Our beloved Yvonne Annette Merritt was born on October 17, 1939, in Miami, Florida, to Geraldine Lee Brown and Edward McKinney, Sr. 

 

She began her education at Dunbar Elementary K8 and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1958.

 

Yvonne found her soulmate in Oliver Junior Merritt, Sr., who passed away in 1983. They married and raised three wonderful children, Oliver Merritt, Jr., in 1960, Debra Merritt in 1962 (who passed away on March 5, 2021), and Tara Merritt in 1969.

 

Her career as a Medical Inspector at Cordis Johnson & Johnson lasted until her retirement in 2007. Yvonne was known for her caring nature, both at work and in her personal life.

 

As the fourth child and only daughter of Edward McKinney, Sr., and Geraldine Lee Brown, she had several siblings. On her mother’s side, she had brothers Edward Jr. (Tony), the late Kelson Sr. (who passed away in 2021), and the late Ernest. Her father’s side included Eric, Lorenzo, Vernald, Everald, and Arthur Frederick McKinney, along with her bonus sister, Alstene McKinney. Yvonne was also a proud grandmother to seven grandchildren, Jevon and Mahagonny Merritt (Debra), Darrese Hardy, Kaniya Morley (Tara), Jaylen, Jamari, and Janyliah Merritt (Oliver Jr.). She had two great-grandchildren, Maurice Johnson (Darrese) and Brylen Stitt (Mahagonny). Additionally, she had many nieces and nephews, to name of a few, Colleen McKinney-Frazier, Kelson McKinney, Jr., Kendrick McKinney, and Christine McKinney; and countless other family and friends who loved her dearly.