Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 22, 2022 at 2:00 PM at First United Methodist Church of Pine Mountain. A visitation for family and friends will be held prior to the service from 12:00 PM until 2:00 PM. Rev. Kaylen Short will conduct the services.
Marina was born on April 29, 1940, in Atlanta, GA, the daughter of the late Doyle Carlton Kimbell, Sr. and Muriel Gross Kimbell. Marina graduated in 1958 from Tucker High School in Tucker, GA. She married the love of her life, James “Jim” Oliver Lovern on March 9, 1957, in Atlanta, Georgia. Early in their marriage, the Loverns lived briefly in Warner Robins, GA, and Panama City, FL. They moved to Columbus, GA, in 1967 where they lived for 31 years and finally settled in Piedmont in Pine Mountain, GA in 1998. Marina cherished her role as Jim's wife, the mother of her two children, always ensuring they were where they were supposed to be and had what they needed. Marina strived to be a good person, an outgoing person, one who tried to make others feel welcome and included. Marina was an avid reader, and an avid bridge player. She taught many how to play bridge and led a group of women who would play bridge together for years. Marina worked as a bank teller for CB&T for almost 22 years before she retired. She loved her customers and they would often wait for her to be able to visit and assist them. Marina was a member of the Jaycettes, in Panama City and in Columbus. While being a member, she served as an officer and president. What Marina truly loved was her family and friends, especially her grandchildren. She appreciated the friendship of two long time dear friends, Betty Ann Durden and Angie Pope. A special thank you to Heather Culpepper, LPN, and granddaughter Kelly Ford for the kindness, love and care they provided during the last few months of Marina’s life.
Marina is preceded in death by: her parents and her brother, Doyle Carlton Kimbell, Jr..
Survivors include: her husband, James “Jim” O. Lovern; daughter, Tonya Carlene (Jim) Lovern Burkhardt of Naples, FL; son, James Randall (Cynthia) Lovern of Columbus, GA; six grandchildren, James Ethan (Kelly) Ford of WV, Daniel Blake Ford of Naples, FL, Caleb John Ford of Sterling, VA, Jonathan Randall Lovern, Katherine Marie Lovern and James Oliver Lovern III all of Columbus, GA; two great grandchildren; and her sister, Alta Hicks, of Atlanta, GA.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy can be shared at www.shcolumbus.com for the Lovern family.
