Lisa Kay McKinney

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of a beloved mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. After a long and difficult year, she has gone home to be with the Lord and is now at peace—free from pain and resting in His eternal embrace.

She was a devoted and loving mother to her only daughter, Zendaya Turner:

“Zendaya baby, I love you I remember I pulled up to your house with my mom when you was 3, and you was playing in the yard before you was even mine. I told my mother, ‘See—this little girl—I love her as if she is mine and at 5 you made me a mother, thank you for choosing me.’ … I love you, baby. Stay brave. You are going places that others have only dreamed of. I love you, baby. Your Aunt Crystal will take good care of you. I’ve always been proud of you.”

To her mother:

“I had to leave you earlier than I hoped—that was not my plan. Stay strong when you need to be, and when you feel weak, it’s OK lean on God, Mommy, the family needs you. Thank you for caring for me and my daughter. I love you.”

To her sister, Crystal:

“Thank you for stopping your life and making mine a priority. You have been a wonderful caregiver and the best sister I could have ever needed. Take care of my one and only child—I trust you with her.”

To her niece, Cheyann:

“I knew how to be a mother because of you I’m your Mimi And you will always be my first niece… One day you’ll have a child of your own, and you are going to be a great mother. I love you.”

To her nephews, Kevin and Joshua:

“You both are wonderful young men… Kevin, I’m proud of you. Thank you for being there for me and accepting the responsibility of Josh, so your mother could be there for me.

“Josh, if you hadn’t taken quick action that day in that kitchen, I don’t know what would have happened. But I lived longer because of you. I love you—don’t let life get away from who you are meant to be… both of you.”

To her best friend, Christy:

“You have been my girl since 4th grade… through the good and the bad, the happy and the sad, you’ve always been there—the best friend I could have ever asked for. I love you deeply.”

To her Uncle Dennis:

As you said, “Tell her to scoot over—her Uncle D’s coming to lay with her…”

“You have been the uncle only nieces could dream of—the father I never had. Through the laughs and the tears, all of it—you have always been there for me, and you still are. I love you.”

To her brother Chancey:

“Think of that one memory—yep, that’s the one. Keep that between you and me.”

Bruce you have always held a special place in my heart you are my stepdaddy, but you were also a daddy to me. I will always be grateful that I had you in my life.

She also held a special place in her heart for Brianna, Precious, and Little Brittany.

She is reunited in Heaven with her sister, Tiffany Dee Ansley; her father, Shawn McKinney; her uncle, Keith Short; and her great-grandmother, Louis Godfrey.

She leaves behind her cherished daughter, Zendaya Turner; her Mother Deanna McKinney, step daddy Bruce Simmons ;brothers, John Godfrey, Chancey Godfrey and Shawn McKinney; her sister, Crystal Turner; Leslie Marshall and Cassandra mckinney ; aunts , uncles, cousins so many nephews & nieces along with many extended family members and loved ones who will forever carry her memory in their hearts.

In her final words:

“I know this is hard on you all—please stay strong. I was tired… the only way I could be healed was going home to God. Tears will fall, but be joyful—I’m at peace now. I love you all.”

“To anyone I may not have named, it doesn’t mean you don’t matter. I remember each and every one of you.”

Scripture of Comfort

“The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” — Psalm 34:18 (KJV)

Graveside services for Lisa Kay McKinney of Cairo will be held at 2:00PM on Saturday May 9, 2026 in Laurel Hill Cemetery on Kansas Street. Visitation will be held on Saturday at the funeral home from 12:00-1:30PM before the service.