1924
Rudolph
2014
Rev. Rudolph Mckinley
February 28, 1924 — April 6, 2014
Reverend Rudolph McKinley, age 90 of Knoxville, Tennessee, left his earthly home in the early morning hours of Sunday, April 6, 2014 surrounded by his loving family.
Reverend McKinley was a Methodist minister in the Florida Conference. He served in the United States Navy during World War II and was a graduate of the University of Georgia and the Emory University School of Theology, Atlanta, GA. He became an associate minister with the First U.M.C., Clearwater, FL and began the first adult mental health center. He received the outstanding citizen award for mental health in Pinellas Co., FL. Rudolph then became pastor of Lakewood U.M.C., St. Petersburg, FL, helping to build the church to 1, 170 members. He later became pastor of Riverside Park U.M.C., Jacksonville, FL, renovating the sanctuary and began child care for over 100 children. He became pastor of the First U.M.C., Miami, FL, beginning a senior citizen program of 150 meals per day for low income and homeless people. He also started a Hispanic ministry. He began a "One City Under God" annual worship service for all faiths. In 1974, he arranged for funds to establish the first NAACP Chapter in a U.S. Federal Prison in Lewisburg, PA. The city of Miami awarded him a special commendation plaque for changing the theological and spiritual life of downtown Miami in June of 1975. Rudolph later became an executive director with Methodist Hospital Foundation of Jacksonville, FL. Before retiring, Reverend McKinley became Director of Planned Giving for the Dr. and Mrs. Norman Vincent Peale Foundation for Christian Living, Pawling, N.Y.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Sarah Scott McKinley; sister Janet (Heyward) Balcom; brothers, Johnny (Eunice) McKinley, Wilson (Polly) McKinley and Henry (Doris) McKinley.
He is survived by his sons and daughter-in-law, Rudy and Janice McKinley and Duane McKinley; grandchildren, Scott (Amanda) McKinley; step-grandchildren, Jasmine (Scott) Hardin, Nancy Ellen (Nick) Cherry, great-grandchildren, Madison and Avery McKinley; step-great-grandchildren, Kahli, Campbell and McClain Hardin and Hank and Abigayle Cherry.
Graveside services will be at 11 AM Thursday, April 10 at Walnut Cemetery in Unadilla.
The family will greet friends beginning at 10 AM Thursday, April 10 at the funeral home.
The family request memorial donations be made to East Tennessee Children's Hospital, 2018 Clinch Ave., Knoxville, TN 37916.
Brannen-NeSmith Funeral Home of Unadilla has charge of arrangements.
Reverend McKinley was a Methodist minister in the Florida Conference. He served in the United States Navy during World War II and was a graduate of the University of Georgia and the Emory University School of Theology, Atlanta, GA. He became an associate minister with the First U.M.C., Clearwater, FL and began the first adult mental health center. He received the outstanding citizen award for mental health in Pinellas Co., FL. Rudolph then became pastor of Lakewood U.M.C., St. Petersburg, FL, helping to build the church to 1, 170 members. He later became pastor of Riverside Park U.M.C., Jacksonville, FL, renovating the sanctuary and began child care for over 100 children. He became pastor of the First U.M.C., Miami, FL, beginning a senior citizen program of 150 meals per day for low income and homeless people. He also started a Hispanic ministry. He began a "One City Under God" annual worship service for all faiths. In 1974, he arranged for funds to establish the first NAACP Chapter in a U.S. Federal Prison in Lewisburg, PA. The city of Miami awarded him a special commendation plaque for changing the theological and spiritual life of downtown Miami in June of 1975. Rudolph later became an executive director with Methodist Hospital Foundation of Jacksonville, FL. Before retiring, Reverend McKinley became Director of Planned Giving for the Dr. and Mrs. Norman Vincent Peale Foundation for Christian Living, Pawling, N.Y.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Sarah Scott McKinley; sister Janet (Heyward) Balcom; brothers, Johnny (Eunice) McKinley, Wilson (Polly) McKinley and Henry (Doris) McKinley.
He is survived by his sons and daughter-in-law, Rudy and Janice McKinley and Duane McKinley; grandchildren, Scott (Amanda) McKinley; step-grandchildren, Jasmine (Scott) Hardin, Nancy Ellen (Nick) Cherry, great-grandchildren, Madison and Avery McKinley; step-great-grandchildren, Kahli, Campbell and McClain Hardin and Hank and Abigayle Cherry.
Graveside services will be at 11 AM Thursday, April 10 at Walnut Cemetery in Unadilla.
The family will greet friends beginning at 10 AM Thursday, April 10 at the funeral home.
The family request memorial donations be made to East Tennessee Children's Hospital, 2018 Clinch Ave., Knoxville, TN 37916.
Brannen-NeSmith Funeral Home of Unadilla has charge of arrangements.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Rev. Rudolph Mckinley, please visit our flower store.