James Ralph McKinney

James Ralph McKinney, 102, of Lester, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday May 30, 2015. Born April 22, 1913, he is the son of the late Harrison and Charlotte Meadows McKinney. Ralph worked in the coal mines for 41 1/2 years and was a member of Akers Missionary Baptist Church Maple Meadows, WV. If you talked with him for even just a minute, you heard about Jesus. His whole life was dedicated to working for and talking about Jesus. In addition to his parents, Ralph is preceded in death by his loving wife of 59 years, Hazel Martin McKinney, his brothers, Haden & Aden, Wiley, and Emmit, and his sisters Ina and Martha. Those left to cherish his memory include his children; Margie (Ardeth), Twila (Alvin), Jack (Linda), Ruth (Azel), grandchildren; Heath, Michael, Daniel, Luke, Brandon, TJ, Sandra, and Anita, great-grandchildren; Abby, Ava, Samuel, Grayson, Logan, Leah, Paxton, Taylor, James, Levi, Everette, Keno, Konner, Kody, Matthew, Jason, Desiree, and Catherine, several great-great-grandchildren, and his brother Roy. Services to celebrate the life of Ralph will be held 2:00 PM Friday June 5, 2015 at Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley, with Rev. Ardeth Bailey officiating. Following the service Ralph will be laid to rest at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.