Randy McKinney, 63, of West Monroe passed away on Saturday, February 8, 2025.  Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Friday, February 14, 2025 at Kilpatrick Funeral Home in West Monroe.  Visitation will be held at Noon until time of service.  A committal service will be held at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, February 22, 2025, at Kilpatrick’s Serenity Gardens, under the care and direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Homes, West Monroe.

Randy was born on July 18, 1961, and was raised in Jonesboro on “Sixth Street hill” and at his Grandfather’s grocery store in the black community of Jonesboro. When Randy was 16, he went to work at Edmonds Funeral Home in Jonesboro. Randy always felt that his being raised around people of other color and his work at the funeral home during his youth, helped him to work well with and around all people, and to help others during some of life’s most difficult circumstances.

At age 18, Randy went to work for the Town of Jonesboro Police Department and soon thereafter went to the Jackson Parish Sheriff’s Department where he served as a Criminal Deputy under Sheriff Van Beasley. As a part of his work as a Deputy, Randy was one of the first law officers in Jackson Parish to complete a law enforcement training academy.

Completing the academy introduced Randy to a love for college-level work, and he soon began pursuing an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice at (then) Northeast Louisiana University, where he graduated in 1984.  Randy served in the sheriff’s department until being elected as Louisiana’s youngest police chief at age 25, having served as Chief of Police for the Town of Jonesboro through 1990. It was during this time that Randy met his wife, Cindy, then a deputy in Ouachita Parish, and they were married on December 3, 1988.

During this time, as well, Randy completed the 12-week Louisiana State University Law Enforcement Institute, a specialized school for criminal Justice leaders and investigators, where he was elected class president. In addition, Randy served as President of the North Louisiana Police Chief’s Association. Even though Randy left law enforcement and his beloved hometown, he continued to love Jackson Parish and friends and acquaintances there throughout his life, and he never lost his affinity for the Criminal Justice Profession, nor for those who serve in it.

Randy and Cindy were introduced to large city life when they moved to Dallas in 1991. During this time, Randy earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Dallas Baptist University, and just over a year later, he graduated from the University of North Texas’ Master’s Degree Program in Public Administration.

After returning to Louisiana, Randy began a career in healthcare, eventually retiring from the Louisiana Department of Health and from the Louisiana Primary Care Association. He became a licensed nursing facility administrator in 1994. Randy continued his education at Grambling State University, where he received a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice in 2002. Randy returned to Jackson Parish in 2003, where he, as a part of God’s plan for him, ran an unsuccessful election bid for Sheriff of Jackson Parish. From 2004-2008, he served as Criminal Justice Department Chair for a small technical college for approximately 4 years, prior to going to work for the Louisiana Department of Health as a Medical Practice Management Consultant.

Randy served for just under seven years as Administrator at Bienville Family Clinic, where he was instrumental in working with school and other community stakeholders in developing the first School-Based Telehealth program provided through a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services-certified Rural Health Clinic in the nation. The program was recognized as the Outstanding Rural Health Program by the National Rural Health Association in 2019.

Randy served as President of the Louisiana Rural Health Association in 2019, and again in 2023. Randy worked as Healthcare Technology and Innovations Manager for the Louisiana Primary Care Association from 2021 through 2024, and he served as a consultant to many healthcare administrators, project managers and facilities. Randy was also a Louisiana State Police Registered Handgun Concealed Carry Instructor for many years.

Randy loved Gospel Music, and he enjoyed playing, especially old church hymns as well as patriotic and “old school” black gospel music. Never having received formal training in music, Randy played, “by ear,” the harmonica, piano and other keyboard instruments, the accordion and a Hammond Organ throughout the years.

Randy was preceded in death by his parents, James Ernest McKinney and Dora Jean (Costin) McKinney; Paternal Grandparents, Ernest and Maebelle McKinney; Maternal Grandparents, Viola Copeland Upchurch and Charlie Costin; Step-Grandfather, R. G. Upchurch; Paternal Great-Grandmother, Ida Seymore McKinney; as well as by his Mother-in-Law, Andrea Griggs; along with numerous aunts and cousins.

Randy is survived by his wife, Cindy McKinney of West Monroe; daughter, Mallorie McKinney of West Monroe; brother, Reggie McKinney of Jonesboro; nieces, Katie McKinney McGowan of Ruston, Christi McKinney Permenter of Hodge and husband Chris; great-niece and nephew, Bridget and Hunter Alexander; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Wayne and Lisa Heckford of Calhoun; step-brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Wade and Kay Bishop of West Monroe; step-sister-in-law, Kathy Sadler of West Monroe and husband Brian; step-brother-in-law, Jay Griggs; numerous nieces and nephews, step-nieces and nephews, cousins, step- cousins;  and close friends that were like extended family that Randy loved.

Randy leaves this advice for his fellow man: “First and foremost, Love everybody; never engage in any behavior, nor in any conversation, that is indefensible, refrain from cheating, even if it results in loss, and always treat those with whom you come in contact along life’s path in such a manner so that they see God’s Love, exemplified through you.”

Serving as pallbearers will be Chris Bowman, Shawn Murphy, Chris Young, Jerry Garner, Scott Garner, Matt Reardon, Mark Treadway and Steve Lowery.

The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to Full Gospel Temple in Jonesboro, the Church that he was raised in.

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