Carmen Marie Tutson-Halliburton, 48, of Elkhart, IN, passed away on Jan. 9, 2011 at Elkhart General Hospital due to a sudden illness.  Born on February 14, 1962, to the union of Sam & Teola Jean (Posley) Tutson in Niles, she was the youngest of five children.

She graduated from Buchanan School and continued at Indiana University where she attained a bachelor?s degree in criminal justice in 2009.  On July 24, 2010, she married her longtime partner, Napoleon Halliburton of Elkhart, and he survives.

Carmen had four beautiful children, Sam Earl Tutson of South Bend, Tonya (Richard) Brooks of South Bend, Monta Tutson of South Bend, and Samaria Ellis Tutson of Elkhart.  Carmen is also survived by her sisters, Sandra (Ricky) Cross of Ypsilanti, MI, Robin D. Stephens of Ann Arbor, MI and Terri (Jerome) Palmer of Corona, CA.  She was preceded in death by her father and her brothers, Robert Lee Bolton in 1990, Samuel Keith Tutson in 2006.

Carmen is also survived by nine grandchildren who loved her dearly, a host of family and friends, and her beloved dog ?Bear Bear.?   Carmen was an avid softball player and loved to spend time with her family and friends.  She would lend a helping hand to anyone who asked and was a gently soul who worked hard to provide for her family.  Carmen will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved her.

Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 14 at Lively Stone Community Church in Buchanan, MI.  Services will be held at 12 p.m., Saturday, Jan, 15 at Faith Apostolic Ministries in South Bend, IN.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the family.