Betty Braggs McKinney

Betty Braggs-McKinney was born on July 7, 1942 in Camden, Arkansas to Bernest and Eurla Braggs. Betty grew up in the Ecore Fabre area of Ouachita County with a loving support system of grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins.

She joined the St. James Baptist church at an early age. She attended Lincoln High School where she was Homecoming Queen for the Class of 1960. Betty attended Howard University in Washington, DC, but returned to Camden. Upon her return, she met Anthony McKinney Jr., and within a year they were joined in Holy Matrimony in June of 1961. In February 1962, they welcomed their only child, Anthony O. McKinney III. She moved her church membership to the Greater St. Paul for the next 25 years serving as a Matron, on the Deaconess Board and other auxiliaries.

She worked as an Office Assistant to the late Willa B. Cole at Carver Elementary from the late 1960’s to 1972 when she transitioned to Office Manager/Bookkeeper at Camden Senior High School for more than 20 years while continuing her education at UAPB. Upon leaving the Camden school system, she was employed by Ouachita Industries securing employment for disabled/special needs individuals.  Her final employment was with the Camden Housing Authority where she was Office Manager and mentored countless children in the D.A.R.E./After School programs. 

In the mid-1980s, she moved her church membership to New Calvary Church of God in Christ and remained there until death. She was a faithful servant working as Church Clerk, Sunday School teacher, Senior Mother/Women’s Auxiliary & Trustee Board member, Evangelist Missionary-District Missionary-4^th Jurisdiction of Ark COGIC and Pastor’s Advisory Board.  She is also a past Worthy Matron of the Order of Eastern Star.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Bernest Braggs & Eurla Battle (Gossett) and husband, Anthony O. McKinney Jr.  She was a doting mother and grandmother to her only son, Anthony O. McKinney III, three grandchildren, Tamieka S. Nettles (Courtney), Khristopher House-McKinney and Kyndal A. McKinney and two great-grandchildren, Arieonna A. Nettles and Adarion D. Nettles. She also leaves to mourn 1^st cousins Leah Butler-Biley (Mike), Tovonia Coleman and Johnny Gossett Jr. (Cynthia) and a special goddaughter, Jocelyn Hill-Whitney (Jonathan) & two god-grandsons, Jonathan and Jeremy Whitney and a host of other family members.

Public visitation will be Friday, August 20, 2021 from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Williams Funeral Home Van Buren, 119 Van Buren Street. Services will be held graveside at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 21, 2021 at Greenwood Cemetery in Camden, Arkansas.