Mr. Jimmy McKinney
A retired Elmwood Community businessman, loving daddy & Pa and lifelong resident, Mr. Jimmy McKinney, died at the age of 76 at 8:20 p.m. Wednesday evening April 20, 2016 at his Elmwood home with his wife at his bedside. He was pronounced dead at 9:25 p.m. and was under the loving care of Gentiva Hospice of Cookeville.
Mr. McKinney had fought a battle with Parkinson’s disease for the last several years and two and a half weeks prior to his death he suffered a bad fall.
At Mr. McKinney’s request he will be cremated and no services will be held. The cremation will take place at Cumberland Family Services in Algood.
One of four sons of the late Alvin Bonnell “Panama” McKinney who died August 13, 1972 at the age of 62 and Bonnie Mai Maxwell McKinney who died February 25, 2006 at the age of 91, he was born James Alvin McKinney in Elmwood on December 20, 1939.
Two brothers preceded him in death, Johnny McKinney who died at birth on July 8, 1954 and Jack Maxwell McKinney who died at the age of 73 on April 4, 2005.
He was also preceded in death by a nephew, Jackie Raye McKinney who died August 16, 1998 at the age of 22.
Mr. McKinney’s education career spanned from eight years at the former Elmwood Elementary School, to graduating in 1958 from Smith County High School where he majored in mathematics and science. In the 1958 Owl yearbook it was said of Jimmy “I believe that man will not merely endure, he will prevail”. He also attended Tennessee Technological University for one year.
He was employed for about three years with his father, Panama, who was a well-known skilled carpenter in the area and one of his major projects was the construction of the Sanderson Funeral Home in Carthage in 1955 and 1956.
In 1961 his mother opened the B & B Drive-in on Hwy. 70 near Horseshoe Bend Lane in Elmwood where he became best known as the friendly face of the B & B Drive-in. He became quite famous for his milkshakes, delicious ice cream, juicy burgers and sense of humor.
Along with the good food and sense of humor, he befriended many people over the years and at times was known to dispense a little advice with his humor and food. Those years at B & B were a real joy to him and he truly enjoyed talking to and getting to know his customers. He always had a smile and a friendly greeting for anyone who walked through his door. His good humor and friendly disposition will be remembered with fondness by all the friends he made and the lives he touched.
A writing by Joseph Addison describes the impact Jimmy had on the lives of others “What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life’s pathway, the good they do is inconceivable.”
On November 23, 1969 he entered into a lifetime union in marriage to Hogans Creek Community native, the former Rebecca Ann “Becky” Wilkerson. They were wed by Eld. James Thomas Gibbs at the home of A. J. and Louise Grisham.
When his health began to fail he retired on December 20, 2014 on his 75th birthday from the restaurant career that had been his life following fifty four years of serving the public.
Mr. McKinney’s hobbies over the years included quail hunting with his beloved bird dogs, playing poker and pool with his buddies, collecting and hunting Indian relics, metal detecting, collecting old coins, walking the hill where he grew up, watching sports of almost any kind, swinging on the back porch, whittling and spending time with his precious grandbabies, whom he absolutely adored.
Surviving in addition to his wife of over forty six years, is their daughter Leslie Maria McKinney Antle and husband Les of Elmwood; their son Christopher James “Chris” McKinney of Baxter; brother, Jere McKinney and wife Jimmie Mathis McKinney of Elmwood; two grandbabies who meant the world to him, Kittie Pearl Antle and Sunnie Maria Antle also of Elmwood; nieces, Pam, Sandy and Debbie and the countless friends he made during his fifty four years at the B & B.
