Jerry Lionel McKinney

Jerry Lionel McKinney of Valdosta, Georgia passed away peacefully on June 30, 2025, in Community Hospice of Jacksonville, Florida. He was born in Dallas, Texas on July 23,1936 to Willie Ilean (Bill) and Daniel Leake McKinney of Paris, Texas. As a child, Jerry loved being mischievous, always outdoors, playing sports, and bass fishing. 

Jerry graduated from Paris High School in 1954. Then he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1955 and served as an Air Traffic Controller until 1975. In 1964, Jerry was stationed in Naples, Italy and met the love of his life, Rosaleen Anne Devlin of Fleetwood, England and they were married. They started a family and had three children and were married for 58 wonderful years. Jerry graduated from Armstrong State College in June of 1979 with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. Both Jerry and Rosaleen were school teachers for 25 years in Georgia until they retired. 

Jerry was active in the Knights of Colombus, Georgia Association of Educators, and the Georgia Bass Masters. He was an avid sportsman, acapella singer, dancer, and jokester. He loved spending time outdoors hunting and bass fishing with friends and family. 

Jerry was predeceased by his wife, Rose. His survivors are his sister, Beverly McKinney Domengeaux, his three children, Susannah Homans, Kyle McKinney and Julie (Denis) Bolena, nine grandchildren and nine great grandchildren, as well as in laws, nieces, nephews, friends, and colleagues. 

Jerry did not want a funeral service but instead for his family to spread his ashes with his wife’s in the Altamaha River, a place he truly loved. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate contributions made in his memory to the Beaches Council on Aging P.O. Box 50291, Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32240.