Mr. Ernest Leon McKinney, age 73, of Hazlehurst, passed away Friday, January 31, 2025, at HCA Florida Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville.

Mr. McKinney was born on March 19, 1951, in Adel Georgia.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Aaron Willard McKinney and Camilla Harris McKinney and his wife of 52 years, Lanell Owings McKinney.

He was a humble, southern, simple man. He loved his family beyond measure and his job as a truck driver, and continued to drive until his health would not allow it.

He was such a loving dependable, family man, he loved his wife, children, grandchildren, and his siblings, but he always had a special place in his heart for his mama. His family was truly convinced that when his wife Lanell, the love of his life, passed away in November, he couldn't go on without her. They said he surely died from a broken heart, but now they are together again.

Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Destiny McKinney of Hazlehurst; daughter and son-in-law, Sonya and Bryan Livingston of Lumber City; brothers, David McKinney of North Carolina, James McKinney of Texas, Jimmy (Carol) McKinney of Iowa, and Joe McKinney of California; sisters, Margie Hampton of McRae, Barbara Ann Clements of Baxley, Brenda (Tony) Lane of Tennessee and Sheryl (Tony) Rigby of Lumber City; six grandchildren, Lindsay (Cole) Towne, Noah Livingston, Gracie Livingston, Kira McKinney, Elena McKinney and Lincoln McKinney; two great-grandchildren, Jack Towne and Camilla Towne; several nieces, nephews,  and cousins also survive.

Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, February 04, 2025, at 11:00am in the Chapel of Wainright-Parlor Funeral Home with Rev. Shon McEachin officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the funeral. Interment will follow in the Hazlehurst City Cemetery.

Cole Towne, Brandon Rigby, Alex Hampton, Cody Ridby, John Hampton and Ben Clements will serve as active pallbearers.

The family may be contacted at his sister, Barbara Ann Clements residence, 2749 Golden Isles Highway, Baxley.

Wainright-Parlor Funeral Home and the McKinney Family are in charge of arrangements.