Vallie McKenzie

Vallie Jean McKenzie, 69, died peacefully in her sleep on Friday, May 10, 2013.She was born the late Charles Hunter and the late Pauline McKenzie Lane on Aug. 2, 1943. She graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1961.Vallie retired from Hamilton County Department of Education. She gave her life to Christ at an early age and attended Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church. She later joined Olivet Baptist Church where she was an active member in The Matthew 25 Ministry.Her survivors include two daughters, TaWanda Knight, Memphis, and Sherry Lynn McKenzie (Michael) Mendez, Chicago, Ill., Alex Smith, her longtime companion; one sister, Constance Lane Arnold, Atlanta; two brothers, Willie James Lane and George Lane Jr., Chattanooga; four grandchildren, Tenisha Clemmons, Ashton Knight and Denzel Knight, Memphis, Tenn., and Eleanor McKenzie Mendez, Chicago, Ill.; and her great-grandson, Emanuel Crumsy; two nieces, Lessie Sargent, Wellfleet, Mass., and Monique Lane, Germany; a host of cousins, friends and co-workers.Services will be held at noon on Thursday, May 16, 2013, at Olivet Baptist Church with Rev. Kevin Adams officiating.Interment in Highland Memorial Gardens.The body will lie in state after noon today at John P. Franklin Funeral Home, 1101 Dodds Avenue, 622-9995.