Joseph Arthur King Jr.
August 30, 1936 – February 19, 2020
Joseph Arthur King, Jr. born in Marion, Alabama, was the only child born to the late Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Arthur King, Sr. He grew up in Cannon Baptist Church in Bessemer, Alabama and accepted Christ at an early age.
He attended Carver Elementary School, Bessemer, Alabama and in 1953 graduated from Snow Hill Institute, Snow Hill, Alabama where he participated in football, basketball, and track & field. During his time at Snow Hill, he converted to the Catholic faith.
He received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Education Degrees in Health, Physical Education and Recreation from Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tennessee. His postgraduate study was completed at Bethel College, Cumberland University, and the University of Memphis.
His 55-year teaching career began in 1957 at Burrell Slater High School, Florence, Alabama. In 1960, he moved to Lexington, Tennessee where he taught at Montgomery High School. In 1963, he moved his family to Covington, Tennessee. From 1963 until 2011, he taught at several schools in Tipton County including Sadler Elementary School; George Ellis High School; Munford High School and Covington High School.
After moving to Covington in 1963, he became a member of Saint Alphonsus Catholic Church, where he was actively involved in local church activities as well as activities of the Catholic Diocese of Memphis.
His affiliations include: National Education Association, Tennessee Education Association, Tipton County Education Association (Past President), Tipton County/Covington Retired Teachers Association, Tennessee State University Alumni Association (Past Mid-South Regional Vice President), Tipton County Chapter Tennessee State University Alumni Association (Past President), Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated – inducted in 1954 at Alpha Theta Chapter at Tennessee State University, member of Knights of Columbus, and inducted into the Burrell Slater Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017.
He leaves to cherish his memory a loving and devoted wife of 61 years Josephine T. King; four children, Christopher (Traci) King of Nashville, Angela (Barry) Nixon of Nashville, Kim King of Atoka and Carol King of Nashville; three granddaughters Jennifer King of Tacoma, WA, Brianna King and Kristen Nixon of Nashville; five grandsons Brian King of New Orleans, LA, Joseph A. King III of Seattle, WA, Phillip Bradley, Nicholas Nixon, and Benjamin Nixon of Nashville, grand dog Zeus, great grand dogs Hershey and King, a host of family, friends, former colleagues, and far too many former students to count.
He was proceeded in death by his parents, and oldest child Randall A. King.
Public viewing will be held Friday, Feb. 28, from noon till 3 p.m. at Barlow Funeral Home. Family visitation will be held on Feb. 28, from 5- 7 p.m. at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, 1225 Higway 51, Covington. On Feb. 29, from 8-10 a.m. there will be a public viewing with services to start at 11 a.m., both at Covington High School Gymnasium, 803 South College St. Covington, Tenn.
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