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Verdean Williams
BENTON HARBOR - Verdean Williams, 75, of Benton Harbor was called home on Wednesday July 22, 2009. Family Funeral Home, 1102 E. Main St., Benton Harbor is in charge of funeral services, which will be held Tuesday, July 28, 2009, at Unity Temple Church of God in Christ, 435 Felton, Benton Harbor. Visitation is at 10 a.m. with the service at 11 a..m.
Verdean was born June 27, 1934 in Belzoni, Miss., to the late Andrew and Carrie Bell Reeves. She received her high school diploma and later received her nursing assistant certificate while working for and retiring from the former Mercy Hospital. Verdean also was an original member of Hope United Methodist Church where she accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior under the leadership of Pastor Zawdie K. Abiade. Hope later merged with Peace United Methodist Church under Pastor Jim Stillwell.
Verdean leaves to cherish her memories, a brother, Marshall (Barbara) Reeves of Evanston, Ill.; sons, William (Maggie) Atkinson of St. Joseph and Michael (Georgia) Atkinson of Benton Harbor; daughters, Cynthia (Steven) Walker of Benton Harbor and Luvenia (George) Johnson of Fresno, Calif.; 21 grandchildren; two god-grandchildren; 43 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.
She is preceded in death by her husband, L.C. Williams; a daughter, Joan Tisdel; two sons, Willie Atkinson and Curtis Johnson; nine siblings, Andrew, Jesse, Alton, William and Herman Reeves, Rosie Penn, Luella Johnson, Geneva Gordon and Carroe Bell Parker.
Royce Omareon Fowler
BENTON HARBOR - Royce Omareon Fowler of Benton Harbor passed away after a long battle on July 17, 2009 at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo.
He was born April 26, 2009 to the union of Essence Crayton and Isaiah Fowler, in St. Joseph. He is survived by his parents, brothers Jamareon McDowell, Sumareon Fowler, Davarion Crayton and Anthony Marzetti; sister Elaizah Johnson; maternal grandmother Venita Crayton; and paternal grandmother Augusta Fowler. Memorial services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 28, 2009, at Family Funeral Home, 1102 E. Main St., Benton Harbor.
Betty Louise Svoboda
BRIDGMAN - Betty Louise Svoboda, 72, of Bridgman passed away on Thursday, July 22, 2009, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 25 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bridgman, with the Reverend Jon Bendewald officiating. Friends may meet with the family from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday at Pike Funeral Home, Boyd Chapel, 9191 Red Arrow Highway, Bridgman. Memorials may be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church, Bridgman.
Betty was born April 16, 1937, in Lafe, Arkansas, where she lived for 15 years before moving to Bridgman. She graduated from Bridgman High School. She was married to Robert F. Svoboda, Sr. for 54 years. Betty was a housewife and homemaker and she loved painting, gardening and collecting antique glass. She also had a great love for animals, but spending time with her family was the most important part of her life. She is survived by her husband Robert, sister Pauline Tritch of Arkansas and brother Marvin Scheer of Bridgman. She was the loving mother of her children Robert (Pam) Svoboda Jr., Richard (Becky) Svoboda, Linda Knapp and Steve Svoboda; loving grandmother of Holly Lumley, Matthew Svoboda, Nikki, Samantha, Melanie and Jake Knapp, Jeffery and Christopher Svoboda and great grandmother of Madison, Hanna, Ellie, Connor and Abigail Lumley. She was also an aunt of many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Lydia and Ben Scheer and her brother Robert.
Rose Mary Swan
BENTON HARBOR - Rose Mary Swan, 68, passed away July 17, 2009, at her home.
A Memorial Service celebrating her life will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, July 24, at the Davidson Chapel of Florin Funeral Service, 249 E. Center St., Coloma, with the Rev. Vicky Hosbein officiating. Visitation will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. Friday at the funeral home, prior to the service. Memorials may be made to the Humane Society of Southestern Michigan. Burial will be private.
Rose Mary was born Nov. 20, 1940, in Owosso, Mich. She was one of two daughters born to Leslie and Agnes Perrin. Rose Mary worked as a registered nurse at Mercy Hospital in Benton Harbor for many years. She enjoyed traveling. Most of all, Rose Mary cherished time spent with her family, particularly her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Rose Mary is survived by her son, Michael (Rachel) Swan of Coloma; seven grandchildren - Candice (Garen) Conrad, Christina, Cassandra, Mikala, Lucas, Cole and Nadia Swan; two great-grandchildren, Maxwell and Ty; and by her sister, Shirley Harcourt.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Milena Judycki
PORTAGE, Mich. - Milena Judycki, 85, of Portage, formerly of Bridgman, passed away Tuesday morning, July 21, 2009. She was born March 23, 1924, in Weyerhaeuser, Wis., one of two daughters to Walter and Sophie (Gladys) Zajda.
On Nov. 22, 1947, she was united in marriage to Chester Judycki, and they ran a small grocery store in Lublin, Wis. They had two daughters and in the 1950s moved to South Haven and later Bridgman.
