Nana

OKLAHOMA CITY -- It is the shoes that stop me.They are brown and look new, the rubber on the soles still thick, black and unmarked. They are toddler-size boots, made for bouncing in sandboxes and climbing on furniture. They are hanging by their laces from a length of chain-link fence.I had not planned it this way. Had not made a special effort to be in this particular city during this particular week. Hadn't even thought about it until I was on the way to catch the plane for a business trip.

  "Things happen for a reason. " Potomac's Nana Meriwether, the reigning Miss USA, says that a lot. Especially when she talks about the road she followed to her title: two runner-up finishes at the Miss California pageant before being crowned Miss Maryland last year; another second-place finish, this time in June's Miss USA competition; then - finally - the Miss USA crown, but only after the woman who beat her, 20-year-old Olivia Culpo...

Miss Maryland, you did us proud. Sunday night in Las Vegas, 27-year-old Nana Meriwether, from Potomac, finished as the runner-up in the 2012 Miss USA pageant. The title went to Miss Rhode Island, 20-year-old Olivia Culpo. Clearly, Meriwether didn't lose because her resume was lacking. It's impressive enough that she graduated from Washington's prestigious Sidwell Friends School (where the alumni list includes the children of presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Nixon and Clinton, and where the Obama girls are currently enrolled)

Mary M. Young of Los Banos, Calif., requested a "side-dish recipe made with Jell-O that has ... been cut into small cubes and mixed with Cool Whip and other ingredients." Dana J. Shinholt of Columbia said: "I'm glad to respond with a favorite dish my grandmother served at our family gatherings. Nana would make a large Jell-O mold for the adults to share and individual cups for each of the grandchildren. She has been gone now for almost 15 years, and it took a little bit of searching to track down her recipe book.

On Wednesday, June 25, 2003 MILDRED MARY DUNGAN at Inova Fairfax Hospital, beloved wife of Joseph M. Dungan, CMSGT, USAF (Ret.), mother of Jacqueline M. Fisher and Terence P. Dungan, grandmother of Sean, Shane and Shannon Blackman and Bianca Dungan of Spring Hill, FL, sister of John W. Smolenski and his wife Loretta of Ellicott City, MD and the late Joseph Smolenski. Also survived by a sister-in-law Doris Dungan ofHagerstown, MD and many nieces, nephews and friends in the Bowie, Hagerstown and Baltimore, MD areas.

Two women died in separate shootings Thursday in Baltimore. The killings pushed the total of homicides for the year to 165, 11 more than at the same point last year and making it unlikely the city can improve upon last year's 35-year low of 196. Twenty-five people have been killed this month, nearly one per day. A 19-year-old woman, identified Friday by police as Nana Mensah of Randallstown, was shot in the head while seated in a car parked in...

On April 2, 2005, ELSIE C. (Nana)Friends may call at the CHATMAN-HARRIS FUNERAL HOME, 5240 Reisterstown Road, Wednesday, 12 to 8 P.M. The family will receive friends at Huber Memorial Church, 5701 York Road, Thursday, 10:30 A.M. Funeral services will begin 11 A.M. Inter Ment Druid Ridge Cemetery.

On September 8, 2007, MARION "Nana' SALTER; beloved wife of the late Buz Salter; devoted mother of Priscilla Fick Churchman; loving grandmother of Sharon, Brian, Craig and Gary Fick Also survived by seven great-grandchildren. A private cremation was held. A memorial service will be conducted at the Central Christian Assembly, 7411 Rossville, Blvd., Rosedale, MD 21237 on Wednesday September 26, 2007, at 11 A.M. Followed by Burial of the cremains in Baltimore Cemetery. Arrangements by the family owned Bruzdzinski Funeral Home.

On September 24, 2004, BETTY J. (nee Lorish); beloved wife of Wilmer T. Butler; devoted mother of Patricia L. Leisey and Betty Ann Quinn and her husband Wayne M. Quinn; loving sister of Marion Brooks, Elizabeth Lorish and Vernon Lorish; loving grandmother (Nanny) of Kelly Leisey, Shelley Quinn and Shannon Quinn Hagan and her husband Daniel Hagan; loving greatgrandmother (Lil Nana) of Cole Hagan A funeral service will be held at the Lassahn Funeral Home, Inc., 7401 Belair Road, on Tuesday at 11 A.M. The family will receive friends, Monday 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M. Interment Gardens of Faith Cemetery.

Age 87, May 23, 2008. Beloved wife of the late Raymond O. Shroyer. Loving mother of John Shroyer, Sandy (Jerry) Drake and the late Everly Jean Shroyer. Dear Nana of David, Daniel, Michael (Lisa), Matthew, Nathan and Amy Drake. Appreciated friend and supporter, Marcia Drake. Private family services will be held. Memorial contributions may be directed to In House Hospice Solutions, 24293 Telegraph Road, Suite 102, Southfield, MI, 48034. R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Home (734) 422-6720 in charge of arrangements.