Betty Ann Mention

A beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend to many, Betty Ann Mention of Forestville, Maryland passed on September 13, 2016 at the age of 77. Betty was born on May 20, 1939 in Newport, Maryland to the late Margaret Whalen Dade and Arthur Dade. The family was God centered and Margaret Dade made sure the family attended Saint Mary Newport Catholic Church of every Sunday, where she attended Sunday school and participated in church activities. She attended public schools in Charles County, Maryland including Bel Alton High School and she looked forward to learning and spending time with her classmates. As the oldest daughter of the family, Betty was responsible for assisting her mother with the household chores and helping take care of her many brothers and sisters. She assisted her father with chores on the family farm and paid close attention to her mother in the kitchen as she prepared meals for her large family. This is where she developed her culinary expertise and became a great southern cook. At age 18, she moved to Washington, D.C. to work as a domestic worker for the Dorsey family of Bethesda, Maryland. During this time, Betty met and married David C. Mention of Hemingway, South Carolina on June 4, 1960. This union was blessed with 5 children. In September 1984, Betty and David lost their daughter Melanie Marie Carr due to complications of childbirth. Their daughter’s dying wish was for her parents to legally adopt and raise their granddaughter Melanie Nicole Carr with her husband’s (Gary Carr) blessing. Both did so without hesitation. Betty was primarily a homemaker who was devoted to raising her children and maintaining the home for the family. She was a member of St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Church (Northeast D.C.), St. Thomas More Catholic Church (Southeast D.C.), and Mount Calvary Catholic Church (Forestville, Maryland) where her children attended school and the family attended Mass every Sunday. Betty decided to enter the workforce as a cook’s helper for the D.C. Public Schools System, where with hard work and dedication was promoted to head cook and cafeteria manager. After a 25-year career in food service, she retired from the D.C. Public Schools System in 1995. She then devoted her time providing day care to her grandchildren Matthew Minor, Lindsay Minor, and Joshua Clark, making sure they attended school and completed their homework. She also became a parishioner of Our Lady of Perpetual Health Catholic Church in 1998 until her death. Betty was best known for her gift of hospitality. She made everyone who entered her home feel welcomed. Whenever family traveled from out of town, she would happily prepare them a delicious meal with all the fixings. Her nieces and nephews especially speak fondly of the food and fellowship she provided. Her hobbies included sewing (e.g., clothes, costumes, home décor) and decorating her home for Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. She also enjoyed listening to gospel music on Sunday morning while she prepared for Mass, and she cherished daily telephone calls to her sister Barbara Jean Fenwick, where they would reminisce and laugh about their childhood antics and family. During her lengthy illness, Betty demonstrated remarkable faith in the Lord and was showered with His abundant grace and mercy. She bravely endured each new health challenge with resiliency and courage. She would frequently defy the odds and amazed the health professionals caring for her. She was strong, caring, courageous and loving. She has left a permanent mark on every life she touched and will remain in our hearts forever. Those who remain to cherish her memory are her loving and devoted husband David C. Mention; devoted children Beverly Mention Minor (Paul), Duane Mention Thomas (Tina), Candace Mention Clark (William), Darnecia LaShawn Mention and granddaughter Melanie Nicole Carr; loving grandchildren Matthew Minor, Lindsay Minor, Joshua Clark, Duane Thomas, Jr. and Durrell Thomas; dear great-grandchildren Dominic Thomas and Madison Minor; siblings Barbara Jean Fenwick (James), Rhoda Dade, Lyannette Dade and Harold Dade; son-in-law Gary Carr; and a host of nieces, nephews, and relatives. She was predeceased by daughter Melanie Marie Carr; and siblings Margaret Dade, Catherine Dade, Rose Dade, John Dade, Charles Dade, Thomas Dade, Michael Dade and Joseph Randy Dade. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Betty Ann Mention please visit our Sympathy Store.