Ancestry

Ishamael McKinney was born a slave and property of Reddin W. Parramore in January 8, 1832 in Screven County, GA or Valdosta, Lowdness County, GA.  He was the son of Jacob (Smith) McKinney and Hannah McKinney.  He died June 16, 1882 in Madison County, FL and is buried at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Madison, FL.  He was married to Viney (Tooke)  Parramore, also a slave and property of Mary Ann Tooke Paramore of Madison County, FL. Reverend McKinney was Baptized in 1857 by Rev. H. Ardis and ordained July 16, 1867 in Madison, FL by Rev. Ardis and in 1863 founded the Damascus Baptist Church in Madison, FL which was formally recognized in 1870.  He later became a member of the first Board of Trustees of the Florida Institute when it was established in Live Oak, FL in 1879.  He served as an officer and member of the Florida Bethlehem Baptist Association organized in 1870.  Children:  George Patterson, John A., Fannie Charles B, Clora, William R., Julie A, Hattie, Isaac P., James I. MCKINNEY.

Dr. George Patterson McKinney, Sr. and Sallie Ellis McKinney

Born in Madison, FL eight months after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, George Patterson McKinney lived to become one of the outstanding leaders of his denomination.  He was the son of Rev. Ishmael and Viney McKinney.  His father was for 16 years, the Pastor of the Damascus Baptist Church in Madison, and under his father’s tutelage he was baptized and began his preparation for the ministry.

At the age of five, he was placed in the hands of some of the best missionary teachers from the north, and this type of education continued until he entered Florida Institute (now Florida Memorial University) under its first President, Dr. J.L.A. Fish.  Upon completing his studies there, he continued his education through correspondence courses, special tutoring and wide reading.

He was licensed to preach by the African Baptist Church of Live Oak under the pastorate of Elder John N. Stokes, Sr. in 1885.  Later, he was ordained to accept the pastorate of the the Mt. Zion Baptist church in Pensacola, FL where he served for three years, resigning to become pastor of the African Baptist Church in Live Oak beginning October 1, 1890.  Here he served for 26 years and three months. During four years of his tenure here, he also served as Pastor of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Pine Mount, FL. In 1921, he accepted the pastorate of the Elizabeth Baptist Church in Arcadia, FL where he served the remainder of his life.

As an educator, he served two terms as President of Florida Institute, from October 1, 1892 to October 1, 1903 and from October 1, 1911, to January 1, 1914.  During his tenure and for many years after, scores of young men received their training for the ministry from him, and often these became strong leaders in this and other states.

He was also a writer, having edited at various times denominational publications such as The Florida Baptist, the Florida Baptist Herald, and the Florida Baptist Watchman.

Among his official positions in the denomination was moderator of the first Bethlehem Baptist association, a founder and president of the Baptist general convention of Florida, State Superintendent of missions, recording and corresponding Secretary of the National Baptist Convention, Inc., member of the executive board of the National Baptist Sunday School and BYPU congress, and the home mission board of the National Baptist convention, inc.

On the day prior to the beginning of his official duties as pastor of the African Baptist Church, dr, McKinney and Sallie R. Ellis, the youngest child of Rev. Richard and Hannah Williams Ellis of Greenwood, FL, were joined in matrimony. In 1889, she was graduated from the Florida Institute, which her father helped to found, and where she first met her husband to be. She taught for one year in her home town. After her marriage on September 30, 1890, she became a faithful, loyal, and devoted mother, giving constant attention to her home where through prayer and personal sacrifices, she and her husband reared and educated their children, that they too might become constructive members of the communities in which they choose to live.

Eleven children were born of this union.  Three died in infancy.  The three girls who grew to maturity, attended Spelman College, and the five boys attended Morehouse College. Of the eight children who attained adulthood, three are now deceased: Ms. Flora McKinney Randall, who served on the library staff of Atlanta University, Dr. Theophilus E. McKinney Sr., who for more than three decades Dean of the Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, NC and the Reverend George P. McKinney, Jr. of Atlanta, GA, who had a long career as an educator and clergyman.  Residing now in Detroit, MI are Herman L. and Clarence H. McKinney, Mrs. Theodosia McKinney Randall, and Mrs. Ethel McKinney Seldon. Richard I. McKinney resides in Baltimore, MD.

Dedicated to high ideals and excellence in endeavors, George P. and Sallie R. McKinney left a rich moral and spiritual legacy of which we are all proud.

–Excerpted from a program for a service held Sunday, August 1, 1976, celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the founding of the McKinney-Ellis Clan. The  service was held at the African Baptist Church, Live Oak, FL and paid homage to Dr. George Patterson McKinney Sr.