Part 4  (last)

While I was a visiting professor of French at the University of Tulsa, I thought of you and my mother almost on a daily basis while walking the streets and breathing the Oklahoma air.   I enjoyed renting a car and driving from Tulsa to Dallas to spend time with you and your wife. I once drove through Idabel on the way down and visited the cemetery where both my grandmothers are burried.  I see why you left Oklahoma because I got my first and only speeding ticket in Broken Arrow on my way to your place; and I wasn’t speeding.
Although all my children were both born in France, I made it my duty to bring them to the USA and to Dallas to have them meet you (their American grandfather). You were such a proud grandfather when you met them both. You even insisted that my 8 month old daughter Elodie sleep with you in your bed in Dallas.  You were so happy and proud.  Each morning Elodie would wake up smiling after having slept with her protective grandfather.  That summer, Elodie also met her great grandfather, your father.  My son Olivier, who did not speak English and who flew with me from France at 18 to meet you in your home in Dallas, appeared speechless meeting you, his black and American grandfather.  You two found ways to communicate during our stay at your place.  You played the piano and the harmonica and sang to your grandson.  It was a beautiful moment indeed.
I am proud to be one of the many apples of such a great tree.  One of my objectives in life was to make you happy no matter where I was in the world: Europe, Africa, or the USA.
I am having the hardest time accepting that you made your transition to the spiritual world.   I miss you so much.  I will miss you coming to the Dallas TX airport to see me during my layer over between my connecting flights.   I miss talking to you.  I miss telling you how much I love you.  I truly miss and love you father. 

Attorney Dr. Tony Kennenybrew, J.D., Ph.D.  
in Covid confinement in Morocco, Africa

Part 3
Continuned.

Every time you were taken away from me, I managed to get back in contact with you.  Our bond is what God created and no one was able to separate us.  I will cherish all the moments of me calling you collect since I was a teenager from phone booths on the corners of the streets in Washington DC.  I remember the operators asking you “Mr. Marvel Kenneybrew do you accept the collect call from Tony Kenneybrew?” You always said “yes I will”; you never said “no,” and we would talk forever.  I will never forget calling you on weekends from my private boarding high school in Connecticut, or calling you collect from my college in Wisconsin.  I remember even calling you several times for free from broken public phones in Madrid Spain when I was studying at the University of  Madrid during my junior year.  I always kept you informed because you were always very supportive and special to me and you knew that.
You left a very good impression on all the friends you left in Washington DC.  All your friends you left in DC would always tell us how wonderful you were, how handsome you were, how wonderful you played the trumpet and the piano, and how you were so talented. They kept your legacy going; and I shall do the same.  I thank all your friends in DC for keeping your legacy going.  They were witness of your greatness in life.  When I visited Idabel, Oklahma, people would tell me how you played the trumpet on the roof to court my mother.  I remember when I was 12 years old being at one of your smoke filled night concerts and on the drums that you and your drummer were playing, I read “The Marvelous Kenneybrew Band”.  You were indeed marvelous. From a roof trumpet player, to playing in smoke filled night clubs with your own band, to playing in churches and directing choirs, your were marvelous, you have had a marvelous long life of music.

Your son Tony
To be continued....


part 2
Continued ...

I remember me asking you if you ever wondered what I looked like and you answered me, “no because you look like me.”   I have always been proud of you and proud to be your son, one of your many apples. I also told you this every time I talked to you on the phone.   You know how I am very affectionate with you.
You were my coach and my light and one of the true loves of my life.  I am glad that I was able to tell you all this for years and until you were brutally and unexpectedly taken away from us.  I can honestly and seriously say that I had the unique privilege of  never ever seeing you mad and never ever seeing you upset.  I never even heard you say a swear word in front of me.  To this day, I still do not know if you ever used swear words.  That is a testament that you were a very protective father up until your last day.  You were always calm, diplomatic and soft spoken, even when we disagreed (and you know we disagreed on many issues like you not providing certain information, my filming you rehearsing playing the piano and singing before you gave me your ok, or you voting Republican, which was indeed your prerogative).  I am glad that I was able to film several of your performances (with and without your permission).  
Being a very liberal son with a very conservative father could have strained any father/son relationship, but our fundamental differences in value did not prevent us from being very close and loving.  “Vive la difference !”   You were indeed the best father anyone could ask for because through your truly unconditional love, your art, your life experiences, and your struggles, you were able to forgive and live on. 
Like the little drummer boy, you were always giving me (and to others) your gift of your music.

Your son Tony (to be continued)

My very dearest and extremely well beloved and missed father.  You were taken away too soon and unexpectedly.  You were the best to me; and I am glad that I was able to tell you not only how wonderful you were as a father to me but also how much I loved you and unconditionally. I miss you so dearly; and I should like to celebrate and honor your joyous life. 
You were blessed with many talents, yet one must acknowledge that life was often unfair to you.  Many times thinking of the things that happened to you would make me break down in tears when I spoke to you.  As the great father you were, you would always comfort me when I got emotional with you no matter where I was in the world.   You knew how to say the right words.  I need you now to tell me the right words.
Your unconditional love for all your children, for all your grandchildren, all your family members, for all your brothers and sisters, all your true friends, and your musical art inspired and continues to inspire me to be the man I am today:  the former professional ballet dancer, the choreographer, the attorney, former college professor, the loving father  I am today.  However, we know that you don’t get exactly all the credit, there is also is that great dominant Kenneybrew DNA that you passed on to me and my brothers and sister.  I appreciate that we are the off springs of our Kennebrew ancestors who survived that inhuman boat ride from Africa and slavery.  You informed me that we are the off springs of a runaway slave.   We inherited the DNA of wanting to be free and to live a life of freedom and dignity.
Not having had the privilege, like my dear cousins in Dallas, to have seen you more often, I still managed to have inherited many things from you: your genuine since of sense humor, your smile, your voice, your truly artistic qualities, your intelligence, and most of all your very good looks.  Thank you. 

Uncle Marvel  will be missed. His music,  his singing, his jokes and his love for sharing them.
Love You Uncle Marvel-play on❤

I  love you  brother.  Praying you are resting in the loving arms of our Heavenly FATHER.   R.I.L BIG BROTHER. 

It's always hard to lose an Uncle. Especially the one who plays the piano for you every time  during a visit. We will miss you Uncle Marvel. Love Devetta


Mrs Dorothy Kenneybrew, thank you for your loving kindness through the years  for your husband & our brother, we love you,  may our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ bless you always, 
Sister-n-law Faye and kids
Los Angeles California 

Marvel my dear brother,  we love  & miss you ,  your smile,  music,  & cheerful songs, God bless  your children,
 "We know the Lord will take care " 
Thankful to know alls well with your soul 🕊
Love sister Faye & kids

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Marvel Kenneybrew

3 mars 1935 – 8 février 2021

Laurel Land Funeral Home & Laurel Land Memorial Park

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