Obit: Willie McKinney, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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>From the July 27, 1951 Winnfield News-American


Willie McKinney Dies in Veterans Hospital in Calif.

Willie McKinney, 40 years old, son of the late Jim McKinney and Mary McKinney
of Winnfield, died in the Veterans Hospital at Fort Miley, San Francisco,
California, Monday, July 10, after becoming ill with double pneumonia on July
9.

He received his high school diploma from the Winn Parish Training School, and
continued his education at Grambling College near Ruston.

During the second world war, he worked in a defense plant in San Francisco,
California until called to active duty in the U. S. Navy in 1945.  He was
discharged from the Navy in 1948 after three years' service.

At the time of McKinney's death, he was working as a professional cook in El
Paso, Texas.  

Military funeral services were held at the New Zion Baptist Church, Wednesday,
July 18.

Survivors are his mother, Mrs. Mary McKinney; three sisters, Pearl Wheelock
and Thelma McKinney of San Francisco, California, and Hazel Smart of Richmond,
California; and two brothers, Clinton and Jerry McKinney of San Francisco,
California.

(This obit included a photo and is possibly the first photograph of a black
person to appear in a Winn Parish based newspaper, or at least the first one I
have come across and I think I have been through all that exist, at least
once.  Submitted by Greggory Ellis Davies, Winnfield, Winn Parish, La.)