Shirley Buchanan Mckinney

Shirley Middlebrooks Buchanan McKinney of Lexington Park Assisted Living Center in Lady Lake, Florida, passed away peacefully in her sleep on 11 March 2012 following a short, courageous battle against cancer.She was born June 25, 1923 in Newton County, Georgia and was the only child of William Louden Middlebrooks and his wife Viola Welch. She was a graduate of Pike County High School, Zebulon, GA.She was married to the Rev. Samuel Sidney Buchanan, Sr. who predeceased her in 1980.She was next married to Joseph Malcolm McKinney who predeceased her in 2003.She is survived by four children and their spouses:Samuel Sidney Buchanan, Jr. and his wife Pauline of the Villages, Florida; William Emory Buchanan and his wife Mary of Clarion, PA; Rebecca Leigh Sims and her husband Gary of Desoto, TX; and Iris Naomi Schachte and her husband Robert of Tuscon, AZ.She is also survived by several members of her second husband's family, including his daughter Agnes McKinney of Rochelle, GA; his stepson Dillard Gibbs and wife Carolyn of Rochelle, GA; his sisters Geraldine McKay of Warner Robins, GA and Maxine McKinney and husband David Rash of Woodstock, VA and his brothers, Edward and wife Betty of Warner Robins, GA and Raymond and wife Mary Jean of Hoover, AL.She is also survived by twelve grandchildren and five geat-grandchildren.She is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, step-grandchildren, step-great-grandchildren and step-great-great-grandchildren. Shirley was a devoted mother, wife, grandmother, aunt, cousin, and friend to her large and loving family and network of friends.Until the onset of her recent illness she was a dedicated and caring correspondent, regularly sending cards and letters of support, birthday greetings, condolences and "thinking of you" messages. Shirley was an active partner in her first husband's ministry to various United Methodist Church (UMC) congregations across the South Georgia Conference:the Rochelle Charge (including Rochelle UMC, Liberty Hill UMC, Kramer UMC, Pitts UMC and Seville UMC), Remerton UMC in Valdosta; Tyson Memorial UMC in Moultrie; Palmyra UMC in Albany; Soperton UMC in Soperton; the Vienna Charge (including Vienna UMC and Shiloh UMC); Alma UMC in Alma; and Peavy UMC in Cordele.Following the death of her first husband she worked as the secretary to the Hawkinsville UMC in Hawkinsville for many years.She was an active member and officer in local and regional units of the United Methodist Women. Funeral services will be held Saturday, 17 March 2012 at 11:00 AM at the Rochelle United Methodist Church; the Rev. James Jensen, retired UMC minister, and Rev. Debbie Cone, pastor of the Abbeville/Liberty Hill UMC charge, will lead the service.Frazier and Son Funeral Home in Rochelle is in charge of arrangements.There will be no public viewing, though the family will receive friends at the funeral home Friday, March 16 from 6-8 PM.Interment will be in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Americus. In lieu of flowers the family request that donations be made to Cornerstone Hospice Emerald Team, 2445 Lane Park Road, Tavares, FL 32778, the United Methodist Women, C/O Beverly North, 1164 Monroe Road, Ashburn, GA 31714 or to the charity of one's choice.