Obituary of Jean M. McKinney

Jean Marie McKinney was born on August 24, 1943, to John Marion Culver Sr. and Viola Mae Kerr-Culver in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Marie, as she was affectionately called by family and close friends, obeyed the gospel when she was 16 years old at the 17th Street Church of Christ, in Oklahoma City, and has never turned back. 

She would spend hours studying the Bible, committing much of it to memory. Any question you had for her would usually result in a Bible answer. Complete with book, chapter, and verse; she was extremely proud of her vast collection of cassette tapes of hundreds of preachers and gospel groups, she had recorded throughout the many road trips to various lectureships and concerts with Sister Bean, Sis E., Gail Brown and countless other ladies in the Church. She would not hesitate to share them with others. 

Marie attended Mechanic Arts High School and graduated from Washington High School here in St. Paul. She attended The University of Minnesota for two years, before landing a job as a Social Worker for the Ramsey County Public Housing Department, where she made it her career. She was known to be the fastest typer in the office, and you would raise your eyebrow at her immaculate and pristine penmanship, if you ever saw her handwriting or signature.

Upon retiring, she enjoyed a short stint as a bus driver for the St. Paul Public School System and the University of Minnesota Shuttle service.

Marie was an accomplished pianist, in her own right, and had the most beautiful opera style singing voice. Every Saturday morning, Kevie and Joe would wake up to her singing and playing her favorite gospel hymns on the piano. She absolutely loved bird watching and could identify the species just by their chirping. Listening to the birds brought her inner peace. 

Well known for her strict house rules, she was aptly nicknamed “Mean Jean” by her kids. In later years she took great reverence in the name and would laugh and joke about it with everyone. Around 2005, she decided to relocate to Jackson, Mississippi, where her daughter and granddaughter, Karah, resided. She immersed herself in working with several of the Churches of Christ in the area. She utilized her people skills in trying to make Jackson a better city suited for citizens who were bound to wheelchairs. She was dedicated to several committees and associations, such as the American Disability Association, the Better Breathers Club, the American Lung Association, Senior Olympics, The Salvation Army, and New Directions, just to name a few. 

Marie had several health issues throughout her life. In early March of this year, she received the devastating news that she had stage IV lung cancer. She was deemed too frail to receive any type of treatment. Her medical team recommended her to Hospice care. Honoring her wishes, her daughter Kevelyne and goddaughter/caregiver, Florence Wilson, immediately brought her home for her comfort. 

In the early morning on Thursday, May 4th, 2023, Jean Marie peacefully passed away. Kevelyne and Florence were by her side, softly playing her favorite gospel songs.

Marie is preceded in death by her parents Viola Mae Kerr-Culver and John Marion Culver Sr., brothers John Marion Culver Jr. and James Ross Culver.

She is survived by her sister Viola Letitia-Kerr Turner, daughter Kevelyne Jean (McKinney) Brown, son Joseph Marion McKinney, granddaughters Kaisha Quantae McCain and Karah Jene’ Brown, goddaughter/caregiver Florence Anita Wilson, nephews and nieces Ross( Kelly) Culver, Letitia Culver, Detra and Eric Turner, a host of great nieces and nephews, cousins and a multitude of godchildren, whom she loved so dearly.

She leaves to share in cherishing her memory, a multitude of friends and church family, most who greatly miss her encouraging words and scriptures that she faithfully shared up until her transition. Also missed, will be her beautiful smile and joyous laugh.

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