Obituary of Freddie Mae McKinney

Freddie Mae McKinney, 68 of Utica, NY for the last 32 years, was called home to be with our Lord on January 23, 2019, surrounded by the loving arms of her family. Freddie Mae was born on August 13, 1950 in Brooklyn, NY to Eddie Joseph and Mary Jane (Smith) Beale.

Freddie Mae married her husband, Mr. Harold B. McKinney, Sr. of Brooklyn, NY in 1970.   A marriage that grew a family of two to a family of five.

Freddie Mae, a graduate of Prospect Heights High School in Brooklyn, NY and a member of Pilgrim Baptist Church for many years, relocated in the late 1980’s to Utica, NY.  Freddie Mae found her love for cooking from her mother and never laid her spoon down except when she was looking for that next new recipe.  Full of life, she never missed an opportunity to go shopping, visiting with friends or attending any social event, if it had “bells” on it, she was first in line.   But of course, she always loved spending time with family, whether it was reunions, vacations or holidays (especially Thanksgiving), if it meant good food, good times and good eats – it meant Freddie!

Upon entering the work field, she began her career as a private home health aide, caring for a terminally ill client.  Upon completion of that very personal assignment, Freddie started a new career path working at Bonide Industrials in many different capacities, lending her to meet and make a handful of new and long-lasting friendships.

When her time on this earth came to an end, she chuckled and said to those she left behind to carry on her love and memories are her children Chantee’ G. Jiggetts (Henrico, VA) and Harold B. (Tarika) McKinney, Jr. (Brooklyn, NY); grandchildren Denonte’, Cydni, Harold III, Tyriq, Travis, Jr., Cadeyn, Cairo and Phoenix; nieces Kristy, Takeisha, nephews: Willie and Kris, aunt Frankie Killen, cousins Celeste, Debra, Dawn and Kaleena and  her all time shopping buddy, Bryant Pabon, several friends who have been with her through thick and thin to show their love and support and her adopted Utican family.

Freddie purchased her ticket for the train ride to heaven, to laugh, dance and cook with her parents: Eddie Joseph and Mary Jane Beale, sister Leona German; daughter Jacqueline Beale; nephew Andre Sarvis and to all of her loved ones that caught the earlier train rides. 

The family celebrates and rejoices the life of Freddie Mae McKinney and acknowledges how she touched so many lives on her earthly journey.  Thank you, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, friend and by any other kind name given to her over the years.  “Absent from the body present with the Lord”.