Obituaries for March 29

Saturday's obituaries recognize: Robert Bearden Jr., Nina Beasley, Dorothy Brazelton, Helene Hershey and Kerry Mills.

Mr. Bearden was born Jan. 6, 1929, in Louisville, Ky., and earned an associate's degree in business from Baltimore Junior College.

He was the manager of a service station and was an entrepreneur.

Mr. Bearden served in the Marine Corps for three years, achieving the rank of corporal.

He was a member of the American Legion Post 219 and the Loyal Order of the Mouse.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Rose Bearden, who died March 2 of this year; and one brother, Richard K. Bearden.

Survivors include one son, Robert T. Bearden III of Baltimore; five daughters, Deborah L. Bearden of Austin, Texas, Brenda L. Bearden of Greenville, N.C., Sondra D. Bearden of Edgewater, Karyn R. Paradis of Woonsocket, R.I., and Carmen M. Valdez of Amarillo, Texas; one stepson, Clayton Knapp of College Park; two stepdaughters, Patricia Scully of College Park and Nancy McCoy of Edgewater; one sister, Judith A. Mussett of Iowa; 17 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Family and friends may visit from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. tomorrow at Gasch's Funeral Home, 4739 Baltimore Ave. in Hyattsville.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. Interment will be in Fort Lincoln Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in memory of his wife to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 650309, Dallas, TX 75264.

Nina Beasley

Nina Ehrenfeld Beasley, 81, of Annapolis and previously of York, Pa., and Nantucket, Mass., died surrounded by her family March 17 in her home after a month-long illness.

Mrs. Beasley was born June 13, 1926, in York to the late Walter Spahr and Nina Alvord Ehrenfeld. She earned an associate's degree from Endicott College.

She worked in broadcast radio in New York City, and after 1980 worked for the Washington Opera Company and the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.

While raising four daughters, Mrs. Beasley remained active in the Episcopal Church and various community and arts organizations and maintained a close circle of friends. She studied painting at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts and supported the Maryland Federation of Art and the Mitchell Gallery at St. John's College.

She was an avid reader, writer, and amateur naturalist with an abiding interest in music and theater. She enjoyed summers with her family in Nantucket, where she sailed, played tennis and enjoyed walks with friends along the beaches and moors.

Survivors include four daughters, Jennifer Larrimore, Nina Lynn Beasley and Robin Bisland of Annapolis, and Ann Walsh of Washington, D.C.; one sister, Louise Watkins of Virginia; and four grandchildren.

A memorial service and celebration of her life will be held at 11 a.m. April 4 in the Blue Heron Room at Quiet Waters Park, 600 Quiet Waters Park Road. Arrangements are by Taylor Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her name to the American Heart Association, 415 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21201 and Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, 801 Chase St., Annapolis, MD 21401.

Online condolences may be made to www.johnmtaylorfuneral home.com.

Dorothy Brazelton

Dorothy Russell Brazelton, 81, of Arnold and previously of Dallas, died of colon cancer March 22 at Mandrin Chesapeake Hospice House in Harwood after a nine month illness.

Mrs. Brazelton was born March 2, 1927, in Akron, Ohio, where she was raised.

She retired from the Social Security Administration, where she worked as a claims representative supervisor.

Her interests included playing bridge, spending time with her family, and her dog.

Survivors include one daughter, Pamela Kanewske of Arnold; and two grandchildren.

Interment will be private. Arrangements are by Barranco and Sons Severna Park Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice of the Chesapeake, 445 Defense Highway, Annapolis, MD 21401.

Online condolences may be made at www.barrancofuneralhome.com.

Helene Hershey

Helene Hershey, 81, of Frankford, Del., died of a cerebral hemorrhage March 20 at the University of Maryland Hospital after a brief illness.

Mrs. Hershey was born Nov. 25, 1926, in Bronx, N.Y., and earned a degree in criminal justice.

She worked in the FBI under J. Edgar Hoover, and as special assistant to the Assistant Inspector-General at the Federal Department of Energy. Later, she became a special agent in the same department, then was transferred to the Golden, Colo., office, where she was the Chief Investigator until she retired in 1989.

She was a member of National Active and Retired Federal Employees in Delaware, where she was vice president, second vice-president and president. She was the social committee chair at the time of her death.

She enjoyed playing Mah Jong, reading and going to casinos.

She was preceded in death by her husband of over 50 years, Harold Hershey.

Survivors include one son, Larry Hershey of Ormand Beach, Fla.; two daughters, Pat Shoemaker of Arnold and Marian Merewitz of Brookeville; one brother, Leslie Abrams of New Jersey; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Tuesday; interment was private. Arrangements were by Parsell Funeral Home.

Kerry Mills

Kerry Lee Mills, 43, of Riva died March 25 at Anne Arundel Medical Center after an illness lasting 10 years.

Mrs. Mills was born Aug. 24, 1964, in New Jersey to Edward and Doris Miller of Virginia.

She was an IT specialist for 17 years with the Department of Agriculture, where she helped establish an overseas communication network.

She was a member of Riva Trace Baptist Church, where she led youth and small groups.

She loved to laugh and smile, and was devoted to all those she considered her children. She enjoyed painting, dancing, modeling and art and was a coach for her sons' teams.

Survivors include her husband, Roger Mills; four sons, Christopher, Shane and Zachary Lauer and Steven Mills of Annapolis; and one sister, Kelly Miller of Virginia.

Family and friends may visit from 6 to 9 p.m. tomorrow at Hardesty Funeral Home, 12 Ridgely Ave.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Riva Trace Baptist Church, 475 W. Central Ave. in Davidsonville. Interment will be in Lakemont Memorial Gardens.

Online condolences may be made at www.hardestyfuneral home.com.