All Obituaries

DeShonda Danyella Walker was born June 8, 1999 to Trina Laster and Darnell Walker in Detroit, Michigan. She departed this life on Monday, February 3, 2020. DeShonda attended Northside High School and Atterbury Job Corps. DeShonda lived in Fort Wayne, Indiana and worked at American Axle. DeShonda loved fashion, music and taking pictures. She also enjoyed cooking and eating. She loved to be surrounded by family and friends. Her nieces and nephews were her favorite people. DeShonda leaves to...

Roosevelt Collins. Jr. was born July 10, 1971 to Ethel Mae (Harden) and Roosevelt Collins, Sr. in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He departed this life on Friday, January 24, 2020 at Lutheran Hospital in the presence of his loving family. "Ro" as he was affectionately called by family and friends. He leaves to cherish his memory his son, Karrington Collins; daughters, LaShire Collins and Kyleiah Collins; parents, Roosevelt and Ethel Mae Collins; maternal grandmother, Betty Harden; brother,...

Shirley Jean (Dunbar) McElvene was born February 2, 1948 to Marcella (Waxton) and Booker T. Dunbar in Biloxi, Mississippi. She departed this life on Tuesday, January 21, 2020.  Shirley attended Central High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana and was a part of the Majorette Team. She was joined in holy matrimony to Stephen McElvene, Sr. in 1968 and unto this union three children was born. She accepted the Lord Jesus Christ at an early age and was a lifelong member of Shiloh Baptist Church....

Joe Earl Harris was born on March 23, 1934 in Marion, Alabama, the third child of Rogers and Lueretta Harris. He passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, January 23, 2020.  After moving to Fort Wayne with his family, he joined the congregation of Pilgrim Baptist Church where he served as a longtime member of the Chancel Choir and helped many members attend services as a church bus driver. Joe graduated from Central High School, volunteered for the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Army...

Carol Townsend was born June 2, 1951 to Ivy (Simpson) and Willie G. Townsend in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She departed this life on Monday, January 27, 2020 at Lutheran Hospital. She leaves to cherish her memory her son, Donta Townsend; brothers, Curtis Molton, Robert Townsend, Tom Townsend, Lavon Townsend and Earl Townsend; sisters, Frances Flowers, Monica Thomas, Noel Jones, Charlene (Brock) Haith and Aleatha Townsend; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was...

Diquan Quishawn Meriwether was born December 22, 2000 to Tara Meriwether and Diquan Bratton in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He departed this life on Tuesday, January 14, 2020. Diquan was introduced to Christ as his Lord and Savior as a child. He entered his adolescent years as a very social young man. He had a love for his sisters and family that words couldn't describe. With his infectious smile Diquan was known by his friends as "Smoove" and he loved to make people laugh. Diquan...

Nancy Jean (Lester) Doty was born July 3, 1930 to the union of Ellen Edith (Ridley) and Elcie Lester in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She became a Registered Nurse after attending school in Kansas City, Missouri. She retired from a fulfilled nursing career of over 20 years, 15 of which were spent in service at Lutheran Hospital and Saint Joseph Hospital, where she was the First African American Registered Nurse to work at that hospital. She was honored in the African American Historical Society...

First Lady Connie Evorn (McClendon) Bush was born December 1, 1948 to Katherine (Stanley) and William McClendon in Dublin, Georgia. She departed this earthly life on Thursday, January 2, 2020, at her home surrounded by her loving family.   "Lady C" or "First Lady Connie" as she was affectionately called by her church family, lived most of her life in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She graduated from Central High School in 1966. She attended International Business College...

Ronald Houston was born February 24, 1957 to Geraldine (Dawson) and Albert Houston in Cairo, Illinois. He departed peacefully early Saturday morning December 28, 2019 of an extended illness. "Ron" as he was affectionately called accepted Christ at an early age and was a member of Holy City C.O.G.I.C., under the leadership of Elder Grady G. Johnson, where he served until he moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana in the early 80's. He was employed as a dry cleaners presser until he...

Marshelle Nicole Patterson was born April 10, 1974 to Darlene (Smith) and Joe Patterson in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She departed this life on Christmas Eve Tuesday, December 24, 2019 at her residence surrounded by her loved ones in Oviedo, Flordia. She leaves to  cherish her loving memory her son, Willie Patterson; parents, Joe and Darlene Patterson; sister, Tinesha Freeman; and a host of other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Gabrielle Ann Nicole...