McKinley K. Jolley

Reverend Dr. McKinley K. Jolley, (fondly known as Kenny, Jolley, or Brother Jolley), was born September 27, 1930, in Cambridge, MD. He was the fourteenth of fifteen children (eight sisters and six brothers), born to the late Charles and Nettie Jolley. He grew up in the Bucktown United Methodist Church in Airy, MD.McKinley Jolley received his elementary and high school education in the Maryland Public School System. He continued his education and was awarded a Doctorate of Divinity Honorary Degree by the Department of Education in Fresno, California. He also received doctorate degrees in Theology, Divinity, Philosophy in Counseling, and Philosophy in Religion from the Department of education in Sacramento, California. He was ordained Reverend on August 2, 1995.On July 2, 1948, Jolley enlisted in the United States Army where he served honorably for twenty-six years before retiring on August 1, 1974. His army career included two tours of duty in Germany, one tour in Okinawa, and two tours in Korea, one of which was during the Korean War. Jolley also served during the Vietnam Conflict. During his military career, SSG Jolley was an Air Traffic Controller, Military Policeman, and an Operations Sergeant, thus gaining 25 years of experience in the security field.Kenny met and married Suzanne Johnson while working as an Operations Sergeant at the First US Army, Fort Meade, MD. They have five children.After his retirement from the US Army in 1974, Kenny started his second career as a Security Officer with Care First Blue Cross and Blue Shield, working there for 15 years-until he became ill and was unable to continue.Brother Jolley has been a faithful servant of Argonne Hills Chapel Center, Fort Meade since January 1993. Through his work with the Missionary Ministry of the Chapel, he was an active Bible Study teacher for the patients at the Clifton T. Perkins Mental Hospital in Jessup, MD, and Knollwood Nursing Home in Gambrills, MD. He was also a very active and dedicated member of the Usher Ministry and the Protestant Men of the Chapel.The Bible was Reverend Jolley’s favorite book. He always followed JESUS' command to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and shut-in, and to set the captives’ free-Matthew 25:35-40. Brother Jolley can be compared to Job, who never lost his faith in GOD no matter what he was going through. Before illness overpowered his physical body, Reverend Jolley was in the process of preparing a sermon entitled “Weathering the Storm” based on the scripture readings from Luke 8: 1-16’ 22-25. In his notes, he stated “we all know how GOD allowed Satan to afflict Job, a prosperous and pious Jew, with many hardships in order to test his faith. Job lost all his children, all of his worldly goods, and was afflicted with a terrible disease, but Job, being planted on good ground, would rather die than curse GOD.McKinley was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Nettie Jolley; five brothers: Phillip, Orwood, Luther, Charles and Jackson; eight sisters, Francis, Addie, Irene, Hilda, Joyce, Anna, Rosalie and Marvel.McKinley is survived by Suzanne, his loving and devoted wife of 32 years; sons, Charles H. Jolley of Washington, DC, McKinley K. Jolley of Philadelphia, PA, William E. Jolley of Severn MD; daughters, Michele D. Saunders of Cambridge, MD, and Cheryl D. Martin of Junction City, KS; one daughter-in-law, Leslie Jolley; two sons-in-law, Timothy Saunders and Perry Martin; one brother, O’Donald Jolley of Trenton, NJ; three sisters-in-law, Mary Simms, Margaretta Johnson, and Shirley Clash; three brothers-in-law, James Johnson, Thomas Simms and Albert Johnson; 12 grandchildren, Curtis N. Watkins, Jeremy Minor, Michael Bradley, Kenneth Bradley, Gabriel Martin, Marcus Jones, Travon Jolley, Jonathan Martin, Kyonia Jones, Nicole Berrios, Tymica Jolley and Timothy Saunders; five great grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends.

Tributes

McKinley K. Jolley

September 27, 1930 - June 21, 2005