Ebenezer

It seemed that life was getting better and better for Jennifer Lynn McDonel. Her baby, Lydia, celebrated her first birthday last month. McDonel and her husband, Thomas, had finally saved enough money to move out of her parents' home in Baltimore and into a townhouse on Turkey Point in eastern Baltimore County. Best of all, McDonel, a Jamaican native, recently found out she was a month pregnant. An effervescent and spiritual person, McDonel, 37, worked hard at life so that her family could enjoy it. That life was smashed to pieces Wednesday night when a gunman fired at McDonel's car as she was driving to church along Ebenezer Road in Chase with her husband.

Ebenezer United Methodist Church hosts the "Rock of Help" food pantry for anyone in the community in need of food from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on the third Saturday of each month at the church, 4901 Woodbine Road, Sykesville. Nonperishable foods, frozen meats and some frozen prepared meals, plus a non-food item, are available. Those coming to the food pantry are asked to fill out a short information sheet, then the church gives them a list of available foods to check off what they need.

Probably no tale gets staged more often than Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol at this time of year. I've seen spoofs. I've seen musicals. I've even seen a drag version. The Audrey Herman Spotlighters Theatre, which has produced its share of Christmas Carols, now has a new musical version, Ebenezer! with a book by Bryan Zochar and a tuneful score by Baltimorean PS Lorio and Linda Lee Bennett. The large-cast production, directed and choreographed by Deborah Newman, is a pleasant holiday diversion with a few nice interpretive touches.

SYKESVILLE — Ebenezer United Methodist Church, 4901 Woodbine Road, Sykesville, recently began a "Rock of Help" food pantry for the needy in the community. The pantry is open to anyone in need of food from 9 to 11 a.m. on the third Saturday of each month at the church. Upcoming dates are June 16, July 21 and Aug. 18. "We have mainly canned goods that we give out, but each month we also will have a non-food item," said Sue Bergmann, church secretary. Those coming to the food pantry "just fill out a short information sheet and we give them a list of the food items we have and they check off what they want.

On April 5, 2009, Robert Harry Kehr. Friends may call at the family owned Bruzdzinski Funeral Home, P.A., 1407 Old Eastern Avenue, Essex at Route 702 (beltway exit 36), on Tuesday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 PM. Funeral service on Wednesday at 11 AM. Interment Ebenezer Methodist Church Cemetery. In Lieu of flowers please make donations to Ebenezer United Methodist Church, 6601 Ebenezer Road, Middle River, Maryland 21220.

On September 3, 2004, ANNA KING BURKINDINE; beloved wife of the late James H. Burkindine; devoted mother of Margaret E. Kafka, Arthur L. Burkindine and the late James H. Burkindine, Jr.; loving sister of Lillian Casson. Also survived by eleven grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren and great great-grandchildren. A private cremation was held. A Memorial Service will be held at 7:00 P.M., on Wednesday, September 22, 2004, at Ebenezer United Methodist Church, Earls Road & Ebenezer Road, Chase, MD.

On June 3, 2004 FAY L. (nee Barnhart), beloved wife of L.G. (Robby) Robinson; devoted mother of Terry P. Robinson, Donna R. Kearns and Diane R. Hernandez; also survived by seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Friends may call at Connelly Funeral Home of Essex, 300 Mace Avenue, Monday 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M. Funeral service from the Ebenezer United Methodist Church, Ebenezer and Earls Road on Tuesday 11 A.M. Interment in Holly Hill Cemetery.

On May 10, 2003, ELLA. Visitation at 2140 N. Fulton Avenue on Wednesday, 2 to 8 P.M. The family will receive friends at Ebenezer A.M.E. Church, 20 W. Montgomery St. on Thursday at 10:30 A.M. Funeral at 11 A.M.

