Naomi Mckinney, age 80 of Pinedale Street died at her residence on Wednesday, December 25th, 2024. Service will be held on Thursday, January 9th, 2025 at 10 a.m. at Hillview Seventh Day Adventist Church, on Tonique William-Darling. Officiating will be Pastor Peter Joseph, assisted by Pastor Leonardo Rahming and Pastor Waylon Johnson. Interment will follow at Landrail Point Public Cemetery, Crooked Island.
Obituary
In the spring of May 15, 1937 when the flowers were in full bloom a beautiful and vivacious baby girl; Naomi Vivian was born in the picturesque yet quaint settlement of Landrail Point, Crooked Island to the late Wilfred and Lulie Scavella. She was the eighth of ten children. She attended the Landrail Point all age school up to fourth grade, then moved to New Providence where she went to Bahamas Academy and completed her primary and high school education. She returned to Crooked Island a brilliant young maiden and soon was recruited as monitor (untrained teacher) at the Landrail Point All Age school. Her beauty and talent attracted the attention of the handsome and charming Willis McKinney Sr. and at the early age of fifteen they were married. Her teaching career was therefore short-lived. She became a devoted homemaker and caring mother to twelve beautiful children; namely: Vivian, Clement, Kirkwood, Willis Jr., Zyndall, Elton, Angela, Henry, Sonia, Elliott, Antoinette and Paula. Naomi was a God fearing woman and actively participated in all religious functions of her church (the Landrail Point SDA church), and she instilled Godly principles in her children, grandchildren and other persons that she came in contact with. Daily, morning and evening worship was the norm in her home. She saw to it that all of her children could take care of themselves when they became an adult. As a result she funded all who wanted a college education and ensured that the others found gainful employment. She loved farming, and her passion led her to engage in gardening for seasonal crops and creating orchards with a variety of native grown fruits. She also enjoyed going out in the boat fishing with her husband Willis and her children. Additional hobbies included traveling, interacting with people, homemaking, singing, and music. She also played the guitar and often performed with her husband Willis and would get her children to sing at various church and civic functions in the communities wherever they lived. Seeing that she was married to an educator, her life’s journey took her from Crooked Island to Pine Field on Acklins island, Farmers Cay in the Exuma cays and Scrub Hill on Long Island. It was in Pine Field that she rejoined the teaching profession as an untrained teacher and taught for two years under the leadership of her husband Willis Sr. who was the principal of the Pine Field All Age school at that time. Her love for teaching led her to further her education at the Bahamas Teaching College where she obtained a Certified Teachers Certificate. As a result she taught at the Farmers Cay All Age school on Farmers Cay in the Exuma’s for three years, the Scrub Hill All Age school for eighteen and a half years and the Landrail Point Primary school for three years where she finished her teaching career. All of her students were her “adopted” children and she will be remembered for her kindness and caring personality. Naomi’s personality was infectious. She entertained and conversed with strangers and locals alike. She always had a smile and encouraging words for all whom she came in contact with. She was a loyal and dedicated wife. Although she had her challenges and rough days she persevered with a smile and never murmured nor complained. Talk about a virtuous woman.....Well she was just that. Naomi was actively involved in church and civic organizations such as the Red Cross and Kiwanis wherever her career took her. On Long Island she served as president of the Womens branch of the Kiwanis Club; during which time the plan for the community center in Clarence Town was revised and the community center was built. She was also instrumental in establishing a Red Cross branch on Long Island. It was also there on Long Island where she was honored by the Primary Principles Association for her outstanding work. Once retired, she enjoyed the serenity of life at home on Crooked Island with her husband and children. She took ill in June of 2021 and was taken to Nassau for medical attention. Once she recuperated she remained in Nassau where she lived with her son Zyndall who took her under his wings and her daughter Antoinette who ensured that her medical and living expenses were managed. Naomi was cheerful and of sound mind throughout her along years. She sent her time working on word puzzles, eating foods she enjoyed and entertaining those who visited and her family alike. Suddenly, one afternoon in the second week of June 2024, she collapsed suffering from strokes and seizures. She was rushed to the hospital where she stayed for four weeks and was released with several health maladies that required round the clock attention and care. She could not speak, eat nor move around on her own. Two days before her demise, her daughter Vivian had a heart to heart with her. She told her to ask God to forgive her sins and to release her from her suffering if that was her heart’s desire. It must have been her wish for her struggles with her health challenges ended on this blessed Christmas morning December 25, 2024. Fond memories of her humility, loving and caring nature, her strength, resilience, sincerity and servitude will remain with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and all those who loved her.
She is predeceased by: Her parents the late, late Wilfred and Lulie Scavella and her husband Willis McKinney Sr. of Landrail point Crooked Island, Bahamas.
Left to cherish her loving memories are: 5 daughters: Vivian Burrows, Angela Hole of Huntsville Alabama, Paula Green (Donald), Sonia and Antoinette McKinney, 7 sons: Clement, Kirkwood (Margaret), Willis J.R., Zyndall (Yarilyn Gonzales), Elton (Anastasia), Henry and Elliott (DeAndre), 1 Sister: Yvonne Scavella, 2 Sisters - in-law: Marjory Moss, and Alwhyne Scavella, 40 Grand Children: Nelson Keno Burrows Christa), Spence Nelson Burrows (Desereen), Kenwood Burrows (Crystal), Valda Sturrup (Phillip), Vandrea Claridge (Michael), Valencia McKinney, Clement McKinney Jr., Drameco McKinney (Shequeta), Alexio McKinney (Rochelle), Flavia Deleveaux (Antoine), Shandera Paul (Tevaris), Kirkwood McKinney Jr., Nakeisha Carey, Kirteo McKinney, Devon McKinney, Andreshia McKinney, Randy McKinney (Sherika), Andres McKinney, Kenya McKinney, Jamal McKinney, Quinshikka McKinney-Smith (Howard), Zyndall McKinney Jr. (Dr. Nasasha), Zynard McKinney (Shyann), Zahrio McKinney (April), Zachary McKinney, Michael Devoe (Julia), Mariah Hole, Alex McKinney (Shekera), Eltonique Martin (Henry), Eltesha McKinney, Eltonio McKinney, Rasheed McKinney, Rose McKinney, Delano McKinney-Minnis, Kaylisa Cartwright-Glinton (David), Desmondo Bootle, Desmond Bootle Jr., Desmona Bootle, Malique Campbell, Donella Green. 50 Great Grand Children: Nelson Keno Burrows Jr, Callie & Summer Burrows, Dijonnie & Hallie Burrows, Kenzie Burrows, Phillip Sturrup III, Vanessa, Michaela, & Judah Claridge, Brianna Mckinney, Dramien & Drameco Jr Mckinney, Antoine, Asher, Faye, Faliyah & Aniyahn Deleveaux, Alexia, Alexis, Alexio Jr, & Azario Mckinney, Demetria, Shaniece & Juiliecen Mackey, Tashawn Paul, Jermia Mckinney, Nakiah & Natalia Carey, Nariah Rahming, Shiloh and Kimble, Dashia Ferguson, Celine, Randisha & Randy Jr. Lewis, Rise Strachan, Heaven Roker, Ethan Hernandez, Zahario Mckinney Jr, Gracie Mckinney, Bryson & Logan Devoe, Eli Harris, Christian, Alesha, & Kamani Mckinney, Trent Martin, Andraleah Ferguson, and David Glinton III. 1 Sister: Yvonne Scavella, 1 Sister-in-law: Marjorie Moss, 14 Nieces and 22 Nephews.
