Georgia E. McKinney, marina owner
Georgia Elizabeth Parris McKinney, 92, loving wife and mother, entered her heavenly rest March 17, 2015. She had traveled to her “dream home” in Cape Coral, Fla., to spend time with family there, then had a brief stay in Cape Coral Hospital. She was surrounded by her husband and children as she peacefully left the family with hearts full of her loving affection, joy in living and the resolve to make every day the best it can be.
Georgia was born May 1, 1922 in Seaford, daughter of the late Luther Hopkins and Anna Marie (Hudson) Parris. She was a longtime resident of Rehoboth and Dewey Beach, and Cape Coral. Georgia graduated from Seaford High School and was a proud member of The Order of the Eastern Star. Her life was devoted to the goals and dreams she shared with her soul mate and husband Charles, having been married for 67 years.
Through those years, they operated several service stations, a bus station, a motel and apartments. In April 1966, they purchased what became known as Pier Point Marina in Dewey Beach where they continued to work alongside each other in building a family business that has showcased the values and heart of the Dewey Beach community they both loved.
As a wife to Charles, mother to seven children, Mom-Mom to 16 grandchildren, great-Mom-Mom to 17 great-grandchildren and “Mom” to so many others, Georgia has had a profound influence on generations of family and friends. She always found time to nurture and embrace others with a smile and kind words. Everyone was always welcome to stop by, sit and chat or to have a bite to eat at the McKinney home where she had an open door and open arms.
Georgia loved fishing, boating, clamming, crabbing, sailing, walking the many beaches of Florida’s Gulf Coast while collecting thousands of sea shells with her best friend Annabelle. Never one to pass up a challenge, Georgia even learned to water ski at the age of 45 where she popped out of the water on her first try! Georgia loved music and enjoyed dancing, and especially listening to her brother Lou’s ensemble throughout many years as they played the local venues close to home. She enjoyed many years of travel in the motor home exploring the country with “Daddy” and other family and friends.
Back at home she always tended flowers and vegetables and especially enjoyed making the marina entrance and her home inviting with the colors of the many flowers she loved. She loved creatures great and small and took enormous pleasure in her cat, Milo, for many years, as well as all the many family pets that found a home among her seven children as they were growing up.
Georgia loved to play games and spent many hours with all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren putting puzzles together, playing dominoes, and lots of different card and board games. One of her greatest pleasures was playing cards with her husband and inviting family and friends to join them in a game of canasta.
Nothing could compare with the joy and delight she always took in creating holiday dinners. Gathering family and friends to celebrate her favorite holidays at Christmas and Easter was memorable each year. She never passed up an opportunity to put together a party and have everyone come and enjoy cookouts or clam chowder or whatever fare of the season was ready for her table. She loved having a large gathering and creating an environment of fun and laughter to share with everyone.
Georgia’s life was characterized by caring for others in a deeply personal way. She was always ready to lend her time as well as her listening heart and helping hands to make someone else’s life better. Her generosity of spirit, her courage and determination, her love of life and words of comfort and wisdom will always remain a living memorial within the hearts of those she loved and blessed throughout her life.
In addition to her parents, Georgia was preceded in death by her son, Gene; a brother, Lou; and sisters, Anna Marie and Elsie. Georgia is survived by her devoted husband, Charles H. McKinney; and six children: Homer, Carla, Charles Jr., Myra, Donald and Ronald.
On the anniversary of Georgia’s 93rd birthday, a Memorial Service honoring her life will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, May 1, at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes, where friends may visit beginning at 1 p.m. After the services, family and friends are invited to gather at the Dewey Beach Lions Club on McKinley Avenue in Dewey Beach.
“A life well lived needs no merit. It already stands worthy before all.”
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to her favorite charities which included St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, Disabled American Veterans, 183 South St., Camden Wyoming, DE 19934 or the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 163, Salisbury, MD 21803-016.
