Hattie McKinney
Hattie Michelle McKinney has spent her life as an advocate. She was born a twin, sharing a middle name with her brother, Christopher Michael Clark. At 10 years old, Christopher was diagnosed with seizures and meningitis, sending him into a coma. He woke up after 28 days, but he could no longer talk, walk, or hear. While his parents did what they could to advocate for him, at 10 years old he was placed at the Arlington Developmental Center in Tennessee.
Christopher would remain there for 27 years, until the facility closed in 2005. He fell into the 12 most fragile patients of the 24 who left the facility. Christopher was placed on the Arlington Waiver, which offered home and community services programmed to his specific needs for the rest of his life.
He was moved into a home through the Arlington Waiver and was promised by the state that he would stay in a house for the 12 most fragile patients from Arlington. However, Christopher was then moved by the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities into another of their homes, something that never should have happened given the care that Christopher needs.
Ever since, Hattie has been relentless in ensuring Christopher gets the level of care he needs. Whether it is ensuring he gets the correct medications, proper nursing hours, or spending time with Christopher at the hospital, Hattie is always present to help Christopher. On days she isn’t available, her husband, Duncan, is always there to support Christopher.
Hattie first came to the Tennessee Justice Center in 2024 after concerns that Christopher would be removed from the Arlington Waiver. Hattie was also worried he may be moved to a new facility that lacked the quality of care necessary to take care of her twin brother.
TJC Staff Attorney Emily Jenkins intervened, and she coordinated with the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (now the Developmental Disabilities Administration) to ensure that Christopher would stay at his home. The Tennessee Justice Center continues to be a law firm that Hattie can rely on to help fight for Christopher’s needs and has assisted her several times since.
Hattie always considers Christopher to be a blessing and a true twin: “We parallel one another. It's been happening all throughout my life. If he had to move one week, I had to move the next. He gets a gift, I get a gift.” Christopher loves to smile, get a clean haircut, clap his hands, laugh, and eat healthy. Above all else, he loves his family, including his older brother, older sister, and Hattie.
Hattie has followed her mother’s role of taking care of others as a caregiver who values the lives of every person through her faith in Jesus Christ. She now works to advocate for her community as a Biblical counselor. She loves counseling and teaching others and is devout in her faith. She has dedicated her life not only to helping her brother, but to advocating and helping all those in her life.
The Tennessee Justice Center is honored to recognize Hattie McKinney as a 2026 Caregiver of the Year.
Photos by Cindy McMillion
Published in 2026
