Dr. Charles Anthony McKinney Sr. was born on June 18, 1955. He was the son of Reginald McKinney and Elva Idell McKinney Johnson. Dr. McKinney always felt grateful and blessed to have been raised by his adopted father, Dr. Thomas Cortez Spann Jr. who played a significant role in his life. On December 14, 2022, Dr. McKinney passed away to be with the Lord. Dr. McKinney was a 1977 graduate of Wilberforce University (Magna Cum Laude) and a 1980 graduate of the University of Notre Dame Law School, and he continued his preparation at Harvard Law School. Dr. McKinney was an upright and honorable man who was full of integrity, professionalism, honesty, intelligence, and boldness. He was also a no nonsense man. He had a fighting spirit and often said, “If you see me fighting a bear, worry about the bear.” He was highly regarded in the area of law and well respected by other lawyers and judges and even those who opposed him in the courtroom. Dr. McKinney worked for 10 years, first as in-house counsel for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, then as an associate and senior associate with Quarles & Brady Law Firm in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Smith & Schnecke LPA Law Firm in Dayton, Ohio. His legal success then led him to becoming a Partner with Chernesky, Heyman & Kress Law Firm, also in Dayton. In 1990, Dr. McKinney branched out launching his own firm in Dayton offering Corporate Law Services. In 1994, the firm expanded its practice to include Criminal Law. In 1998, the firm added representation of employees in employment discrimination and other civil rights cases. 2001 ushered in a further expansion of the firm’s services to the area of Personal Injury/Medical Malpractice. Dr. McKinney was an anointed man of God and very well known in the ministry and well respected by ministers and pastors all across the country. He took great pride in making sure his church members knew the word of God, knew the history of African Americans and also wanted them to know everything that was taking place in the world of politics so that they could always make well informed decisions on any matter, especially when voting. Dr. McKinney began his pastoral ministry at Tried Stone Baptist Church in Middletown, Ohio where he served from 1990-1996. In April 1997, he became the founding pastor of New Life Christian Center located in Middletown, Ohio. He studied theology at United Theological Seminary. He was licensed to preach at the Beulah Missionary Baptist church in Inkster, Michigan in 1977. He has served as an associate minister at St. Paul Bethel Baptist Church in South Bend, Indiana, Calvary Baptist Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Bethel Baptist Church in Dayton, Ohio where he was ordained in 1990. Dr. McKinney loved the water and enjoyed boating and snorkeling. He had a love for the outdoors and liked to go camping when time permitted. He had a passion for boxing and could often be found watching old reruns of boxing matches on YouTube, reading, or watching the news during his down time. Dr. McKinney was preceded in death by his mother, Elva Idell Johnson and his brother, Wellington Johnson. He leaves to cherish his memory: his wife, Carolyn McKinney; sons, Charles McKinney Jr. and Cameron McKinney; grandson, Charles McKinney III; daughter, Chelsey McKinney; father, Dr. Thomas Cortez Spann Jr.; sisters, Paige McKinney, Lorraine (Warren) Berry, and D’Ana (Cornelius) Carter; sister in-law, Debra Johnson; special nieces, Devenette Ferguson and Erica (Chris) Smith; special nephew, Bryan Cargill; a special high school friend, Rev. Dr. Phillip B. J. McPhee and a host of other relatives and friends.