She and Chester then took their camper on the road and traveled the entire 49 contiguous states and later traveled to Alaska. In 2000, Milena and Chester moved to Portage. Milena spent many happy hours working in her flower gardens, both in Bridgman and Portage. She taught herself to sew, crochet, knit and quilt, in addition to a variety of hobbies that she and Chester both enjoyed. As an avid Cubs fan, during baseball season, Milena planned her time around the Chicago Cubs baseball schedule.
Preceding her in death were her husband of 60 years, Chester; her parents; and sister, Frances. Surviving are two daughters, Joann Gerrish of Mattawan and Linda Kaminski of Portage, and a grandson, Thomas Gerrish of Royal Oak.
Memorial services for both Milena and Chester will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Westside Chapel, 3926 S. Ninth St., Kalamazoo, with the Rev. James Dyke officiating. Friends may visit with the family on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of services at the funeral home.
As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be directed to American Heart Association.
Norma J. Koontz
ST. JOSEPH - Norma J. Koontz, 78 of St. Joseph, passed away on Monday, July 20, 2009, at her residence in St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 24, at First United Methodist Church, 3003 Leco Court, St. Joseph, with the Rev. Wade Panse officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery. Visitation for family and friends is Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. Memorial donations may be made to Hospice at Home or Caretel Inns of Lakeland Activity Fund.
Norma was born on Nov. 10, 1930, in Lafayette, Ind., to Joseph and Margaret (Thompson) Maxwell. She married Willis F. Koontz, on Aug. 15, 1953, in Muncie, Ind. Norma was in education most of her life, retiring as a teacher in 1991. She worked at the Maud Preston Palenske Memorial Library and also helped as an aide, tutoring in Benton Harbor Schools. Norma belonged to the AAUW, Civic Benefit, Alpha Chi Omega Sorority, was an active member of her church and volunteered at the Soup kitchen. Her favor pastime was visiting her grandchildren and family.
Norma is survived by a son, Tony (Sue) Koontz of Edwardsburg; two daughters - Lynn (Mike) Cumberpatch of Annapolis, Md., and Patricia (David) Ankli of Chuluota, Fla.; eight grandchildren - Stephanie and Allison Koontz, Kate and Chris Cumberpatch, and Margee, Dave, Sarah and Amy Ankli; a sister, Patricia (James) Kunnen of Arlington Heights, Ill.; a sister-in-law, Nancy Maxwell; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Willis F. Koontz, on May 5, 1982.
Betty Louise Payne
NILES - Betty Louise Payne, 90, of Niles died of natural causes Monday, July 20, 2009, at West Woods of Niles.
She was born Dec. 15, 1918, in Charleston, Ill. On March 20, 1959, in Buchanan, Mich., she married Leland K. Payne, who preceded her in death on Feb. 9, 2000.
Mrs. Payne was a member of Hills Corner Bible Baptist Church in Glendora, owned Betty's Gift Shop in Buchanan, and worked at Simplicity Pattern Co. in Niles, Electro-Voice in Buchanan and Buchanan Hospital.
She is survived by a son, Leslie (Nancy) Hampton of Sturgis, Mich.; a daughter, Donna Lou Buchanan of Sun City, Ariz.; five stepsons - Richard L. Payne of Three Oaks, John R. Payne of Galien, Gary D. Payne of Lexington, Ky., Timothy A. Payne of Buchanan and Michael A. Payne of Galien; two stepdaughters, Charlette (Fred) Brown of Cordele, Ga., and Anita Jo (Dave) Whitby of Lorena, Texas; 24 grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, Ora C. and Delia M. Edwards; a brother, Clarence Edwards; and a sister, Irma Kelly.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Hoven Funeral Home, 414 E. Front St., Buchanan, with Pastor Sean Kidd of Buchanan Christian Church officiating. Visitation will be from noon Friday until the time of service. Burial will be in New Troy Cemetery, New Troy.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to West Woods of Niles Activities Department or Hospice at Home in Buchanan.
Johnny Lee Williams
BENTON HARBOR - Johnny Lee Williams III, after a long illness, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday July 19, 2009. He was born April 11, 1976, to Johnny Mickey Williams Jr. and LaVern Williams, both of Benton Harbor. He graduated from Benton Harbor High and attended Lake Michigan College. He was formerly employed by Imperial Printing, Domino's Pizza and Shoney's.
He leaves to cherish his memories one daughter, Kaitli Veal; his father, Johnny Mickey (Arlene) Williams; his mother, LaVern Williams; grandfather, Johnny (Foots) Williams Sr.; one brother, Jamal Williams; four sisters - Michelle and Tawana Williams, both of Benton Harbor, and Marcy and Elisha Williams, both of Fort Worth, Texas; and a host of family and friends.
A homegoing celebration will be held at Abundant Life Church, 693 Columbus, Benton Harbor, at noon Saturday, followed by a repast at the Bobo Brazil Community Center, 472 Cass St., at 3 p.m.
Doreatha Osler
Doreatha Osler, 48, passed away July 10 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph. She was born Dec. 18, 1960, in Boliver, Tenn., to the union of Realor and Eather Osler.
She had a special love for her family and will be truly missed.
She is survived by four children - Chaka Osler, Areatha Osler, R.C. Osler and Elvis Osler; three grandchildren; eight brothers and sisters; and a host of other relatives and friends.
The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, 1105 E. Main St., Benton Harbor, with visitation at 11 a.m.
