Daughter of ‘The McKameys’ gospel group founder reflects on mother’s legacy

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Family, friends, and gospel music listeners around the country are mourning the death of Peg McKamey Bean, one of the founding members of the East Tennessee-based family gospel group ‘The McKameys’.Connie Fortner said her mom grew up as a coal miner’s daughter in Campbell County.When asked how she would describe her mom, she said, “Energetic, enthusiastic, loved the Lord, and her life was just beaming all the time. She always had a smile for anybody.”Bean was one of 12 children and when her father wasn’t working in the coal mines, he was preaching to the masses. Connie explained, “Her two sisters and her started singing. Their dad was a preacher and they would go around to different revivals and sing,” She said, “He would preach and it just kind of got a little bigger and a little bigger, and when the two other sisters retired, me and my younger sister joined mom and dad.”The McKameys have won several music awards. Bean was even inducted into The Southern Gosp...