Eva Love

On May 25, 1941, Eva Mae was born in Boley, Oklahoma. She was the fourth of eight children born to Fred and Sarah Young.

Eve Mae was raised in Boley, Oklahoma. Boley is a small town incorporated in May 11, 1905 and had been “Established as all Black town on land of Creek Indian ‘Freedwoman’ Abigall Barnett”. Boley was an agricultural community and was well known for the Boley Rodeo which was an all-black rodeo from inception. During her days growing up in Boley, she always dreamed about taking flight on an airplane that she would see flying overhead while working in the field, or in her terms, Pickin’ Cotton. When out and about and she heard ‘EVA MAE’, she knew they had to be from Boley.

Eva Mae set forth on her journey into the world after graduation from Boley High School in 1958 and continued to achieve a higher level of education at Langston University in Langston, Oklahoma. She attended Langston University on a full scholarship to study science. During her time at Langston, she was initiated into the Alpha Zeta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. on December 1, 1959. She graduated from Langston with a Bachelor of Science in Education on May 27, 1962.

Upon graduation from Langston University, Eva returned to Boley to begin her career as an Educator in the field of science. According to her younger brothers and members of the Burdine family, ”Ms. Young Do Not Play,” as she was known for being a strict but fair teacher.

After a short stint at Boley High School, Eva decided to further her education with enrollment at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma in the fall of 1964. Eva attended graduate school on a full scholarship from the National Science Foundation. During her time at Oklahoma State University, she participated in an exchange program at Boston University. She graduated with a Master of Science in Biology on May 23, 1965.

Shortly after graduating from Oklahoma State University, Eva was recruited by Denver Public Schools for an Educator position in Denver, Colorado to become a high school teacher. She moved to Colorado in 1966 and even purchased a new Ford Mustang right off the trailer. Eva continued her career as a Biology teacher at Denver East High School, Room 404 to be exact, for forty years. It has been known, if you had either Ms. Young or Mrs. Love, that the course of your life had been changed for the better after a semester in her class, or after the first time she had put you out of her class. Remember, “Ms. Young Do Not Play.”

After getting settled in Denver, Eva met her future husband, Alonza Love, better known as ‘Harold’. Eva and Harold married on August 24, 1968 in Boley, Oklahoma and returned to the Park Hill area in Denver to start their life of 53 years together. To this union was born Kyle and Kirk. During their 53 years of love and life, Eva and Harold enjoyed traveling, raising their two sons, spending time with family and friends, and most importantly, being with each other.

Eva was an avid traveler from traveling overseas to places such as Africa, Asia, and Europe to state-side places including, but not limited to, California, Florida, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and an even Oklahoma. She also enjoyed getting together with family and friends to play a friendly game of Bid Whist and Bridge. Eva, along with Harold, dabbled in the real estate game after retiring from being an Educator.

During her time in Denver, Eva was an active member in the Epsilon Nu Omega Graduate Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. with strong emphasis in their scholarship program and the fellowship once a month with other sorority sisters, known as Sorors. On December 1, 2009, Eva was bestowed by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. as a ‘Golden Soror’ with receipt of her 50-year sorority pin.

Eva Mae Love, 80, of Denver, Colorado, passed away on March 20, 2022 after her battle with cancer. Wife of Alonza Harold Love; Mother of Kirk and Kyle; Eva was preceded in death by father Fred, mother Sarah, brothers Johnell, Leon, Alfred, Edmond and sister Arnessia; Survivors include brother Rudolph (Susie) and Morris (Wanda) of Michigan; Grandmother of Kassia and Kenadi of Texas; Aunt of numerous family members from Oklahoma, Colorado, Michigan, Georgia, and Indiana; Educator of many and loved by all.

Visitation will be held Friday, April 1, 2022 at 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Horan & McConaty located at 1091 South Colorado Blvd., Denver, Colorado. Special Ceremony by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. titled “Ivy Beyond the Wall” will be held Friday, April 1, 2022 from 6:00 pm to 6:30 pm at Horan & McConaty located at 1091 South Colorado Blvd. Denver, Colorado. Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 2, 2022 at 10:00 am at Horan & McConaty located at 1091 South Colorado Blvd. in Denver, Colorado.

For those unable to attend the service, a livestream will be available via this link: https://bxcited.com/eva-mae-love/