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| O.W. Dillon Training School Willie M. Chaney, Second Row: Right End Photo Courtesy: David Chaney |
A couple of weeks ago, David Chaney, the son of Willie McKinley and Edna Chaney, shared a little history about his father. Willie Mckinley Chaney was born in 1918 to Clarence Chaney and Mamie Bentley Tobias in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. Willie died in 2008 in Kentwood, Louisiana. He was buried at Oak Grove AME Church Cemetery.
Willie enlisted in the United States Military on January 14, 1943, in New Orleans, LA., and discharged on February 12, 1946. He served as a Private in the Branch Immaterial, Warrant Officers, USA. The term of his enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergencies, plus six months, subject of the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law. He had two years of high school. He worked at Brown Morris lumber yard in Kentwood. He and Raymond Coleman became the first African Americans to own a taxi service company. Raymond Coleman also owned a movie theater in Kentwood.
This picture was submitted to Nurturing Our Roots Blog by David Chaney. Willie is standing on the right end on the second step, second row.
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| Willie McKinley Chaney |
