Mary Lois McKinnie-Britt
Mary Lois McKinnie-Britt, age 99 of Orange, N.J. (formerly Slocomb & Campbellton’s Stateline Community) passed away Saturday July 11, 2026 at her son’s residence in Farmville, VA, surrounded by her loving family.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 23rd at the Shira Sr. & Chelcie McKinnie Memorial Chapel located at 5304 Bowden Hill Road Campbellton, FL with Reverend Johnny M. McKinnie officiating. The body will lie in state for one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow in the St. Paul/New Bethel Cemetery located at 5180 Highway 273 Campbellton, FL with McKinnie Funeral Home of Campbellton directing.
Mary Lois McKinnie was one of eight children born to the late Louis McKinnie, Sr. and Mary Lou Daniels-McKinnie Jeter-El in the Stateline community of Slocomb, Alabama on November 20, 1926. She lived through nearly a century of American history, witnessing extraordinary change while leaving an enduring legacy of love, strength, perseverance, and unwavering faith. Affectionately known as "Mary Lois" to many, "Aunt Lois" to generations of nieces and nephews, "Grandma" to her many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren, and lovingly called "Sissy" by one of her younger sisters.
She was united in marriage to the late Robert Britt, with whom she built a loving family. Together they raised three sons: Robert Donald, Eloyd Odell and Mitchell Earl Britt. Each carries forward the values of faith, integrity, hard work, and devotion to family that she exemplified throughout her life.
Professionally, she dedicated many years of service as a secretary with Bell Laboratories/AT&T, where she earned the respect of colleagues through her professionalism, dependability, and unwavering work ethic. She carried those same qualities into every aspect of her life.
Beyond her career, she found her greatest joy in caring for those she loved. She had a remarkable gift for bringing people together and created countless cherished memories through her love of cooking, gardening, sewing, music, and family gatherings.
An avid gardener, she took great pride in cultivating beautiful flowers and plants, finding joy and peace in watching them flourish. She believed that a well-kept home reflected love and care, and she took pride in creating a warm, welcoming place where family and friends always felt at home. Whether hosting lively gatherings in the backyard or unforgettable celebrations in the family basement, Mary Lois had a special way of making everyone feel welcome. She also had a passion for fashion and carried herself with grace, confidence, and timeless style.
She possessed a quiet strength, a loving heart, and a wonderfully candid spirit. She believed in telling the truth, standing firmly in her convictions, and loving her family wholeheartedly. Her honesty was never meant to wound but to guide, and those who knew and loved her would not have wanted her to be any other way.
Her faith in God was a steady source of strength throughout her life. Though she did not attend church regularly, she believed deeply in the power of prayer and often encouraged those she loved to lean on the arms of the Almighty. During difficult times, she would simply say, "I'm on a wing and a prayer," trusting that God would carry her through.
She also believed that the secret to a long and meaningful life was to "do as much as you can for yourself for as long as you can." She lived those words every day, remaining remarkably independent, determined, and resilient well into her ninety-ninth year. Her life was a beautiful example that strength is not measured by ease, but by perseverance.
Her life stands as a testament to the enduring power of family, faith, resilience, and service. Her legacy is measured not by material possessions, but by the generations she nurtured, the values she instilled, and the unconditional love she gave so freely. Though her earthly journey has come to an end, her memory will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her. Her life reminds us that faith can sustain us, family can strengthen us, and love can outlive us all. As she often reminded those she loved "If you want to know what life truly is, just keep on living" may we honor her memory by living our lives with the same courage, grace, faith, honesty, and unwavering love that she so beautifully demonstrated every day.
She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings: Louis McKinnie, Jr., Louise McKinnie, Eloied Odell McKinnie, Horace McKinnie and Eleanor Jones; inlaws: Harry L. Jones, Sr., Rayfield Murray and Chelcie D. McKinnie.
She is survived by her children: Robert Donald Britt, Sr. (Beverly Brewster-Britt) of Tyler, TX, Eloyd Odell Britt of Orange, NJ and Mitchell Earl Britt of Farmville, VA; siblings: Catharia N. Murray of Neptune, NJ and Shira McKinnie, Sr. of Campbellton, FL whose lifelong love and bond with her remained steadfast through the years. Mary Lois leaves behind a loving legacy carried on by her sons, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, a host of extended family members, and dear friends who will forever cherish her wisdom, steadfast faith, honest counsel, unwavering love, and the countless memories they shared with her.
