Obituaries

Survivors include her husband of 27 years, John W. Travis of Bowie; a son from her second marriage, Gregory M. Travis of Washington; and a sister, Sylvia Lane Hendricks of Sharpsburg, Md.

Al JamesVOA Host

Al James, 77, former editor and host of "Daybreak Africa" for Voice of America's English to Africa Service, died of cancer May 2 at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital. He was a resident of Rockville.

After moving to the Washington area in 1984, Mr. James began working as a newscaster and engineer in VOA's central newsroom. Four years later, he started hosting "Daybreak Africa," a daily news show that included weather forecasts for 23 African cities. He retired in 2003.

In 1991, a Cameroon fan club ranked him No. 1 over European announcers.

A native of Cleveland, Mr. James began his broadcasting career there. In the 1960s and 1970s, he worked as an announcer for radio stations that played middle-of-the road contemporary, soft and big-band music.

In 1964, he worked at the station that sponsored the Beatles concert to Cleveland. He appeared onstage with his fellow disc jockeys, introducing the band to thousands of screaming fans.

Mr. James also did freelance voice-overs and appeared in local and national television commercials and industrial films.

Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Bernadette James of Rockville; and two daughters, Susan James of Derwood and Patricia Briggs of Rockville.

Charles H. MauvaisPOW, Sales Manager

Charles H. Mauvais, 86, a former World War II prisoner of war and office equipment sales manager, died May 16 of a cerebral hemorrhage at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital. He was a resident of Bethesda for 40 years.

Mr. Mauvais worked in management for Monroe Systems, a division of Litton Industries in Boise, Idaho, Denver, San Francisco, and Washington, before retiring in 1980. He then worked in commercial real estate for four years.

He was born in Gooding, Idaho, and attended Boise Business College. During World War II, he was a navigator in the Army Air Forces on a B-17 and a member of the 8th Air Force, 100th Bomb group, 350th Bomb Squadron in England. He was shot down on his 25th mission over Berlin, captured and taken as a prisoner of war by the Germans in May 1944.

He was held most of the time in Stalag Luft III, until being liberated in April 1945 by Gen. George S. Patton and the American troops. An Air Force captain at discharge, he was awarded a Purple Heart and Air Medal with three clusters.