ELIJAH FISHER

Dec. 23, 1936 - Dec. 10, 2013
SOUTH BEND - Elijah Fisher, 76, of Indiana Avenue, South Bend, IN, went home to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ December 10 at Memorial Hospital, South Bend, IN.

Visitation will be Monday, December 16, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Alford's Mortuary, 1222 Napier, and again on Tuesday, December 17, 2013, from 11:00 A.M. until time of funeral services at noon at Saints Memorial Church of God in Christ, 321 S. Liberty, South Bend, IN. Elder Carl J. Steen Jr. will officiate. Interment will be at Highland Cemetery. Funeral ceremony is entrusted to Alford's Mortuary of South Bend, IN, http://www.alfordsmortuaryinc.com/. Memorials may be made to Saints Memorial Church of God in Christ.

Elijah Fisher was born December 23, 1936, in Dyer, TN, to Edgar Fisher and Bertha Lax. He was baptized into the Pentecostal faith at Dinan Memorial Church of God in Christ under Bishop J.B. Davis, and has faithfully served under Bishop C.E. Bennett, Superintendent Carl J. Steen Sr. and Elder Carl Steen Jr. He had been a member of the choir and a musician playing the guitar.

His primary education was in the south, Kaley Elementary School, and he later attended South Bend Central High School.

On September 6, 1958, he was united in holy matrimony to Willa M. Braylark, and to their union was born Terri, Michael, Robin, Darren and Kelly. He retired after 30 years of service from AM General, having worked as a manufacturing supervisor, forklift operator and parts clerk. He previously worked at Granada Theater, Hy-Grade Processing of Mishawaka, as a life insurance salesman and several entrepreneurial enterprises. After retiring, Eli worked at the South Bend Public Library, and had been responsible for maintenance at Saints Memorial COGIC; he has since retired from his duties there.

A resident of South Bend since 1949, he will be remembered most for cooking and feeding his family, friends and guests. He is best-known for sharing his sweet potato pies, peach cobbler and collard greens. He did not just offer you a slice, but a whole uncut pie to take home with you. He was a sincere and great host who would entertain you with abundance of laughter and personal attention. His front porch was made of both mortar and wisdom - just take a seat and your problems would soon diminish.

His memory will be cherished by his sons and daughters: Terri Hairston (Keith) of Atlanta, GA, Michael Fisher (Patricia) of DePere, WI, Robin Fisher (Donna) of Niles, MI, Darren Fisher (Glenda) of South Bend, IN, and Kelly Fisher of Las Vegas, NV; one aunt, Inez Douglas of South Bend, IN; his in-laws, Bishop J. Bernard Hackworth (Bonita), Percy Matthews (Ann), Naomi Johnson, and Juanita Donnell (Arthur), all of Los Angeles, CA, Gloria Fuller, William Braylark and Alfredia Braylark, all of Atlanta, GA, and Maudeen Matthews of Flint, MI. The Fisher legacy will live on in his eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He will be missed by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Willa; his mother and father, Bertha and Johnson Foulks; two brothers, James A. Foulks and James Fisher; and two sisters, Lucy Doaks and Nancy Noble.

Published by South Bend Tribune on Dec. 15, 2013.

01/19/2023 EJS