Former Mayor Winchester Died Monday

McKENZIE — Funeral arrangements are incomplete for Walter Winchester. Military funeral services for Walter V. Winchester will be at Tennessee Veterans Cemetery at Parkers Crossroads later this week. A celebration of life at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church will also be announced later.

Mr. Winchester, 78, died Monday, February 17, 2025, at his sister’s residence. He is a member of Bethel Baptist Church; he is known by his friends and family as Walt, Bub, Mayor, Dad, Papa and Child of God. He was born on May 7, 1946, to Fonzo V. and Clara Marinda Myers Winchester.

He is survived by his wife, Kathy N. Winchester, a son, Joseph Walter (Karisa) Winchester, all of McKenzie, two sisters, Mary Kleet of McKenzie and Reba (Rich) Christoper of Adamsville, two brothers, James (Kay) Winchester of Memphis and Jimmy (Janet) Winchester of Milan and two granddaughters, Kambrea Winchester and Abigail Winchester.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his sisters, Josie Purvis, Clara Kesterson and Rebecca Winchester, and two brothers, Douglas Winchester and Roy Alford Winchester.

If you need further assistance, please call Brummitt-McKenzie Funeral Home at 731-352-4848 or visit our website at brummittmckenziefuneralhome.com.

Former McKenzie Mayor Walter Winchester was born in McKenzie and returned to his hometown after he traveled the world as a civil servant. He met his Alabama-born wife, Kathy in Germany when he served with the military. But the allure of living out of the U.S. ended as he returned back to McKenzie in 1995 with his wife and son, Joseph.

Winchester served as the mayor of McKenzie, first elected in November 2002 at the age of 56.

He had graduated McKenzie High School, attended Bethel College and served four years in the U.S. Air Force as a communications specialist. He attained a bachelor’s degree in Recreational Administration and a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Georgia in 1974.

He worked as a civil servant from 1974 to 1995 in association with the U.S. Army and Navy. He had assignments in Alabama, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Italy, Germany, Australia, Scotland and Wales.

He moved his family from Wales to semi-retire in McKenzie, where he first worked with E.W. James Supermarket. That employment ended when he was elected as mayor.

Walter and wife, Kathy married in Kolding, Denmark. The beautiful little town in Denmark smelled of fresh cheese on that day. Walter announced his wedding through a postcard to his mom.

“Dear Mom,” it read, “Smelled some cheese, ate some fish, saw a castle and got married. Love, Bub.”

Winchester always had a sense of humor.

With each move, Kathy was able to use her background in education to teach.

Walter had a wonderful life of work and service. He recalled the time of growing up in McKenzie, one of nine siblings born to a sharecropper family. It was a simple life, with lots of hard work, but a cherished life of sharing the simple pleasures.

He and Kathy still continued to travel and serve their church, but always returned to his childhood home that they shared together.