33-year-old Ga. man who died of COVID-19 made final plea for friends to get vaccinated

SENOIA, Ga. — A 33-year-old Georgia man who died from COVID-19 used social media to make a final plea to his friends and family to get vaccinated.

Kevin McKenzie, of Senoia, died Sept. 2 at Piedmont Newnan Hospital after a three-week battle with the virus. He was not vaccinated.

On Aug. 24, McKenzie posted a photo from his hospital room, saying that he appreciated prayers but he needed something else from his friends and family.

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“Yes, there is something I want everyone to do for me that I was too damn stubborn to do, and that’s if you haven’t yet done so, go get your COVID vaccine,” McKenzie wrote.

McKenzie said that when he was admitted to the hospital, four different doctors told him they had not had to admit one single patient who was vaccinated.

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“Trust me you don’t want to be where I am now and as soon as I get over this I’ll be getting my vaccine,” he wrote.

McKenzie’s fiancée, Lori Minatree, said she hopes that post helped save lives.

“He won’t even know how his story saved so many lives because the amount of people who are getting vaccinated after hearing his battle!” Minatree wrote. “He was just 33 years old and had his whole life ahead of him.”

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McKenzie was described by family members as a fun loving guy who loved to ride his motorcycle, visit amusement parks, camping and being an adopted uncle to many of his friends’ children. He was also a father figure to Minatree’s two young daughters.

“With his adventurous, natural, and outgoing personality Kevin was a true friend to everyone,” family members said in his obituary.

McKenzie’s funeral is Sunday in Peachtree City. A group of fellow bikers plan to escort his body to the funeral home.

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