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Oliver James McKinney Sr. was born on June 15, 1910 in Huberton, West Virginia, the only child to the late Oscar James and Grace McKinney. His early education was received in Columbus and Mt. Vernon, Ohio where he extinguished himself as an outstanding minority student. He was the first Adventist Afro-American to be inducted into Sigma Kappa Psi. Oliver was given a four year scholarship to Howard University in Washington, D.C. His education was shortened when he met and married Lucy Jeannette Howard on September 7, 1935 in the home of Dr. Eva B. Dykes. Lucy preceded him in death on September 2, 2002. Their marriage continued for 66 years, 11 months, 26 days. He believed in the educational system of the Adventist church. He sent his children to such schools as Washington Union, South Lancaster and Sandia View Academies, as well as, Oakwood, Atlantic, and Southwestern Union Colleges. Oliver moved his family to Albuquerque, NM, in 1957 to seek a better life for them. During the past 48 years he has seen the city grow, a church established from his home, his 10 children grow up and get married, enjoyed 17 grandchildren, and enjoyed 11 great-grandchildren. Oliver has served the Bethesda SDA Church as Sabbath School teacher, head Elder and church Treasurer. Oliver was a very devoted, loving, supporting husband and a caring father who instructed his children to develop qualities that Christ wants His children to have-faith, love virtue, self-control, brotherly kindness, piety, and fortitude. He may have been short in stature, but he was a giant in doing the Lord's bidding, and nurturing his family. He leaves nine to cherish his memory: Oscar (Bertha), Charles Sr. (Jaquelyn), Oliver Jr. (Bonnie), Lucy Parlor, John (Gloria), Elizabeth, Samuel (Brenda), Daniel (deceased), Lavinia Young (Thomas "Chico"), Jerome; two brothers-in-law Warrick Hill (Christine), Willis Hill (Joyce); one sister-in-law, S. Margaret Hill; 17 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and a host of church friends and family. Services will be Sunday, September 26, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. at Bethesda S. D. A. Church, 1800 Arno SE.
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