Four Brothers

On April 8, 2009, JAMES C. MINCHER SR.; beloved husband of Marlene C. Mincher (nee Stauffer); devoted father of Christine and her husband George, James Jr., Jason and his wife Rose; dear stepfather of Michael and the late Craig and James Shaun Kernan. Also survived by three sisters, four brothers, and five grandchildren. Preceded in death by one brother. Funeral Services will be held at the family owned Duda-Ruck Funeral Home Of Dundalk, Inc., 7922 Wise Avenue, on Monday at 8 p.m. Interment private.

Ella Louise Andrews, who worked in soldering at area defense industries and had an animal care business, died of cancer Friday at Northwest Hospital Center. The Northwest Baltimore resident was 78. Born Ella Louise Bedford in Baltimore and raised in Towson, she attended Carver High School and the Apex Hair School. She worked at AAI Industries and Westinghouse Electrical Corp. in Linthicum. Mrs. Andrews also did house-sitting jobs and took care of her clients' pets. She also bred small dogs, played tennis at Druid Hill Park and skied.

On May 30, 2007, ANDREW J. BENARICK, beloved husband of the late Lorena May (nee Bowyer), step-father of Diana L. Overfield, dear brother of Ann Lejsiak, Emily Abrahms and Elizabeth Struhar, preceded in death by four brothers and two sisters. Also survived by many nieces and nephews. A Funeral Service will be held at the family owned Duda-Ruck Funeral Home of Dundalk Inc., 7922 Wise Ave., on Friday at 7:30pm. Friends may call on Friday from 2-4 and 6-8pm. A Graveside Service and interment will take place at Thompson Cemetery in Long Branch, West Virginia, on Sunday, June 3 at 3:30pm.

Four-year-old Alex Ponicki snuggled proudly in his mother's arms yesterday while his letter was read aloud.To the crowd of 250 parents, children and social workers at the first statewide celebration of adoptive families, the words were poignant: "Being adopted means a kid goes to a different family and gets kisses and hugs forever."The awards ceremony at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Cedonia honored almost two dozen families who have adopted siblings and children with special needs -- some of the most challenging children to find homes for."

Edward J. O'HearnPersonnel officerEdward J. O'Hearn, a retired civilian personnel officer at Fort Detrick, died Monday of cancer at his home in Ijamsville. He was 61.Mr. O'Hearn retired in October from the Army post in Frederick, where he had worked since 1972. A civilian employee of the Army for 36 years, he previously worked at Edgewood Arsenal and the Pentagon.Born in Ashland, Pa., he served in the Army for two years in the 1950s and graduated from Mount St. Mary's College in Emmitsburg.

They say you have to suffer if you want to sing the blues. But the most memorable roots music -- be it rhythm and blues or any indigenous folk music -- is always acquainted with the most simple fact of life: You live and you learn.Just ask Charles Neville. He's the well-versed saxophonist and one-fourth of the legendary Neville Brothers, the eclectic New Orleans ensemble whose celebratory sounds are second to none."We have a variety of material to draw from," the second-eldest Neville explains over the phone from his home in New Orleans.

A fourth investment group, led by the owners of a fast-growing electronics retailer, is exploring a purchase of the Orioles."We've contacted them looking to get the information to make a prudent business decision," said Douglas Jemal, a member of the investment group. The group includes Jemal, 48, and his brothers, Lawrence, 44, Marvin, 39, and Stephen, 36. Douglas Jemal declined to identify a fifth investor.The four brothers each own 25 percent of Nobody Beats the Wiz Inc., a Carteret, N.J.-based company that has grown from a single Brooklyn stereo shop in 1976 to a $600 million-a-year chain of 52 stores throughout the mid-Atlantic.

Julius J. NaumannCarpenter, 71Services for Julius John Naumann of Glen Burnie, a former maintenance carpenter for the Wood Brothers Co., took place July 2 at the Singleton Funeral Home.Mr. Naumann, 73, died July 1 of a heart attack at the Southern Maryland Hospital Center.Originally from Baltimore, he served in the U.S. Army during World War II and retired from Wood Brothers in 1986.His interests included fishing and traveling.Survivors include four brothers, John H. Naumann, Louis Naumann, and Henry C. Gause, all of Glen Burnie, and William F. Gause of Greenhaven; and three daughters, Genevieve Kaufman, Edna Mae Knapp, and Frances Anthony, all of Glen Burnie.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- All the Watson brothers did was play rugby with black players.It nearly cost the four white men their lives and their livelihood, but watching South Africa's centuries-old racist policies fall and the country's restoration to international competition, they don't regret the sacrifice.They only wonder, as Valence, the oldest of the four brothers says,"Why so long? There has been so much bad blood. So much loss of life. Why did we have to have all this violence?"

Odessa L. Jennings, a retired school custodian who was active in church work, died of cancer Monday at her home on North Morley Street in southwest Baltimore. She was 55.She is survived by her husband of 37 years, Preston Jennings; two sons, Preston L. Jennings of Baltimore and Mark C. Jennings of Anaheim, Calif.; two daughters, Angela A. and Sheri A. Jennings, both of Baltimore; four sisters, Nola Adams, Carolyn McCaden and Theola Gibson, all of Baltimore, and Eva J. Walker of New Rochelle, N.Y.; four brothers, Joseph, Samuel and Clifton Jenkins, all of Baltimore, and Woodrow Jenkins of Camden; and four grandchildren.

