Ellender Edwards

Ellender Victorine (Morgan) Edwards, 81, of Kent Island, Maryland, and formerly of New York City, New York, Palm Beach, Florida, and Bethesda, Maryland, passed away on Saturday, September 6, 2014, after complications from a heart attack in Washington D.C.

Born in Boonsboro, Maryland, she was the daughter of the late Leon K. and Victorine (Mumma) Morgan.

Ellender is survived by her loving daughter, Sheri (Edwards) O'Connell; her two grandchildren, Edward and Claire O'Connell; a brother, Bonnard Morgan, Sr.; and her longtime companion, Rand Mortimer.

Ellender had deep roots in Maryland. Several of her 7th gr-grandfather’s from Washington County, MD were patriots during the American Revolution. She is a relation of Joseph Chapline, founder of Sharpsburg, MD, and 6th gr-grandson of Mary Calvert, daughter of Lord Baltimore.

Ellen graduated from Boonsboro High School. She went on to join Alpha Gamma Delta at the University of Maryland, and graduated from the Maryland Institute College of Art. After receiving her degree, Ellen and her former husband, Eugene Blum, owned an art gallery on the Upper East Side of New York City.

Ellen was an active member of her community. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Pen Women's Society, a docent at the Flagler Museum in Palm Beach, and retired USAF WAF from the Korean War. She won several beauty contests including Miss Lake Placid and Miss Mitchel AFB, when stationed in New York. Ellen was an avid athlete playing tennis, softball, soccer, and basketball. Ellen played on the USAF WAF championship basketball team.

Ellen was extremely active in the Palm Beach and Annapolis art community and was a retired art instructor in Montgomery County, Maryland. Her art and photography was exhibited at numerous museums across the country. She participated in sixteen juried art shows, and had exhibited locally in the Baltimore Museum of Art, Washington County Museum of Art, Peale Museum, De Young Museum, and the Museum of Contemporary Crafts. Ellen was also active in the Chesapeake Art League.

A graveside memorial ceremony will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 20, 2014, at the Mumma Family Grave Yard, Mumma Lane, part of the Antietam National Battlefield in Sharpsburg, Maryland. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be sent to the Antietam National Battlefield, Superintendent (Mumma Farm House Education Center) , PO Box 158, Sharpsburg, MD 21782. Following the graveside memorial ceremony, the family invites those in attendance to the Bavarian Inn, 164 Shepherd Grade Road , Shepherdstown, West Virginia, for a time of fellowship and gathering.

Bonnard Morgan, Jr. will officiate. Military honors will be rendered by the Clopper-Michael American Legion Post #10 of Boonsboro.