Jamestown- Monette Dawkins McKinney passed away peacefully on Sunday morning, March 18, 2018. Monette was the daughter of the late Ozelle Meacham Dawkins Swink and Eugene Dawkins of High Point as well as her late step-father, Clete Swink. She graduated from High Point High School and shortly thereafter married Wayne McKinney. They were blessed with two sons, Daren and Kent. Family was always of the utmost importance to Monette. She often told the story of how the Meacham family cared for her and her mother through some difficult and lean years.
Monette enjoyed working at several different places throughout her working career in a variety of roles at Davis Milling and the Greensboro Auto Auction. She retired from the City of High Point, where she worked as a Parking Deck Attendant. She was a people lover, and she met many people over the course of her life. She rarely went anywhere without running into someone she knew.
Monette had a determined and spunky spirit. When Monette was young, she sang at school and church. She loved to listen to music, and she and Wayne learned to square dance, something she really enjoyed. She loved to dress up and look pretty and, looking back over the many years of pictures, that is a theme that occurred throughout her life. Monette was diagnosed with cancer of the voicebox in 2002, and she lived without a voicebox since then. She never stopped trying to communicate her love to family and friends, both with her talker and without. For each person that took the time to understand her, the family thanks you. Her church family at Christ United Methodist in High Point loved and supported her during this critical time.
Monette lived through many losses, including the death of her husband Wayne after a devastating house fire in 2009. Once again, her church family blessed her in a multitude of ways. She loved her church and her pastors and was especially fond of Jeff Martin, who visited with her faithfully. Monette served her church in many ways and she was best known for her greeting card ministry. She sent out hundreds of cards to people that needed encouragement. It was her joy to participate in the handbell choir and the senior band. She will be remembered for always having a contagious smile on her face. Monette was blessed to have a son like Kent who faithfully took care of her, helping her to stay in her home over the past 2 years.
Monette is survived by her son Kent McKinney of Jamestown, his wife Sherry and their children, Sydney McKinney Massell (husband Jonathan) of Raleigh and Jake McKinney of Charlotte. She is also survived by her grandson, Enoch McKinney (wife Ashley) and their children, Logan and Boyd (Bo) McKinney of Archdale.
The celebration of life service will be at 3:00PM Thursday, March 22, 2018, at Christ United Methodist Church. Visitation with the family will take place from 1:00 to 3:00 with the service following at 3:00. Burial will follow at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her memory to Christ United Methodist Church, 1300 North College Drive, High Point, NC 27262.
Sechrest Funeral Service of High Point is honored to serve the McKinney family. Online condolences may be made at www.sechrestfunerals.com.
