Mabel Lovejoy

A Graveside Service in Loving Memory of Mrs. Lovejoy will be held on Wednesday, July 3, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Rolling Hills Memorial Park, 4100 Hilltop Dr, Richmond, CA 94803.

Friends are encouraged to upload a photo, light a virtual candle or leave a message for her family to view here on our website. Also, in lieu of flowers, tax-deductible donations to the following charity in honor of Mrs. Lovejoy is greatly appreciated. Simply go to: www.lettumeat/donations.com

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Life, Love & Joys of Mrs. Mabel Lovejoy

Life for Mabel began November 9, 1927. She was the Sixth child of 10 siblings, born in Earlsboro, Oklahoma to Reverend & Mrs. Almeter Morrow. As a young girl, Mabel was baptized at Galilee Baptist Church in Seminole, Oklahoma. There she received her schoolhouse education. On December 18, 1943, shortly after a terrible tornado tore through their property, damaging their home and farm, the Morrow family relocated to Fresno, California.

They were a seven-member family traveling by station wagon to a new beginning. They met with sickness of one child, Euteen, and were caught in a snow blizzard. An Army Motorcade came along and escorted them through a snow storm. Mabel turned Sweet 16, a month before the Morrow Family's arrival to Fresno. When the family arrived they joined Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church [Fresno, CA] with other relatives and their father eventually became Pastor over the congregation. Rev. Morrow purchased his own land, where the children worked, grew cotton, and also hired other hard workers on local cotton farms. After church and a hard week's labor, Sunday dinners at the Weller Street House were filled with so much love, laughter and some fun, running games [Weller Street home].

A few years passed, when Mabel was introduced to Henry Lovejoy by her Sister, Mrs. Euteen Hemmitt. Rev. Morrow approved of Henry to court Mabel and her younger Sister Bernice was their chaperone at the urging of their Father. Henry received an Honorable Discharge in 1945 after serving in the U.S. Army, after completing four tours.

On November 28, 1946, Mabel Morrow joined Henry Lovejoy, as Man and Woman in Holy Matrimony in Fresno, California by Rev Garrett of Mt. Pleasant. They were also granted membership in elite social organizations that deemed Henry, a Masonic Mason, and Mabel, an Eastern Star. Henry then adopted a brick mason trade under the brotherly guidance of Naaman Haynes {Fresno, CA]. As the married couple thrived and began to start their own family, Rev. Morrow encouraged them to move to Oakland, California for better work and school opportunities.

In 1951, Mabel, Husband and their baby girl Gwendolyn moved to Oakland's Chinatown District above Simon Brother's Hardware store. Mabel liked The Bay Area, but she missed the family that raised her. So she frequently visited Fresno to reunite with her parents and relatives. Back home, she enrolled in Charms Beauty School in Oakland alongside her cousin Miss Olie B Miller of Fowler, CA. The two of them graduated in nine months and when Mabel visited Fresno, her siblings and nieces would line up for her to coif their hair into a beautiful hard press and curls that held for two weeks. Mabel greatly inspired her cousins, daughters, nieces and friends to; a few became Licensed Stylists.

As Mabel and Henry continued to thrive, in 1952 they purchased their Family home in the No. Oakland/Sante Fe District. They joined the North Oakland Baptist Church and settled in the diverse community. There, Mabel gave birth to two more children, Beverly Ann and Eric Henry. She taught her children about the Gospel and instilled in them bold, God-fearing courageousness, confident trust in the power of prayer that would help them all.

All of this took place before 1969, and during difficult and challenging cultures, yet Mabel went on to become a successful Cosmetologist and instructor, a Seamstress, opened a Daycare and became an Electronics Assembler for a local manufacturer.

Mabel - an adored wife, a strong advocate for her children, others in her family, and neighbors. Henry supported her pious and resourceful lifestyle. She homeschooled her children until they entered Kindergarten and ensured they were always clean, clothed, they never missed meals and she exposed them to diverse cultures and events. Mabel strongly believed in preparing her children for each phase in their growth and development. Mabel enrolled her daughters in piano classes, her son in drum lessons and the Boys Club and local gun club. She took them to San Francisco, onto decommissioned ships, Aquariums, Planetarium, Zoos, and Tahoe River family trips. Saturdays she would drop Beverly and Eric to fish off the University Avenue, Berkeley Pier. She was "all in" for watching TV Roller Derby competitions. [The TV was invented September 1927]. After a celebratory end of raising three children and fostering God-daughters, Mabel went on to become an Ordained Minister, visited prisons and served with community outreach programs.

