McKay, Virgie Pearl B.(Mrs. Emmett)
5/2/2001
| Pearl McKay was the widow of the Rev. Emmett Lee McKay. She was born on November 5, 1901 near Fort Smith, Arkansas. She attended a summer at Peabody College in Nashville, Tennessee. She met Emmett at Hendrix College in Conway Arkansas where they were both in school. They were married November 10, 1928 at Boston Avenue United Methodist Church Tulsa, Oklahoma (They were the first couple to be married at that church.) Churches they served were: Little Rock Conference-Hickory Plains Circuit (6 churches and 2 school houses), Holly Springs, Center Point, Dalark, Arkansas City, Montrose and Bryant; Louisiana Conference-Watson (Live Oak), Bogalusa (Columbia St.), Church Point, Rodessa, St. Francisville, Pioneer, Effie, Pollock, Grand Cane, Pelican, Mooringsport and Wesley Church (in Crowley). She served as the pianist at many of the churches they served. She taught training schools and lab schools helping Sunday School teachers to meet the needs of children in their care. She served for a short time in the 1950's as the Louisiana Conference Director of Children's work. After retirement in 1966, they moved to Shreveport. She died at Willis Knighton, Pierremont on May 2, 2001 at the age of 99. A graveside service was held at Forest Park Cemetery in Shreveport. A memorial service was held at Live Oak Retirement Center where she had resided since 1988. (Pearl commented that she started her life in Louisiana at Live Oak and ended it at Live Oak.) Both services were led by Rev. William Mayo and Rev. William Sirman. Music was provided by her granddaughter-in-law, Celia Sirman Whitler, accompanied by Celia’s mother, Carolyn Sirman. Her husband, Rev. Emmett Lee McKay died in 1972 and 4 brothers, and a granddaughter, her granddaughter’s husband and their 2 sons preceded her in death. She is survived by her daughter, Betty Whitler and husband, Jim of Shreveport, a son, Bob McKay and wife Judy, of Pacoima, California, grand-children, Ron Whitler and his wife, Celia of Franklin, Tennessee, and Mike Whitler of Columbus, Georgia, and Lloyd, Mona, Francisco, Jesus, Balin, Alexandro, and Alonzo McKay, all of California. In addition she is survived by 22 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren. |
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| Source: Journal Louisiana Conference 2001, p. 257 By Jim and Betty Whitler | |
