Mabelle LaVaughn Jennings

Birth

2 Aug 1899

McCook, Red Willow County, Nebraska, USA

Death

9 Mar 1944 (aged 44)

District of Columbia, USA

Burial

Rock Creek Cemetery

Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia

Plot

Section 8, Lot 015, Site 9

 

 Washington Evening Star, 9 Mar 1944:

Mabelle Jennings, well-known dramatic critic and columnist, died early today in Emergency Hospital after an illness of several months. Miss Jennings, who was 40 [sic], had undergone two operations before going to Emergency Hospital for another operation recently. She was given several blood transfusions, but died shortly after midnight.

Born in McCook, Nebraska, August 2, 1899, Miss Jennings came to Washington at an early age, received her education here, and became widely known through her work on the Washington Daily News and the Washington Herald. She began her newspaper career as a dramatic critic, but branched out as a columnist commentator on political and diplomatic events. Occasionally she devoted her column to prominent figures in the newspaper world.

Later she conducted a radio program over WJSV, reviewing the dramatic field in Washington and general news of interest to women. She broadcast the "Women's Angle" from the Republican National Convention at Cleveland in 1936 for the National Broadcasting Co. Her latest activity was public relations work with the real estate firm of E.M. Fry of Bethesda.

When Miss Jennings came to the Capital, she attended Peabody Grammar School and Eastern High School and later entered the office of former Senator George W. Norris, who also was from McCook, Nebraska.

Miss Jennings was married to Osgood Roberts, former Daily News reporter, who later became publicity director and an official of the Mayflower Hotel. They entertained widely at their home in Tilden Gardens. Later their marriage ended in divorce. Mr. Roberts now is in the Navy with the rank of lieutenant commander, operating a convalescent home for servicemen somewhere in Italy.

[This was her second marriage. Her first marriage was to George Walsh Talbert on 8 Apr 1918 in New York City. They were divorced on 4 Nov 1927 in Arlington, VA.]

Miss Jennings' sister Hazelle, also known in Washington, was a Ziegfelt [sic] Follies showgirl and an understudy to the late Helen Morgan in "Show Boat". She was the wife of Michael J. Cullen, a former executive of Loew's Theater here. Mrs. Cullen died in 1940.

Surviving is Jennings' mother, Mrs. Mildred L. Jennings, 2100 I street N.W.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. tomorrow at Gawler's funeral home, 1756 Pennsylvania avenue NW, with the Rev. Dr. Howard Stone Anderson, pastor of First Congregational Church, officiating. Interment will be private.