Alma

Cedric Payne's visits to the state mental hospital where his father, Calvin, was involuntarily committed after beating his wife with a hammer last May follow a similar pattern: the elder Payne experiencing fleeting moments of focus followed by long periods of confusion. As a result, Cedric, the only child of the Columbia couple, said that his 84-year-old father is where he should be, but that his 81-year-old mother, Alma, still fears for her life. "She thinks that if he can get out, he'll come back and complete the job," Cedric Payne said in a telephone interview last week.

Helen A. "Kim" Vitek, a member of the original Baltimore Colts cheerleading squad, died July 6 from complications of a stroke at Cherrywood Healthcare and Rehabilitation Centre in Reisterstown. The Highlandtown resident was 72. Helen Alma Benvenga was born in Baltimore and raised in Highlandtown. She was a 1953 graduate of Patterson Park High School, where she was known as Alma and was a member of the school's cheerleading squad. "She was working for C&P Telephone Co. downtown at the time when she heard an ad on the radio about tryouts for a Colts cheerleading squad.

Mary Alma Noble, a retired nurse who served in the South Pacific during World War II, died Friday at St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson of complications from hip replacement surgery. She was 79.Born and raised in Catonsville, the former Mary Chlan graduated from Catonsville High School in 1939 and enlisted in the Army to train as a nurse. She served in Australia and on medical ships carrying wounded soldiers home from battle.While in the Army, she met her husband, Alvin H. Noble, while both were serving in California, and they married at the end of the war. They lived briefly in California and for five years in Urbana, Ill., before moving to Baltimore with their two sons in 1950.

Alma Marie Poole, Baltimore's last police matron, died Monday of complications of heart surgery at Union Memorial Hospital. She was 84 and lived in Edgewood.When she retired in April 1971, Mrs. Poole had the distinction of being the city's only turnkey matron. She ran the women's and juvenile detention program at the old Pine Street police station near Lexington Street in West Baltimore.In her 19 years on the job, she was responsible for searching and supervising female prisoners and juveniles in her jurisdiction.

Alma Donia Lastfogel, 65, owner of ADL CateringAlma Donia Lastfogel, owner and operator of ADL Catering Service in Edgewater, died Thursday of cancer at Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis. She was 65.Known as Debbie, Mrs. Lastfogel operated the full-service catering operation with her husband, Gerald Lastfogel, since 1959. Mr. Lastfogel is a charter boat captain in Deale. They were married in 1954.The former Alma Donia Hayes was born and reared in Fayetteville, W. Va., where she graduated from high school in 1952.

Go ahead and say it: Pat who?Easy to snicker at Ross Perot's choice to be his running mate: Bearded, burly Pat Choate, a Mr. Anonymous unknown beyond Beltway think tanks or his Maypearl, Texas, hometown.OK, so Choate's no political slamdunk that will cause terror in the Dole and Clinton camps. Or jar Perot's ratings out of single digits.It'll take more than the half-million bucks Perot spent on Tuesday night's CBS infomercial to make Pat Choate a household name. Maybe Ross should invest in a zillion bumper stickers: "CHOATE AS IN VOTE."

Police logNorth Laurel: Alma Avenue: Pillows were stolen from a home Tuesday, but police said there was no sign of forced entry.Scaggsville: 9000 block of Gorman Road: Someone broke into a home by prying out a side window Tuesday, but police said nothing appeared to have been taken.Pub Date: 6/13/96

Clinton Paulson Stephens, Alex. Brown partnerClinton Paulson Stephens, a retired Alex. Brown and Sons Inc. general partner, winner of two Bronze Stars during World War II, and a one-time world titlist in badminton, died Tuesday of cancer his home in Ruxton. He was 75.Mr. Stephens retired in 1985 from the Baltimore investment banking firm where he spent his 35-year business career.He contributed a chapter to "The Story of Alex. Brown and Sons, 1800-1990," originally written by Frank R. Kent, and published in 1950.

How About Becky entered the 1994 racing season as a 4-year-old maiden but showed yesterday that there is hope for late developers.Under savvy handling by jockey Joe Rocco, the lightly raced filly caught pacesetter Vaulted in the short stretch at Timonium Race Course and upset a field of veteran race mares in the $40,000 Alma North Handicap.Unraced until a few months ago, How About Becky got the Labor Day weekend off to a promising start for trainer Donald Barr and Milton Higgins III, who owns the horse in partnership with Tom Bowman.

Alma Taliaferro Cripps was devoted to teaching. Fighting a losing battle with cancer, she wanted to spend her last days helping her students at Bryn Mawr School -- even if it meant putting off a trip recommended by her doctor.Mrs. Cripps, whose accomplishments included starting an innovative reading camp at Bryn Mawr for disadvantaged children, died of the disease Tuesday in her Bolton Hill home. She was 61.A fifth-grade teacher at Bryn Mawr since 1987, she designed and directed its Readers' Camp -- a program for fourth- and fifth-graders from two Baltimore public elementary schools, Mildred Monroe and James McHenry.

