Mariel A. Smith was born in Tortola, British Virgin Islands on April 2nd 1945 to Ina Smith (deceased) and Ismond Smith(deceased). She departed this life on May 26th 2023.
Mariel was borne the 2nd child of 7 siblings which includes: Leroy (deceased), Elroy (deceased), Louis (deceased), Slyvania(deceased), Jeff, and Laurel (deceased).
Mariel grew up on Tortola and then later on moved to St Thomas, of the U.S. Virgin Islands. It was there in the Caribbean that Mariel developed of her gift of cooking, gardening, swimming, and caring for children.
In the 1960s, Mariel came to New York City and became a bartender. There was a man that would wait to carry her groceries every day. That man was Johnie M. Johnson Jr. He would become the love of her life and they would spend nearly 60 years together until his passing in 2021.
Mariel is best known for her home-cooking. She was able to cook anything you wanted from scratch without a recipe. Mariel also had a garden she tended to and provided fresh fruit and vegetables to friends, neighbors, teachers, and crossing guards. Mariel loved to cook and often cooked large meals and took plates to her next-door neighbors. Mariel was a very loving and devoted care-giver. She took care of her husband, her children, her parents, her siblings, her in–laws and anyone who needed help. Her home was open to anyone that needed a place to stay, a hot meal, advice or just a warm hug.
Mariel also loved music and played a lot of calypso and soul music. Mariel would throw parties for her family and friends where they would dance and play spades, dominoes, and pokeno. Mariel and Johnie were avid fishers and often went fishing in Long Island, Montauk, and Chesapeake. They were also very skilled bowlers. They were a part of a bowling league and won many trophies and prizes. Mariel was also a very strong swimmer and loved to swim and enjoyed beautiful vacations in The Bahamas and St Thomas.
Mariel is survived by her brother - Jeff, her children - Louis, Terrance, and Pamela, her grandchildren – Louis Jr, Devernier, Ronnie, Terrance Jr, and Jordan, her daughters-in-law -Sharon, Veronica, and Kara, her cousins – Rita, Doreen, Recie, and Ruth, her sister-in-law - Margaret and many close relatives and friends too numerous to name in the United States, the U.S Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and beyond.
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