicki Hilligoss, who survives.

He is survived by his wife, Vicki, and their children, Christopher (Denise) Clanton, of Niles, and Melissa (Jeff) Gunn, of Dowagiac; grandchildren, Alyssa, Kylie and Morgan. He is also survived by his brothers and sisters, Bonnie ‘Diane’ (Dan) Jacobs, Brenda Clanton, Stephen (Ruth) Clanton, Becky (Dennis) Carpenter, Tim (Parny) Clanton, Michael (Ruth) Clanton, all of Niles, and Kelly (Jerry) Withers, of Berrien Center, and Jeremy (Kim) Clanton, of Niles, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

Randy honorably served in the U.S. Navy. After his military service, he worked at Tyler Refrigeration for 25 years and then for Precision Auto for five.

Those who knew Randy were aware of his amazing pitching skills with the men’s fast pitch softball. He loved hunting and fishing. Randy loved attending sporting events for his children, grandchildren and other family members. Randy was also a die-hard fan of ‘Bama sports. He would often be seen wearing a ‘Bama hat or shirt.

Visitation for Randy will be from 2 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 1, 2020, at Halbritter Wickens Funeral Home 615 E. Main St., Niles. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 2 in the funeral home. Burial will follow with military honors at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Memorials in Randy’s name may be made to VA Medical Services at volunteer.va.gov/apps/VolunteerNow.

Online condolences to the family may be made at halbritterwickens.com.

Margaret Evick
Sept. 13, 1924 — Feb. 12, 2020