Thomas Matthew McKinney

Mr. McKinney was married to his high school sweetheart, Betty McKinney, for 69 years. She preceded him in death in 2019.

Mr. McKinney was in the Army during the Korean Conflict. He was a trained para trooper with the 503rd Airborne Infantry Regiments, out of Ft. Campbell, KY, where he completed 32 airborne jumps. He was chosen for a select team to test foul weather gear, that would later be used in the same Korean War, and ultimately many other conflicts.

Upon completion of his military career, he returned home to Sophia and his bride. He went to work for Slab Fork Coal Company, where he worked his way from testing coal in the labs, to Head Purchasing Agent. He retired from slab Fork at 49, when he began another career in land development and real estate. He created Brier Hill Subdivision, and "Punkin Run", a vacation home they enjoyed for many years, along with many other real estate transactions. He obtained his pilots license and a plane, which they used to visit friends and family. He was an avid golfer, hunter, fisherman and later in life, added fine art painting to his many list of talents.

He was the longest running Town Council Member on the Sophia board, at 31 years running.

He was a member of the Sophia Freewill Baptist Church, where he served as Trustee, deacon, superintendent, revered Sunday School leader/mentor , and member of the choir; as well as many singing trios and quartets. Orchestrating many "shaped note" singing schools. He was an accomplished tenor.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Burliss McKinney, and brother, Isaac McKinney. He has a surviving sister, Lona Bradbury, of Sophia.

Other family members that hold his memories close are, daughter, Paula McKinney Metcalfe, and son in law, Robert Metcalfe, (Charleston SC). Grandchildren, Meredith and Casey Phillips (Wyndham, Montana) , Miranda Maynard and Matt Rumley (Los Angeles), McNair, Lucy, Marin Metcalfe (Charleston, SC), great grandchildren Trace and Hadley.

Information about services will be shared at a later date.