JOHN THOMAS MCKINNEY

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John Thomas McKinney, “Big Mac,” was born on March 16, 1957, in Lee County to the union of A.C. McKinney and Edna Earl Richardson, and reared by stepmother, Shirley Mae McKinney. He graduated from Pontotoc High, attended ICC, and played football. He loved football and basketball and ran track in high school.

John worked at Mid-South Packers, Kruger Metal, and Metalloy Foundry. He went to truck drivers’ school in Lebanon, TN and then drove for Builders Transport, Alabama, M.S. Carriers, and Saia Motor Freight, Tupelo, MS. He joined Rising Star M.B. Church at an early age. He later joined College Hill C.M.E. Church.

He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Shirley Ruth Floyd McKinney. In this union, they had three children, Brandi Stokes (Cliff), Ashley McKinney, and Kayla McKinney of Pontotoc, MS. He also had another daughter, Taddameka Farr of Pontotoc, MS. He leaves six grandchildren; one great-grandchild; his father, A.C. McKinney, and step-mother, Shirley M. McKinney; one brother, Willie McKinney (Jackie) of Pontotoc, MS; three sisters, Rena Harden (Leonard), Chervy Lesure of Pontotoc, MS, and Jacqueline Spates (Randy); a host of uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends; and three very special friends, Willie Carl Edwards, Dewayne Usher, and John Miller.

Visitation walk through will be Saturday, June 19, 2021, from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM at College Hill CME Church in Pontotoc, MS. Funeral service will be Saturday, June 19, 2021 at 1:00 PM at College Hill CME Church. Interment will follow at College Hill Cemetery.