Deacon Henry King, Jr. of 901 South 14th Street, Cordele, Georgia died Thursday, January 4, 2024 at his residence.

Th funeral service will be held Sunday, January 14, 2024 at 1:00 PM in the sanctuary of the Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church in Cordele, Georgia.  The burial will follow at the Bethel Cemetery in Cordele, Georgia.

The life journey of Henry King, Jr. began on Thursday, January 27, 1938.  He was born to Henry King, Sr. and Gussie Mae Telfair in Crisp County, Georgia.

Henry's spiritual walk began early at the Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church.  He grew up attending Sunday School and over the years he     continued to develop spiritually.  His journey would lead him to work in many capacities of the church.

His love for the Lord was paramount.  He was set aside and became an ordained deacon.  "Deacon Kane," as he was affectionately known, never tired in his commitment to serve the Lord.  Whether teaching Sunday School, serving on the finance committee, singing in the Male Chorus,   encouraging the youth, or leading prayer service, Deacon King always tried to lead by example.

One of his greatest joys was his time of preparation for Sunday morning worship.  He believed in studying his Sunday School lesson and being prepared to expound on the lesson.  He also believed that his role as a   deacon was to support and lend a voice to the worship service.  It was no doubt that his "voice" would be heard.  A lover of the hymns, he sang with enthusiasm the great hymns of the church.

Many of the relationships he developed as a child in the public schools of Crisp County would last a lifetime.  Up until recently, he enjoyed almost weekly conversations with his classmates from the A. S. Clark High School Class of 1958.

Long before GPS, there was the road atlas and map; nobody could plan a trip or tell you which road to take better than Henry King.   For years, he would travel across the states, always planning his stops along the way.  He especially enjoyed the summers, when he would take his vacation away from Rooney Bowen Chevrolet where he worked as a mechanic.

Henry enjoyed his life and shared so many precious and wonderful moments with his beloved wife, Alberta.  Together, they traveled and shared life's experiences.  A constant joy and inspiration to one another, they were blessed with many wonderful years together until her passing on March 8, 2013.

On Thursday morning, January 4, 2024, Henry's earthly life ended peacefully at his home.  A home filled with so many wonderful memories of watching the Atlanta Braves while sitting on the back porch.  Henry is also preceded in death by his parents, Henry King, Sr. and Gussie Mae (John) Rogers and his siblings, Alphonso, Johnnie Mae, James, Ceasar, and Walter.

The journey will be cherished by his beloved and caring son, Nathaniel (Susan) Rhodes of Oglethorpe, Georgia; his beloved grandchildren, Rosalind West, Rosina (Quentin) Johnson, and Ca'Trin (Tiffany) Rhodes; 21 great grandchildren; his loving and devoted sisters, Wilhelmina R.  Williams, Alberta (Donald) Hamilton, and Rose J. Rogers of Cordele,  Georgia; his caring brothers, John L. Rogers and George Rogers of Cordele, Georgia and Bobby (Almetia) Rogers of Vienna, Georgia; his uncle, Augusta Telfair, Jr. of Cordele, Georgia; his beloved cousins, Rose Oakes of Bronx, New York and Gloria (Clarence) Sias of Miami, Florida; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many sorrowing friends, to include, Jerry Haddock, Harold Reese, as well as the members of the    Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church.