Phyllis Dorita McKinney

Phyllis "Dorita" McKinney was born October 18, 1947, in Norbeck, MD to the late Stanley C. Prather, Sr. and Virgie E. Prather (Stewart). She was the second of five children and grew up in Stewarttown/Gaithersburg, MD. She attended church with her family every Sunday, participating in Sunday School and other activities with her siblings. Dorita became a Junior Usher and sang with the Young Children's Choir. She attended Elementary School through the fourth grade at the all black Longview Elementary School before Montgomery County schools were integrated for her fifth through twelfth grade years. Dorita graduated from Gaithersburg High School in 1965 where she excelled in sports, track, softball, and basketball and was awarded a trophy as outstanding girl athlete her senior year. She sang in the choir, and was a member of the Glee Club. Dorita loved her very fast cars and once owned a sporty Firebird. That's how she learned to" burn rubber''. Her Dad and the Barbershop friends would come out to observe her skills. She was Good! Dorita also enjoyed bowling, dancing, billiards, dressing beautifully, hearing a good joke and telling one.

The same year she graduated High School, she began working for the US Atomic Energy Commission. She also married Richard Young that year and was blessed with a son the following year prior to their divorce.

Dorita attended Howard Univ. with a Business Administration Curriculum and completed education courses and seminars in accounting, federal contracting and industrial security related areas.

She left the federal government and was employed by Mark Battle Associates, Inc. in Washington, DC, where she was the Director of Administration/General Manager/Office Manager. Dorita also worked as an Independent Contractor for the Dept. of Labor as an analyst on federal grants and prepared reports for review by Administrative Law Judges.

Dorita married Dwight A. McKinney in 1977. They first met when she was a pre-teen during the Montgomery County summer recreational programs playing softball against a team from Cabin John. She liked his red hair and freckles, and obviously liked the way she played ball. Being too young to date at the time, they communicated over a summer and then went their separate ways. Ironically, they met again by chance in Washington, DC. She was walking home from work and he was leaving the DEA Training Academy and caught by a red light! Yes, he flirted, and when she turned to give him her look, she recognized him from years before. Their union would bring a daughter into her life, 12-year-old Saturia. Two years later she was blessed with another son, Dwight A. McKinney II.

The family relocated to Los Angeles, California. During their years in California, Dorita worked for Perrier Group of America/ Arrowhead Water Company. She began as the Executive Secretary to the Vice President of Marketing and then to the Field Marketing Manager. One of her duties was maintaining the department's multi-million-dollar budget. Coordinating the company's participation as the "Official Water of the Marathons" was also one of highlights of her job.

After her family returned back to the Washington metropolitan area, she was employed by Jackson Hewitt Tax Service and began working for Dynamic Concepts, Inc (DCI) as a Consultant/Executive Assistant to the Chief Operating Officer.

Her family relocated to Reno, Nevada where she worked as an Independent Contractor. She later was employed with the City of Reno as an Executive Secretary to the City Manager. Dorita was honored before the City Council with Mayoral Proclamation of "Dorita McKinney Day in the City of Reno".

Returning back to the Washington Metropolitan area in 1997, Dorita returned to OCI which would become like home. Her co-workers and supervisor would become like family. She would remain there until 2004, when she decided she would retire (the first time). Dorita enjoyed and embraced her roles as wife, mother, doctor, lawyer, consultant, decorator, therapist, among many other things, for her family and everyone that knew her. She also had a new role of grandmother to Alaya, Chela, Warren Jr (LW), and Marcus. During this time she also increased her involvement in her community by taking on a number of roles within her beloved church (Goshen United Methodist Church) as well as the ONC and the Smithsonian Institute. At Goshen UMC she and her husband supported and worked on many projects. She served as Chairperson for the Administrative Board for a number of years, served as a Captain for Woman's Day and the hands-on leader for the October Birthday Celebrations. She took great care and pride in all of these and other endeavors. Dorita always had big and creative ideas and went far above and beyond what anyone could imagine. She "loved" listening to the choirs!! She and her husband faithfully drove from Accokeek, MD to Gaithersburg, MD for the services and programs.

Dorita continued to periodically consult for DCI off and on during this time and in 2008, she decided that retirement did not suit her and returned to DCI. She remained there until 2016 and after 51 years of working, she finally retired for good!!

She welcomed three more grandchildren, Zoe, Nia, and Dwight Ill. She remained active in her community endeavors, and was ever-present for her family and loved ones as well. Dorita was known for her unique and thoughtful gifts and her ability to host a gathering like no other. She was the personification of strength, elegance, and adept­ ness all wrapped up in a gorgeous scarf with a wit to match.

At the end of 2019, she lost her beloved Dwight after more than a year-long battle with Cancer. She would spend the next 4 years providing love, guidance and strength to her family (as she had always done) without any hint of discomfort or pain on her part. On April 15, 2024, Dorita transitioned peacefully at the White Oak Medical Center surrounded by her family, serenaded into glory by them with the beautiful sounds of God's worship.

Dorita leaves to cherish her life and memory her devoted sons, Victor Young (Sherie) and Dwight McKinney ll (Tiffany), stepdaughter Saturia Davenport (Warren). She further leaves her grandchildren, Alaya, Chela, and Warren Davenport II and Marcus, Zoe, Nia and Dwight McKinney, Ill. She also leaves two sisters, Sylvia Smith and Denise Prather, two brothers, Michael Prather and Stanley Prather, Jr. preceded her in death. two uncles, Richard Stewart and Benjamin Jackson. She leaves 3 sisters-in-law, Bettyann Bullard, P. Joyce Barr, and Jacqualine Donaldson. She also leaves a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and many, many, special friends

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