Tommie Grant McKinney, a father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin and friend, departed this life on September 5, 2026, at Lieutenant Colonel Luke Weathers, Jr VA Medical Center in Memphis, TN., surrounded by his loving family after a short illness. Born on April 6, 1939, in Burdette, Arkansas, Tommie was the beloved son to Sam and Ruby McKinney. He was a lifelong member of New Galilee Missionary Baptist Church in Burdette. He served as a deacon under Pastor Leroy Nash.

Tommie proudly served in the United Sates Army from 1962 to 1965. During his military service, he deployed to Vietnam, where he served as a Lightweight Infantry Man and an Airborne Parachutist. He received an Honorable discharged in 1965 as a Specialist Promotable, due to an injury. He worked at NIBCO in Blytheville where he retired. He also became a sheriff deputy at Mississippi County Sheriff Department where he retired there in 2008. He was known for his love of auctions where he was known as “Fred”.

He was proceeded in death by his parents Sam and Ruby McKinney, six brothers: Samuel L McKinney Jr (Bilbo), William McKinney (WM), Robert Lee McKinney, Odell McKinney, Tommie Gene Moore, Willie White (Speedy), eleven sisters: Luella Hodges (Dude), Susie McKinney, Jessie Mae Burks, Lola Mae Torrance, Glorastein Brown, Josephine Wiley, Erma Jean Wiley, Forrestine Stewart, Will Ethel White, Jo Ann Primas, Margaret Ann McKinney.

He is survived by his six children, Barbara McKinney and Rickey McKinney of Blytheville, Ar. Tommie McKinney Jr and Carlos (Shalonda) McKinney of Hattiesburg, MS, Katina (Rodney) James of Steubenville, OH and Marilyn McKinney of Osceola, Ar.

He also leaves one brother Jackie C. McKinney of Merriville, Indiana, and four sisters: Ernestine McKinney of Merriville, IN, Benoit McKinney-Payne of Memphis, TN, Minnie Jean Merriweather of Lansing, MI, Clara Mae Alexander of Merriville, IN, thirty-seven grandchildren, fifteen great grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives and dear friends who loved him tremendously and will cherish his memory.

A celebration of his life will be held on September 19, 2026. Wake will be from 11 am until the start of the funeral at 1 pm at Wilson Funeral Home in Blytheville, Ar.

The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to the doctors, nurses and staff at Lieutenant Colonel Luke Weathers, Jr VA Medical Center in Memphis, TN., for their compassionate and dedicated care.