Coming up Mabel, she as affectionately referred to as "Able Mabel" and "Honey". She was later tagged "Honey" by Grandson Victor D Reed because that's what she lovingly called him. Being a first-born grandchild, was in her and Pa' Pa's arms most mornings while they prepared breakfast and lunch. Mabel personally gave Granddaughter Mrs. Chenelle Hodge [Reed] and Beverly's friend Mrs. Joyce McGee her blessings to adopt "Honey" for their generations.

In 1985, Mabel became a Bonus Mom to Mr. Bernard W. Lovejoy (Gloria) of Los Angeles, California. Ms. Grace Hopkins [Kansas City, Kansas], Mother of Bernard (1947), enabled Mabel to share the love of his sonship and that she did. Bernard and his "Mother Honey" had a very close relationship. Henry, Mabel and their children were happy and proud to meet and love on "Bro" Bernard. He came along with a family of boys and sister, Karen Littles whom we also call our "Sister" Bernard frequently took lone trips to visit Mabel as she aged, and kept her company at her San Pablo, CA home and visited her in Henderson Nevada. Henry Lovejoy (1920-1986), Ms. Grace Hopkins (1925-2011) and Bernard Lovejoy (1946-2023)all preceded Mabel in transitional homegoing. In 1986 Mrs. Mabel sold the family home and moved into her San Pablo home.

In 2019, Mabel relocated to Clovis, California to be closer to her Cousins, Nieces and Nephews as she was no longer able to live unassisted. She remained there until in January 2020 when she opted to live with her Daughter, Gwendolyn and Son in Law, Michael in Henderson, Nevada. Mabel was graced to live her life over 96 years (even outlived 11 U.S. Presidents), until falling eternally asleep there on June 13, 2024.

The Morrow Family Tree branch has lost it's last leaf, Mrs, Mabel Lovejoy. Preceding her homegoing were her parents Rev. Elzy Morrow and Mrs, Almeter Morrow, four brothers, six Sisters, a Granddaughter and a Great-Granddaughter.

Brothers: Lonnie Morrow (Ora Mae), Washington DC; Earlie B Morrow (Nebraska, Texas) (Celester) (Leola) both of San Diego, CA; Dave Morrow (Ruth) Fresno, CA; Am C. Morrow (Silverleaf) Fresno, CA

Sisters: Coreen Morrow, infantile (Seminole, OK); Mrs. Bernice Wright (Isaac) Fresno, CA; Mrs. Irene Miller (Clannie J Miller Sr) Fowler, CA , Mrs. Hattie Evans (Otis) Fresno, CA, Mrs, Euteen Hemmitt (Henry) Fresno, CA, Mrs. Lela Stevenson (Steve) (Willie Sims)

The memories and legacy of Mabel Lovejoy will live on, as the Spirit is eternal --she's now our Ancestor. Legacies to carry on her teachings and love are not limited, however her family members below will miss her yet let her go and not mourn her journey in this life.

Two Daughters- Mrs. Gwendolyn Ann Ladell (Michael), Henderson, NV and Ms.Beverly Ann Lovejoy, Oakland, CA & Loganville, GA

Son - Mr. Eric Henry Lovejoy, CA (Carolyn B, whom Mabel, affectionately, called "Baby") Discovery Bay, CA

Grandchildren (6) Victor D Reed, Ridan, GA; Mrs. Chenelle Hodge (Christopher J), Snellville, GA; Cornell Lovejoy, Randy Lovejoy, Christopher Lovejoy, D. Omar Lovejoy (April), all of Los Angeles, CA, Anthony Slade, Fresno, CA

Great Grands (16) Kayla B Jackson, Chicago, IL; Azzaria M Jackson, Mariette, GA; Jimal Hodge, Detroit, MI; Kamari Hodge, Oakland, CA; Kayla M Lovejoy, Twins Eboni and Eric M Lovejoy-Floyd, Fresno, CA; Randion, Ryan, Rylie P Lovejoy and Isaiah M Williams, and Amira A, Maia, and Douglas Lovejoy all of Los Angeles, CA; Audri Lovejoy, Inglewood, CA; Khalil and Kamryn Jackson, Chicago, IL

Great, Great Grands (3) Adonis Eric Anthony Lovejoy Moss, Fresno, CA

Eva Bailey (Hodge) and Sevyn (Hodge) of Oakland, CA

God-Daughters (2) Mrs. Karen Robinson-Emery, Modesto, CA and Mrs. Pamela R Clewis, Inglewood, CA