Rachel Rebecca McKenney was born on June 9, 1939 in Coward, SC, in Florence County. She was raised by her stepfather Edward Kennedy and mother Setha Mae Williams Kennedy. She transitioned from all of her  labor in this life on Saturday, November 30, 2024.

Rachel was educated in the public schools of Florence County and graduated from Wilson High School in 1958. She was formerly employed with Marlowe Manufacturer which later became  Klear-Knit Manufacturer.

Rachel was raised in a Christian home where she and her siblings were brought up to love and worship the Lord. Early in life, she accepted the Lord as her personal Savior and was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ at the age of 11 years old at The Progressive Church of our Lord in Florence, SC.

Rachel married her devoted husband Rev. Dr. C.A. McKenney on January 3, 1965. They joined Majority Baptist Church in Florence SC. Dr. McKenney was later called to be the pastor of the Greater White Creek Baptist Church and the New Beaver Dam Baptist Church, both in Wallace SC, where Rachel served as the First Lady for 44 years and 37 years respectively. She was a devoted worker in the church where she served on many auxiliaries. During her time as First Lady of both churches, she organized various choirs, studied music and played the piano for both churches, served as secretary of the Caravan Fellowship and the Chesterfield and Affiliated Counties Baptist Association, taught Sunday School, and served in many other roles during her tenure. She received a Honorary Doctor of Christian Humanitarian Service Certificate from C.E. Graham Baptist Bible Seminary, Columbia SC on March 20, 2002. Upon her husband’s retirement from pastoring both churches, they both returned to their home church of Majority Baptist Church, where she   worshipped the Lord until she was called home to be with her Heavenly Father.

“Rae” as she was affectionately called, was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Dr. C.A. McKenney, stepfather Edward Kennedy, mother Setha Mae Kennedy, two sisters Maggie Kennedy and Mary Kennedy, and brother William Kennedy.

Left to cherish her memory and legacy include her children Arnold McKenney, Carol Ann Hunt and Craig McKenney; seventeen stepchildren; three grandchildren; six great grandchildren; sister  Carolyn K. Douglas; brothers Arthur “Bubba” (Shirley) Kennedy, Marion “MC” Kennedy, Ronnie (Mary) Kennedy, Joe (Ruthene) Kennedy; a very special and devoted caregiver Ms.Rita Bing; a host of other loving relatives and friends.