Avril Mae Duvall Mckenzie

Avril Mae Duvall McKenzie passed away on Wednesday January 31, 2024, at the age of 100. She was born at Pine Log in Carrabelle, Florida on November 10, 1923, to Jeff Duvall and Ella Mae Martin Duvall. She was a 4 th Generation Floridian and a descendant of the first territorial governor of Florida, William Pope DuVal.

Avril lived much of her youth in Carrabelle, East Point, and Apalachicola, spending her time on her Grandaddy’s farm playing in, and on the beautiful Bays and Gulf of Mexico. She was a resident in Oak Grove in Port St. Joe for 50 years. Moving to Bay County in 2005 to be closer to her family.

During her school days, she played Basketball, the Piano, and the Violin. She

graduated as Valedictorian of her class at Carrabelle High.

In her younger years, she loved her pet Dominique Hen, roller skating, seeing movies and going dancing with her sisters. She often spoke about how a movie, popcorn and a drink only cost a dime. Her Aunt Daisy taught her to Charleston and she and her sister Peggy had hours of fun, dancing the Jitterbug at the Pavilions in Apalachicola and Sopchoppy. It was in Sopchoppy on one of those dancing days that she met her future husband.

Avril and John McKenzie were married in 1942. They had two beautiful and smart. talented children, Mike, and June, built the house of their dreams in Port St. Joe and made it a home. They had life’s ups and downs, suffered injury, loss and heartbreak. Yet remained a shining example of what a marriage should be.

She was close with her three sisters, two brothers, their spouses, her husband’s siblings, and many nieces and nephews. Family reunions twice a year, holiday meals, vacations, endless hours spent talking in person or on the phone, laughing, enjoying life, and playing pranks on each other.

Two of her closest friends in life were Electa Dockery Frary and Allie Padgett. When they were together Shenanigans ensued and laughter abounded. They carried each other through thick and thin. Avril doted on her three granddaughters. To say she made sure they had what they needed would be an understatement. She was the definition of strength, Faith and unconditional love.She prayed for us every day.

She leaves us with a Legacy of Love, Faith and Family.

Paul writes, “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

1 Corinthians 13:13

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5

Avril was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, John E. McKenzie; daughter, June McKenzie Womack; parents, Jeff and Ella Duvall; siblings Peggy Kent, Buford Duval, Jeff Duval Jr., Mary” Billy” Branch, and Pat Register.

She is survived by her son, Mike McKenzie (Patty); grandchildren, Leah Paschall (Clark), Jennifer Pingel (Dutch), Julia Newsom, Jodi Burns, and Jennifer Shoults (Jason); great grandchildren, Jazmon Houlditch (Bryan), Morgan Newsom, Brandon Pingel, Jesse Mundt (Brandon), Brayden Burns, Baylee Burns, Janie Shoults, and Jack Shoults; great great grandson Link Pingel, and her many nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be held at 2:30 pm Eastern Time on Monday, February 5, 2024, at Holly Hill Cemetery in Port St, Joe, Florida.

Arrangements are entrusted to the caring staff of Comforter Funeral Home in Port St. Joe, Florida.