Margaret Love

Margaret Susan Gathing Love was born August 17, 1934 in Kankakee, Illinois to Lillie and George Gathing. She was the seventh child of nine children. She was baptized at an early age and raised in church by her mother. Margaret became a member of the Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church in Kankakee, Illinois in 1949 until her departure, as she never moved her membership. Margaret was a graduate of Kankakee High School. She also attended Illinois State University for a short period of time until her engagement with her beloved Frank led her to return home to be near him. She was united in holy matrimony to Frank Love Jr. on July 19, 1953 and to their union was born two children. Margaret was a dedicated wife and mother. She supported her husband and stood beside him as he served the Kankakee Community for many years. She began her employment career at the Kankakee State Hospital as an office staff worker. To enhance her career she was employed by the Illinois Bell Telephone Company where she served as one of the first African-American service representatives in the area for the company. She went on to be employed by AT&T when the Companies merged until her retirement after over 30 years of combined service. Margaret was a member of the Dukes and Duchesses Social Club and the Red Hat Society for many years. Margaret loved to travel and take cruises. She enjoyed trips with her family and with friends. One of her most memorable trips was a cruise she took with her sister Dorothy and friend Sandy Sanders to the Islands. She along with her sister Dorothy were instrumental in striving to keep the Gathing and White Family legacy strong through family reunions and other gatherings. Margaret was the sole surviving member of her sibling group. The Gathing and White Families and 683 North Hobbie Avenue, where they resided, will forever be in the hearts and memories of the Kankakee Old Timers. She had a great love for her children and grandchildren and made countless sacrifices for them. . Margaret Susan Love was 87 years old when she transitioned at her home in Fort Myers, Florida with her two loving children, Marcel F. Love and Janine L. Love-Estes, by her side at her departure. She shall forever be remembered for her charismatic smile, sweet spirit, elegance with grace and impeccable sense of fashion. She leaves to cherish her memory, her son and daughter-in-law, Marcel F. Love of Fort Myers, FL and Barbara Love of Atlanta, GA; her daughter, Janine L. Love-Estes of Fort Myers, FL; in-laws, Mary Etta Harris of Kankakee, IL, Norman Love of Park Forest, IL, Germaine Love of Newark, NJ and Nancy White of Las Vegas, NV; cherished grandchildren, Marcellus Love, Kimeneisha Love (Gutema Mumed) of Brooklyn Park, MN, Jasmin Love (Kelton Turner, Sr.) of Montgomery, AL, Frank J. Upton, Jade L. Estes and Joslyn M.S. Love, all of Fort Myers, FL; 26 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren, and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Lillie Gathing; her brothers, John Gathing, Jesse ‘JC’ Gathing, Fred “Pappy” Gathing, Charles Gathing, Nathaniel White and Earl White and her sisters, Bernadine Evans and Dorothy “Doll” Ousley.

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Margaret Love

August 17, 1934 - January 28, 2022