On September 16, 2009, ALMA LEE PAYLOR or 2000 Monumental Road; beloved wife of Donald R. Paylor and devoted mother of Van and Vaughn departed this life. She is also survived by one brother, Robert Lee Thomas, Jr.; one-brother-in-law, Richard Carter; two sisters-in-law, Dolores Nickens and Pat Thomas; seven grandchildren, Evan, Cherrell, Vincent, Victor, Vance, Veronica and Vanessa; two daughters-in-law, Cheryl and Vera; one uncle, James Ward, a host of other relatives and devoted friends.

On July 3, 2009 HENRIETTA ALMA devoted mother of Alma Jeanette Strauss; grandmother of Charles Dorsey, Susan Cline and Michele Smith; great-grandmother of six; sister of Evelyn Piller. Friends may call at Gonce Funeral Service, P.A., 4001 Ritchie Highway on Tuesday from 7-9 p.m. where services will be held on Wednesday at 12 p.m. Interment Loudon Park Cemetery.

On March 31, 2009 ALMA (nee Delice) beloved wife of the late Eugene "Baldy" Hurley; devoted mother of Toni and her husband John Jubb and the late Vincent Hurley. Also survived by five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Christian Wake Services at the family owned LILLY & ZEILER INC. FUNERAL HOME, 700 S. Conkling Street (entrance on Foster Avenue) on Thursday at 8:15 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church on Friday at 10 a.m. Interment in Gardens of Faith Cemetery.

On Sunday, March 22, 2009, HARRY LEONARD, 93, of Catonsville; beloved husband of Alma (nee Conklin) Stevens; loving father of Edward L. Stevens, Sr. and his wife Barbara, Elaine L. Kirkpatrick and her husband Terry and Peggy L. Stevens. Also survived by nine grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and one great great-grandchild. Friends may call on Tuesday March 24 from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M. at Eline Funeral Home, 934 S. Main Street, Hampstead, where a funeral service will begin at 4 P.M. Interment in Lake View Memorial Park, Sykesville.

MOLLY KOOL CARNEY, 93 Groundbreaking sailor Molly K. Carney, who as Molly Kool was the first woman in North America to become a licensed ship captain, died Feb. 25 at a retirement home in Bangor, Maine. Known in Canada by her maiden name, Molly Kool won her captain's papers in 1939 and sailed the Atlantic Ocean between Alma, New Brunswick, and Boston for five years, her friend Ken Kelly said.

Cedric Payne's visits to the state mental hospital where his father, Calvin, was involuntarily committed after beating his wife with a hammer last May follow a similar pattern: the elder Payne experiencing fleeting moments of focus followed by long periods of confusion. As a result, Cedric, the only child of the Columbia couple, said that his 84-year-old father is where he should be, but that his 81-year-old mother, Alma, still fears for her life. "She thinks that if he can get out, he'll come back and complete the job," Cedric Payne said in a telephone interview last week.

Alma Louise "Piggy" Lowery, a homemaker and retired cafeteria worker, died Monday at Easton Memorial Hospital after being injured in an auto accident with a state police car in St. Michaels that killed her brother, Maynard W. Lowery, 88. The Tilghman resident was 87. A lifelong Tilghman resident, Miss Lowery attended local public schools, and was a war worker in Baltimore during World War II. She worked for many years at Tilghman Packing Co. until its...

While a judge denied bail yesterday to the 83-year-old Howard County man accused of attacking his wife with a hammer, relatives told of domestic strife the couple experienced in recent years. Calvin Ralph Payne, who appeared for a hearing via a video feed from the county detention center, is charged with first- and second-degree attempted murder, and first- and second-degree assault in the attack Monday, which left 81-year-old Alma Payne lying in a pool of blood in the couple's Columbia home.

On April 29, 2008, ALMA; mother of one son, Dennis, four daughters, Phyllis Anderson, Janice Close, Pamela Bishop and Karen Smith. She is also survived by other family members and friends. Friends may call WYLIE FUNERAL HOME, P.A., 638 N. Gilmor St. on Sunday, 12 to 4 p.m. Family will receive friends on Monday,10 a.m. Wake and 10:30 a.m. Mass Service at Church at St. Mary The Virgin, 3121 Walbrook Avenue. Inquiries at www.wyliefuneralhome.com

National training champion Todd Pletcher will send Somethinaboutbetty to run against eight other Maryland-bred fillies and mares today in the 6 1/2 -furlong, $45,000 Alma North Stakes, the feature race at Timonium. The Alma North features stakes winners and stakes place finishers, making this running one of the most competitive renewals in recent years. Timonium's other added money offering is the $45,000 Taking Risks Stakes, which is Monday. Jonathan Joyce, last year's Timonium riding champion, will ride the 4-year-old daughter of Forestry.