Published on: Thursday, June 02, 2011

By Mary McHale

Five local students are named Carson Scholars

The Carson Scholars Fund was founded in 1994 by world-renowned Johns Hopkins pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Benjamin S. Carson and his wife, Candy.

This is the way the Fund works: Students in grades 4-11, who have at least a 3.75 grade point average and demonstrate strong humanitarian qualities, are recommended by school officials to apply for $1,000 scholarships.  If a student wins a scholarship, it is invested for his or her college education until graduation from high school and he or she is designated a Carson Scholar. Winners can reapply annually. The awards are paid directly to the four-year college, on their behalf.

This year 502 new and 526 recognized Carson Scholars were named. Maryland Scholars were honored in Baltimore last week.

Among local students who received the scholarship this year are two from Morningside: JorDonna Frazier was named a second time Carson Scholar and Kenetia Pinkett was named a first time Carson Scholar. Other local students receiving first time Carson Scholarships are Angela Hay, of Camp Springs; Erin Ellington, of Upper Marlboro; and Ryan Rudasill, of Clinton.

Former Skyline School teacher dies

Leona Evelyn Conlon, 92, of Bel Alton, Md., and formerly of Morningside, died May 16 in La Plata.  She was born June 11, 1918 in Roxbury, Mass. 

Years ago the Conlon family lived on Boxwood Drive and may have been founding residents of Morningside.  Leona taught at Skyline School and coached softball for the Morningside Recreation Council. By 1963 the family had moved to Henderson Way in Camp Springs.

She was a founding member of St. Philip’s Parish, where she played the organ, was Sodality prefect and the first president of St. Philip’s Bowling League.

In later years, she was an officer of Wally Byam Air Stream Travel Club, organist at her parish and past president of Our Lady of Charity. She led chorus groups and Girl Scouts, and she coached softball and basketball.

Her husband John J. Conlon Sr., brother Walter Robinson and sister Agnes McGrath predeceased her. Survivors include her son John Jr.; daughters Judith Boyden, Jean Ferrante, Janice Cuellar and Joyce Riggs; 15 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Mass of Christian Burial was at Sacred Heart Church in La Plata with burial at Cheltenham.

Neighbors

Morningside’s annual 4th of July celebration is coming up, with a parade at 11:30 a.m., followed by Family Fun at Foulois from 1 to 3 p.m. and fireworks at dusk. Old cars, clowns, marching groups, floats, bands and other parade types can apply to be in the parade. Call 301-736-2300 for information.

Virginia Stine, who used to live two doors down on Skyline Drive, recently paid me a surprise visit. She was on her way home to Wingate, Md., on the Eastern Shore. With her were son David and his wife Angie, visiting from the Stine farm in St. Elmo, Ill. David is a retired pilot for a major airline.

Charles and Mary Catherine (Mudd) Robey are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on June 11 at St. Timothy’s Church in Chantilly, Va. They formerly lived in Hillcrest Heights, and Mary grew up in Southeast Washington and Oxon Hill.

Get well wishes to Conrad Waby and Edna Holland.

Condolences to the Draheim family, formerly of Morningside, on the death of their cousin, Lynnette Maureen Draheim, who died May 15 in La Plata at the age of 40. Judy Draheim writes that Lynnette will be greatly missed, that she was “best known for the compassion and love she showed to everyone who knew her.”

Graduations

Autumn Madden has graduated from Tuskegee University in Alabama with a degree in animal science and now works for Adams-Morgan Animal Hospital. She is a graduate of Bishop McNamara High School and the daughter of William and Connie Madden, of Washington.  

Rayven Davis graduated from McNamara and will be attending Virginia Wesleyan in Norfolk with a scholarship.  Also, she has been inducted into the Spanish Honor Society. She is the daughter of Michelle Davis, of Upper Marlboro.

Robert Johnson, of Oxon Hill, has graduated from Boston University with a master’s in criminal justice.

Bishop McNamara High School graduated 208 at a May 28 ceremony at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. Class valedictorian is Alyssa Snide and salutatorian is Michelle Denton.  

Barbeque showdown

Come to Watkins Park in Upper Marlboro on June 4, noon to 5 p.m., for the Beltway BBQ Showdown. The Kansas City Barbeque Society will highlight the art of barbequing. Meet a few east-coast competitors, vote in the people’s choice sauce contest, and purchase and taste great BBQ. Also, there’ll be children’s activities. Free admission.  For information call 301-627-2828.

Rabies clinic

Prince George’s County Health Department offers low-cost rabies vaccinations for pet dogs, cats and ferrets. Cost for each is $10. Please, bring exact change. The next clinic will be at Bowie High School, 15200 Annapolis Rd., Saturday, June 11, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine.  For information, call the Health Department at 301-883-7832 or 240-417-8443.

May they rest in peace

Shyanne Sarah Ryan, 23, of Woodland Road in Morningside, died May 19 in Lusby, Md. She was the daughter of Charlene Donaldson and John Ryan, and sister of John Cruz Ryan. Her funeral service was at Lee’s in Clinton.

Shirley W. Behr, 80, Naval Research Lab retiree and longtime Oxon Hill resident died May 20. She hailed from Maynard, Mass. She married James R. “Jim” Behr on May 10, 1953, at Grace Lutheran Church in Washington. Her husband Jim and daughter and son-in-law, Pamela and Donald Smart,

survive her. Shirley’s life celebration was at Kalas in Oxon Hill

with burial at Resurrection Cemetery.    

Milestones

Happy birthday to Fay Norton-Cummings and Malik Reed, June 6; Trisha Reamy, June 7; Ryan Fowler and John Nichols, June 8; Robin Murphy, Vera Pope and Rev. Frank Ways, June 9.

Happy anniversary to Ronnie and Thelma McConkey, their 48th on May 25; Carol (Kline) and Tom DeGraba, their 17th on June 4; and to Bucky and Debbie Tretler, their 35th on June 5.