The Flacco brothers like to dream. Here's what they envision: A few years from now, Joe Flacco is the Ravens' veteran quarterback and younger brother Mike has moved up through baseball's minor leagues and is an Orioles infielder. The two live together in bachelor-pad heaven: a place with flat-screen TVs, leather recliners and a sparkling kitchen they rarely visit except to raid the fridge or find plates for their carry-out orders. The Flaccos previewed this dream last year, living for a time in a two-bedroom apartment in Pikesville as Joe Cool enjoyed a solid rookie season with the Ravens and Mike was a student and slugging third baseman for CCBC-Catonsville.

On April 24, 2009, ELMER HOWARD; beloved husband of Vertell Lomax. He is also survived by four brothers; four sisters; nieces; nephews; cousins, family and friends. Friends may visit the JAMES A. MORTON & SONS FUNERAL HOMES, INC., 311 Main Street, Turner Station, Wednesday 5 to 7 P.M. Services will be held at St. Matthew's United Methodist Church, 103 Avon Beach Road Thursday. Wake 10:30 to 11 A.M. Funeral 11 A.M.

On April 8, 2009, JAMES C. MINCHER SR.; beloved husband of Marlene C. Mincher (nee Stauffer); devoted father of Christine and her husband George, James Jr., Jason and his wife Rose; dear stepfather of Michael and the late Craig and James Shaun Kernan. Also survived by three sisters, four brothers, and five grandchildren. Preceded in death by one brother. Funeral Services will be held at the family owned Duda-Ruck Funeral Home Of Dundalk, Inc., 7922 Wise Avenue, on Monday at 8 p.m. Interment private.

On March 6, 2009, HAROLD; husband of the late Mrs. Alice Hollinger; devoted father of Renee Jones, Terri Kobryn and Lisa Hollinger. He is also survived by three sons-in-law; one sister, Anna Harris; four brothers; seven grandchildren; two sisters-in-law; one brother-in-law and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives. Friends may call at the Gary P. March Funeral Home, 270 Fred Hilton Pass, on Tuesday from 11 A.M to 7 P.M. Family will receive friends at New Covenant Worship Center, 700 Wildwood Parkway, Wednesday from 10:30 to 11 A.M. Funeral

On March 6, 2009, HOROLD; husband of the late Mrs. Alice Hollinger; devoted mother of Renee Jones, Terri Kobryn and Lisa Hollinger. She is also survived by three sons-in-law; one sister, Anna Harris; four brothers; seven grandchildren; two sisters-in-law; one brother-in-law and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives. Friends may call at the Gary P. March Funeral Home, 270 Fred Hilton Path on Tuesday from 11 A.M to 7 P.M. Family will receive friends at New Covenant Worship Center, 700 Wildwood Parkwood, Wednesday from 10:30 to 11 A.M. Funeral

On November 18, 2008, WARDELL J.; beloved son of Gloria Porter Lee and loving brother of one sister and four brothers. Friends may visit the family owned MARCH FUNERAL HOME EAST, 1101 E. North Avenue on Friday after 8:30 A.M., where the family will receive friends on Saturday at 9:30 A.M. Funeral services will follow at 10 A.M.

On July 21, 2008 ELIZABETH MARY (nee Beatty) beloved wife of the late Harold Queensbury, Sr.; loving mother of Jere Queensbury, Demetrius Beatty, Kalani Queensbury, Harold Peter Queensbury, III and Luis Arroyo III; devoted fiancee of Luis Arroyo, Jr.; cherished grandmother of 19 grandchildren; dear daughter of the late Walter Beatty and Hedwig (nee Kraus); loving stepdaughter of Walter C. Holden. Also survived by five sisters and four brothers. Friends may call at the family owned Duda-Ruck Funeral Home of Dundalk, Inc., 7922 Wise Avenue Saturday and Sunday, 3-5 and 7-9 p.m. A Funeral Service will be held at the Greater Faith Hope Tabernacle, 1900 E. 30th Street, Baltimore, MD, 21218, Monday 10 a.m. Interment Arbutus Cemetery.

Eddie VanKirk settled scores with his fists as he grew up on the tough streets of Southwest Baltimore. He went on to box professionally for 13 years as a welterweight and confidently took on competitors. Mr. VanKirk died Sunday at the University of Maryland Medical Center of complications from an infection. He was 45. The circumstances of his death mirrored the ups and downs in his life. He was recuperating from a gunshot wound that he suffered in November last year during a home invasion in the 300 block of Parrish St. Police said the gunman demanded money and drugs.

On June 15, 2008, LOUIS R. "Randy" HADDAWAY; beloved husband of the late Dorothy M. Haddaway (nee Powers); loving father of William Bergin, Janice Keay, Deborah Haddaway and Lauren Robertson; dear grandfather of three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, predeceased by four brothers and two sisters. Friends may call at the CONNELLY FUNERAL HOME OF DUNDALK, P.A., 7110 Sollers Point Road, Tuesday, 3-5 and 7-9 P.M. Funeral service Wednesday, 10 A.M. Interment Bel Air Memorial Gardens.

On April 23, 2008 PAMELA C. devoted wife of Percy. She is also survived by mother Frankie DeWitt, two sons Darron and Lamont; one sister; four brothers; one brother-in-law; one sister-in-law; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends. Friends may call at the Carlton C. Douglass Funeral Service, P.A., 1701 McCulloh Street, on Monday 1-9 p.m. Family will receive friends at the Ark Baptist Church, 1263 E. North Avenue Tuesday 10-10:30 a.m. with services following.