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Cayla Harris

Cayla

Cayla Harris is the obituary writer for The Baltimore Banner. Before coming to Baltimore, she spent four years in Austin, Texas, covering state politics for the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News. She also previously covered New York politics for the Albany Times Union. Cayla is a New Jersey native and a graduate of the George Washington University, where she studied journalism and Spanish.

The latest from Cayla Harris

The Integrity Title founder who inspired Black women to enter the real estate industry
Shina Parker, who founded Integrity Title and blazed a path for Black women in the real estate industry, died May 28 of natural causes. She was 63.
Shina Parker.
HeartSmiles founder Joni Holifield, champion for Baltimore youth, dies at 47
Joni Holifield, the founder and executive director of the youth-focused nonprofit HeartSmiles, died this week after a battle with ovarian cancer.
Joni Holifield, Founder & Executive Director of Heart Smiles, is the Ravens' 2025 Inspire Change Changemaker.
Winningest coach in McDaniel College basketball history dies at 54
Kevin Curley, the longtime McDaniel College basketball coach who amassed the most wins in school history, died May 27 of cancer. He was 54.
Kevin Curley.
This Bolton Hill landscape architect filled her neighborhood with flowers and plants
Susan Van Buren, a landscape architect and longtime Bolton Hill resident who cared for a massive home garden, died April 15 of liver cancer. She was 78.
Susan Van Buren.
Santa Wayne, a beloved Christmastime fixture at Marley Station Mall, dies at 77
Santa Wayne, who made the holidays cheery for generations of Marylanders, died Thursday of heart complications. He was 77.
Santa Wayne has been the mall Santa at Marley Station Mall for 35 years - nearly as long as the mall has been open. With much of the mall vacant, Santa Wayne has seen hardly any children this year.  He prepares for the journey from his home in Arbtus to the mall each day, listening to Christmas music on the way.
The Baltimore County principal who told faculty to teach their best lessons on the first day
Fred Cogswell, a former Baltimore County Public Schools teacher and principal, died April 25 of heart failure at age 83.
Fred Cogswell.
The family businessman who spent his life sailing around Gibson Island
Bill Passano Jr., the former president of the medical printing and publishing companies Waverly Press and Williams & Wilkins, died May 6 of a respiratory infection. He was 97.
Bill Passano.
The Baltimore educator who helped low-income students go to college
Ellen Dolvey Howard, whose career in Baltimore-area schools and educational programs spanned more than five decades, died April 22 at age 97.
Ellen Dolvey Howard.
Former hospice chaplain weaves end-of-life stories into a musical comedy
Benjamin Kintisch, a Columbia man who worked as a hospice chaplain, used the stories he heard from patients to create a musical about life, death and legacy. “Life Review: The Hospice Musical” will be performed in Baltimore on May 9.
Benjamin Kintisch, center, performs a song with a Peabody Institute ensemble during rehearsal for “Life Review: The Hospice Musical” at the Johns Hopkins University’s Arellano Theater in Baltimore on Wednesday.
The Johns Hopkins radiologist who advanced ultrasound technology
Roger Sanders, an esteemed sonographer who worked in the Baltimore region for more than three decades, died last month at 89.
Roger Sanders.
The upbeat insurance executive who supported children with dyslexia
James “Jim” Morgan, the cofounder and CEO of the insurance company Heritage Financial Consultants, died last month of ALS. He was 86.
James “Jim” Morgan.
The Prince George’s County salesman who raised Sen. Angela Alsobrooks and mentored young men
James “Mack” Alsobrooks, a salesman and father of U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, died April 7 of acute myeloid leukemia. He was 78.
James Alsobrooks.
The artist who welded Black history into steel sculptures
Melvin Edwards, the pioneering sculptor whose steel works explored Black history and racial violence, died at 88 after spending his final years in Baltimore.
Melvin Edwards.
The Maryland legislator who first codified abortion rights in state law
Paula Hollinger, a nurse who served in the Maryland General Assembly for nearly three decades, died March 25 of leukemia. She was 85.
Paula Hollinger.
City Council President Zeke Cohen lost his mother, but her influence lives in his politics
Joan Berzoff, a social work professor and the mother of Baltimore City Council President Zeke Cohen, died last week at age 76.
Joan Berzoff.
The ‘Baltimore everyman’ who never missed a chance to talk about Black history or family values
Charles Marks, a serial entrepreneur and the father of Create Baltimore CEO Robyn Murphy, died on March 4 of complications from dementia. He was 85.
Charles Marks.
The Birkenstock-wearing, Mustang-driving theater director who taught a generation of Baltimore actors
Harvey Doster, known for his panache and commitment to students at Towson University and Saint Timothy’s School, died in his sleep Feb. 19 after taking a fall at home. He was 73.
Harvey Doster.
CCBC professor Larry Aaronson was passionate — about family, politics and Philadelphia sports
Larry Aaronson, a community advocate and college professor who worked primarily in Howard and Baltimore counties, died March 9 of complications from dementia. He was 84.
Larry Aaronson.
Christine Koniezhny continued teaching at Upper Friends School even through her battle with ALS
Christine Koniezhny, a Friends Upper School assistant principal for academics who continued teaching through her battle with ALS, died earlier this month. She was 61.
Christine Koniezhny.
On the list of best dads, Towson math tutor Tim Smith was at the top
Tim Smith, a Towson-based math tutor who loved music and running, died Feb. 4 of cancer. He was 67.
Tim Smith.
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