Rea Pursifull McKinney passed away on May 12, 2025, from heart failure. Stepdaughter Elizabeth Warwick Higginbottom (Christopher), London, England, and Rea's wife of 30 years, Jo Anne Ellison McKinney were at his side. Others who pre-deceased him were his parents, Rea P. and Frances McKinney, sister Margaret Wake (Jack), and stepson, J. Grant Prather.
He was born on November 30, 1943, in Kenedy, Texas. His dad was attached to the U.S. Diplomatic Corp, and Rea had the adventures of living in Havana, Cuba, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Mercedes, TX, and Atlanta, Georgia. He left Atlanta in 1992 to move to Jacksonville, where he and Jo Anne met and their love story began.
Rea was a very proud graduate of the University of Georgia and a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He was “Gaga” to granddaughter, Beatrice Audrey Elizabeth Higginbottom and survived by his nieces Erin Wake Doherty (Brandon) and Lee Wake Adolf, Austin, TX.
In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to the Alice and T. O’Neal Douglas Center for Caring at Baptist Medical Center, Jacksonville, 800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207.
A memorial service for Rea will be held Monday, May 19, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Lakewood Church of Jacksonville, 6133 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32217.
