- Date Of Birth: December 28, 1933
- Date Of Death: July 11, 2014
- State: California
Ms. Love, the mother of Sabrina Carnell, peacefully passed away at her residence.
How Sweet it is at evening after a long and well spent day, to close the eyes in slumber, and rest from the toil of the day. We know that life is only a sojourn here on earth. Marietta McKenzie was born on December 28, 1933, in Hot Springs, AR. She was the third of five children born to the union of William McKenzie and Fannie Trotter McKenzie. She was preceded in death by her parents and all of her siblings.
Marietta received her formal education in Hot Springs, and graduated from Langston High School. She had a natural talent for interior design. After graduation, she went to Chicago, IL to pursue her dream of becoming an Interior Designer. Later in life, she united with her high school boyfriend, Odell Gregory Love of the United States Navy and they were united in marriage in San Diego, CA where he was serving. Together they joined Bethel Memorial A.M.E.
In 1959, she married William Jerold Pace and to this union two children were born, Sabrina Michelle and Gerald Dewitt. Gerald preceded Marietta in death. During this time Marietta never lost her God-given talent for interior design; she successfully helped friends decorate their homes as well as her own. This classy lady had impeccable taste in her attire and decorating abilities. Other forms of art that she loved included dancing and listening to music, which she did daily. One of her favorite singers was Mahalia Jackson, singing “His Eye Is on the Sparrow”.
The foundation for Marietta’s work ethics was set as a child growing up, where her parents owned and operated a Motel in Hot Springs called “McKenzie Hotel”. She and her siblings worked after school as teens and learned about the business and good work ethics. She had no problems getting her first job in San Diego at Convair Aeronautics, and later with General Dynamics Aerospace until 1966, and then on to Teledyne Ryan Aeronautical, where she retired after eleven years. Marietta felt she needed to do more other than being retired, so she adventured on to working with the State of California Department of Motor Vehicles, where she worked several years before retiring during the early 2000’s.
In 1997, Marietta and Odell Gregory Love were reunited in marriage. Throughout their lives, they always remained the best of friends.
God saw the road was getting rough, the hills were hard to climb, and He gently closed those loving eyes and whispered “Peace Be Thine”. Marietta Love passed away peacefully at her residence on July 11, 2014, at 7:00 P.M., with her daughter, Michelle and caregiver, Kim Holden by her side. Even the family dog, Mike Jones, sensed the lost as he stayed close to her bedroom window. Her vibrant smile, her fun loving ways and giving Spirit will be missed by all who knew her.
Her memory will live on in the hearts of her loving family, especially her daughter Sabrina Michelle Carnell, who was determined that she would take care of her mother at home; two grandchildren, Lovell L. Carnell of San Diego, CA and Gerald Dewitt Pace, Jr. of Bakersfield, CA; and a host of cousins, one niece, nephews, other relatives and friends.
