Bobby Gray McKenzie

Bobby Gray McKenzie was born on Tuesday, February 26, 1946, in Snow Hill, Green County, North Carolina, to the late Maude E. Whitfield Watson and Lester Earl McKenzie. He departed this life on Monday, January 11, 2021, peacefully at home, in Seaford, Delaware. He was predeceased by his parents, as well as his stepfather, Jesse Watson, and his son, Jeremy McKenzie. His mother-in-law, Marion Daniel, passed away on Wednesday, January 20, 2021. As a small child, Bobby’s family moved to Norfolk, Virginia. Bobby graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1964. On January 29, 1965, he enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he completed his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, and his technical training as a Fuel Specialist at Amarillo Air Force Base in Amarillo, Texas. His duty assignments included Mather Air Force Base in Sacramento, California; Suffolk County Air Force Base in Suffolk, Virginia and Westhampton Beach in Long Island, New York. He served overseas tours of duty in Thailand, Guam and Vietnam. He was honorably discharged October 28, 1968. After his discharge, Bobby returned to Norfolk, Virginia, and worked as an over-the-highway truck driver. Eventually, he moved to Landover, Maryland, where he secured a position with the United States Postal Service. After working 30 years with the Postal Service, Bobby retired in 2005. Bobby was introduced to the love of his life, Garnett Daniel, by her coworker at NASA, Audrey Robeson. Bobby and Garnett were married on February 14, 1992. There were no children from this union, but Garnett had two daughters, Ann and Kim, whom Bobby considered his own. Bobby loved to visit his cousins in Delaware, and would always say that he was thinking about moving to Delaware when he retired. Bobby and Garnett bought a home in Seaford, Delaware in 2006. After moving to Delaware, Bobby worked as a driver for Delaware Authority for Regional Transit (DART). Bobby was an avid NASCAR fan. His favorite drivers were Dale Earnhardt, Sr. and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Bobby loved watching Mecum Auto Auctions every Saturday, where old cars were auctioned. His dream was to one day purchase a 1966 GTO. Bobby and Garnett loved attending Native American powwows, especially the Meherrin powwow in Ahoskie, North Carolina. Garnett is a Native American Meherrin. They also enjoyed the powwow in Roanoke, Virginia. When he moved to Delaware, he and Garnett began attending the Nanticoke Indian powwow in Millsboro, Delaware. Bobby loved to travel and visit family. Every February for their anniversary, he and Garnett would make the trip to Norfolk, to visit his parents and then on to North Carolina, to visit family. They would return after Bobby’s birthday on February 26. Bobby’s greatest joy was the Harper-Whitfield Family Reunions that were held each year in Greenville/Farmville, North Carolina and Dover, Delaware. He loved his family and loved the opportunity to come together for a weekend of fun. Bobby was always thinking of his family and never missed an opportunity to call and check on them just to see how they were doing. One of Bobby’s favorite foods was pork skins. His cousin Billy Ray Speight from Snow Hill, North Carolina would sometimes send him 20 bags of pork skins at a time. Bobby knew where all the great eating places in North Carolina were and also where to get the best pork skins and pit barbecue. On any given weekend from spring to fall, Bobby could be seen sitting in the yard of his friend, Claudius Grant in Bridgeville, Delaware. Grant always served wonderful fish sandwiches and Caribbean dishes from his home in his food truck. Bobby would even carry Grant to places he knew in Maryland to get the best fish. He thoroughly enjoyed sitting in Grant’s yard, talking with Grant and all the people who came by to purchase food. When Bobby was diagnosed with leukemia, his nephew, Keith “Tea” Boone, would come from Glen Burnie, Maryland, to drive Bobby for his chemotherapy treatments. He would also do all the repair work around the house. Bobby had another special friend, Donald Smack, who helped him with tasks around his house. Bobby was a member of Prince Hall Masonic Lodge #112 in Farmville, North Carolina. Additionally, he was a faithful member of Mt. Calvary United Methodist Church in Bridgeville, Delaware. Bobby leaves to cherish his memory, his wife, Garnett McKenzie of Seaford, Delaware; daughters, Ann Jackson Dyer (Shelby) of Fredericksburg, Virginia; Shaukim (Kim) Williams-Smith (Eugene) of Upper Marlboro, Maryland; siblings; Joann and Lenore Newton of Connecticut and Sam Newton of North Carolina; sisters-in-law, Ann Peterson (Jim), Fredericksburg, Virginia and Greta Daniel, Forestville, Maryland; special nephew, Keith “Tea” Boone; special friends, Claudius Grant, Walter Harper, Sr., Donald Smack, Sr.; and a host of other nieces, nephews, special cousins, relatives and friends.

Bobby Gray McKenzie

February 26, 1946 - January 11, 2021