On August 14, 2003 VIRGIE BONITA. Visitation at 2140 N. Fulton Ave., on Tuesday 2 to 8 P.M. The family will receive friends at Ebenezer A.M.E. Church, 20 W. Montgomery St., on Wednesday at 11 A.M. Funeral at 11:30 A.M.

On November 8, 2003 RUTH L. Visitation at 2140 N. Fulton Ave on Wednesday 2 to 8 PM. The family will receive friends at Ebenezer A.M.E. Church, 20 W. Montgomery Street on Thursday at 6 PM. Funeral at 6:30 PM.

On September 21, 2009, VIVIAN. Visitation 2140 N. Fulton Avenue, Friday 3 to 8 P.M. Family will receive friends Saturday 9:00 A.M. at Ebenezer AME Church, 20 W. Montgomery Street funeral to follow at 9:30 A.M.

On April 5, 2009, Robert Harry Kehr. Friends may call at the family owned Bruzdzinski Funeral Home, P.A., 1407 Old Eastern Avenue, Essex at Route 702 (beltway exit 36), on Tuesday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 PM. Funeral service on Wednesday at 11 AM. Interment Ebenezer Methodist Church Cemetery. In Lieu of flowers please make donations to Ebenezer United Methodist Church, 6601 Ebenezer Road, Middle River, Maryland 21220.

Some injured after bus overturns A small bus carrying two children and five adults went off Ebenezer Road into a ditch and flipped on its side yesterday near Chase, county police said. Some passengers suffered minor injuries, and all those in the bus were taken to a hospital for evaluation, said Cpl. Michael Hill, a police spokesman. The bus was coming from Gunpowder Falls State Park when the accident occurred about 11:10 a.m. on Ebenezer Road near Earls Road, Hill said. The name of the organization operating the bus was unavailable, he said.

Hazel Irene Bailey Brown, a retired nurse who was active in nursing professional organizations, died of old-age complications Monday at her West Baltimore home. She was 98. Born Hazel Irene Bailey in Baltimore and raised on Division Street, she was the daughter of a mother who was a seamstress and a father who owned a tailoring business in South Baltimore. Family members said she had childhood memories of accompanying her grandfather to Ebenezer African Methodist Church on Montgomery Street, where he lit the coal fire in a stove early Sunday mornings.

On May 24, 2008, LILLIAN T., sister of Melvina Jackson. She is also survived by step daughter, Shirley Colvin, 9 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, 10 great-great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends. Friends may visit the family owned March Funeral Home East, 1101 E. North Avenue on Thursday after 8 A.M. The family will receive friends at Ebenezer Baptist Church, 306 E. 23rd Street on Friday at 10 A.M. Funeral services will follow at 10:30.

On March 22, 2008 "SMITTY". Visitation at 2140 N. Fulton Avenue on Friday, 5-8pm., family present 5-7pm. The family will receive friends at Ebenezer A.M.E. Church, 20 W. Montgomery Street, on Saturday at 11am. Funeral at 12 noon.

On November 10, 2003, PEGGY B. The family will receive friends at Ebenezer A.M.E. Church, 20 W. Montgomery St. Saturday, 11 A.M. Funeral Services will begin 11:30 A.M. Interment Arbutus Memorial Park. Arrangements by CHATMAN-HARRIS FUNERAL HOME.

On July 13, 2005, MR. BENNETT. Visitation Tuesday 2 to 8 P.M., 2140 N. Fulton Avenue, where a Wake will be held from 4:30 to 6:30. On Wednesday the Wake will begin at 1130 Ebenezer A.M.E. Church, 20 W. Montgomery Street with funeral to follow at 12:30.

South Baltimoreans from the old Sharp-Leadenhall neighborhood hold their community in high esteem. It is a historically African-American part of the city, revered by those who grew up there in its heyday. Some moved away. Others stayed. And parts got torn down for an interstate highway. I got to talking to one its proudest sons, Thomas D. Gillard, who is a 63-year-old retired Baltimore County substitute teacher. He was born at 900 Bevan St. and later lived in Hanover.