Cecelia McKinney

Cecelia Marie Jackson was born on February 20, 1949 in Portland, OR to Cecil and Marie Jackson. She was the third of eleven children. Known by her family as “Ceil” or “Ceeya,” she grew up in what was known as the Knott Street Neighborhood and attended Eliot Elementary School and Girls Poly High School. By her childhood friends, she was affectionately known as “Ceelyah.” She was full of love and laughter and a skilled jokester. Ceelyah had a wonderful childhood. In addition to her sense of humor, it was a treat to see her with her crooked ponytail, walking up the street with her bow legs. After hearing “here comes Ceelyah,” she would proceed to defend her title as the fastest at jumping rope. She was also the fastest to pick beans and berries in the field, as if it was a competition. At Eliot Elementary School she was known as soft spoken, sweet, kind, and always caring for others, but as a jokester, she also had a gift for making you laugh at yourself. It was an honor to be her friend because of her loving-kindness.

As an academic achiever, Ceil had the grades to attend Girls Poly High School, where she continued to display her ability to excel at everything she participated in. She was very studious and involved in various clubs and sports. Upon completing high school, Ceil attended Portland State University. She also worked at Pacific Northwest Bell phone company while attending college.

One fateful day in 1969, Ceil was on campus where she was introduced to Charles McKinney by a family friend. That day she decided to skip school and hang out, but as a diligent student, she did her homework while others played cards. Ceil and Charles quickly established a friendship and enjoyed spending time together. At the nudging of his uncle, Charles asked Ceil, “What would you say if I asked you to marry me?” to which Ceil swiftly responded, “Well are you?” They got married five months after dating, to which Charles noted that he couldn’t believe his fortune. They both were from big families and valued family time. It wasn’t long before they expanded their immediate family with the births of their sons Charles Jr. and Aaron. Ceil was an extremely loving mother who took great pride in her role and was very involved in her sons’ pursuits, especially their love of basketball. She was always the loudest supporter, cheering for them at their games.

Ceil devoted her life to Christ.  She was passionate about witnessing to people and she would hit the streets, sharing messages, such as her favorite statement “Jesus loves you.” Throughout the years, she was an active member of various churches including; Highland United Church of Christ, Open Book Bible Study, Life Change Church, and The Church Without Walls. She served in children’s ministries and loved vacation bible school. She was a fervent prayer warrior and faithfully encouraged many within the body of Christ.

In addition to her many years of service at Pacific Northwest, Ceil also worked at Aetna Insurance Company. In 2010, she retired from Emanuel Hospital. In her retirement, she enjoyed watching movies, listening to music, and spending quality time with her family, especially her loving grandchildren. Described as a warm and patient woman, Ceil had a way of making people feel comfortable and was a motherly figure to many young people who were deeply impacted by her presence.

Cecelia was preceded in death by her father and mother, Cecil and Marie Jackson; brothers, Leslie and Alford Jackson; and sister, Gloria Jackson. She is survived by her husband, Charles McKinney Sr.; sons, Charles (Maria) McKinney Jr., and Aaron McKinney; stepchildren, Quintae McKinney, Shaneeka Carter, Mileus Hill, and Ayanna (Deontae) Armstrong (who all affectionately referred to her as “Momma Ceeya”); grandchildren, Sierra McKinney, Jaela McKinney, Ayriana McKinney, Araya (Ray Ray) McKinney, Aaron (AJ) McKinney Jr., and Josiah McKinney; great-grandson, Amari Pinto-Ruiz; sisters, Patricia (Larry) Johnson, Linda (Leo) Burrell, Joyce Jackson, and Barbara Jackson; brothers, Alphonso Hughes, Anthony (Annie) Jackson, and David (Donna) Jackson; and a host of extended family members and friends.

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