The JCA Scholarship Foundation, Inc. was founded on January 1st, 2016 by Gay Weldon-Barnes & Co-Founder Alexandria Brown in honor of loved ones: Jeffrey Weldon, Cleola Johnson and Alexis Randall.
The organization's main goal is to raise money for minority scholarships in the state of Maryland. Each scholarship will uniquely embody each one of our loved ones and what they stood for. Funds will be raised through events, donations and fundraisers. Through our programs and events, we hope to spread awareness of different health epidemics plaguing our communities.
Our mission is dedicated to helping individuals in financial need through a scholarship program for residents of Maryland who desire to continue their education despite all odds. Our goal is to assist deserving individuals within our community achieve their personal and educational goals.
The Edward Jones survey finds that 83% of Americans say they can't afford to attend college. Of African American women ages 20 and older, 49% have heart disease, and high blood pressure and diabetes are the two leading causes of kidney disease. We are on a mission to put a dent in solving these crucial issues. We plan to award scholarships to deserving students who may have had health issues or are experiencing a family situation where a family member has a health condition. The more students we are able to help attend college, the better positioned the next generation will be.
Jeffrey Alexander Weldon was intelligent and musically talented. Jeffrey was 50 years old when he passed. He was born on June 18, 1960, in Annapolis, to Cleola Johnson and the late Alfred Weldon. Jeffrey attended Annapolis Senior High School.
He worked for his father’s janitorial company as well as for Gumpert Printing for several years. As a big sports fan, he enjoyed football and basketball. He loved playing the bass guitar and the keyboard. Reading and writing music was also a passion of his.
Jeffrey had Renovascular Disease known to most as Renal Disease. This disease is a progressive condition that causes narrowing or blockage of the renal arteries or veins. These are the blood vessels that take blood to and from the kidneys.
Cleola Johnson, a mother of seven, loving grandmother, sister, aunt and friend lived for 83 beautiful years. She passed away on Saturday morning, August 2, 2014.Born and raised in Annapolis, MD on August 25th, 1930, she was the youngest of four children.
Cleola attended Anne Arundel County Public Schools, where she graduated from Wiley Bates High School. She furthered her education at Strayer Business College and Anne Arundel Community College, where she received her Associate of Arts Degree. Cleola worked for the State of Maryland, where she retired from Baltimore City Department of Social Services In 1992 after 24 years of service.
She loved and played basketball in high school. She was also a member of Asbury United Methodist Church. Cleola had Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease(COPD) which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It is a chronic lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. COPD affects nearly 24 million individuals in the U.S. Symptoms of COPD include increased breathlessness, frequent coughing, wheezing and tightness in the chest.
Alexis Cleo Randall, such a joyful spirit, was born in Houston Texas on October 9th 1991 and grew up in Annapolis, MD. Alexis graduated from Meade Senior High School. She attended The University of Maryland Eastern Shore, where she majored in Hotel Management.
Alexis was a Mary Kay Beauty Consultant. She also worked in retail at Arundel Mills Mall. Alexis loved art, fashion, music and dancing. Whenever she heard one of her favorite artists playing, she would sing and dance, as if nothing else mattered in the world. She also enjoyed movies and the theatre. Alexis was a very kind, caring and compassionate young lady, who loved to smile and laugh.
She passed at the sudden age of 20 years old from Truncus Arteriosus. Truncus Arteriosus (congenital heart disease) is a rare type of heart disease that occurs at birth in which a single blood vessel (truncus arteriosus) comes out of the right and left ventricles, instead of the normal two vessels (pulmonary artery and aorta).
Your questions and thoughts matter to us. Whether you need assistance, have inquiries about our scholarships, or want to get involved, please reach out. We’re here to support you on your journey to education and health awareness.