Mr. Clarence King Jr.

Clarence Raymond King Jr. was known to many by many names. Whether it was Daddy, “Papa King”, (Uncle) June, Pop, King or his personal favorite… Grandpa, you knew exactly who he was the minute he walked into any room and flashed that smile! But no matter what you may have known him by, anyone who truly knew him knew that on December 19, 2022, after nearly six years of being apart, he was reunited with his rock and heartbeat of 40+ years, Joann. Clarence was born on June 4,1953 to Clarence Raymond King, Sr. and Mildred Elizabeth Keelen King in New Orleans, Louisiana. He grew up as one of four children including two older sisters and a younger brother and attended high school at Joseph S. Clark where he graduated in 1971 with distinction. He loved his city, the food, the New Orleans Saints, and he loved to write. He was a very gifted poet and had a relationship with words that few others would have. In 1978, he would meet the woman that would help define the rest of his life and existence, Joann. They would go on to raise three beautiful children, Brittney Jamira, Melvin Joseph, and Bryan Romallis. Together they would become pillars of their church community, regardless of their residence with Clarence, serving on multiple deacon boards as he felt most comfortable serving the Lord in this capacity. Joann, their kids and the church would be the most important things in his life. In 2005, Clarence and Joann evacuated New Orleans, and settled in Lawrenceville, Georgia due to Hurricane Katrina. Here, he was able to reestablish his employment with the United States Postal Service, for whom he had worked for 20+ years at this point and was able to find a new church home at Friendship Baptist church. His personality and humble disposition would help him settle in without skipping a beat. Once again, they became entrenched in the church community where he would serve on the deacon board and direct the Youth Ministry with his better half. His past experiences in New Orleans, and his subsequent migration to Georgia, would give him quite a story to tell. He began to write about his experiences and detail these experiences in the form of literary prose. He used the pain of having to leave his lifelong home in New Orleans and chronicled it in his poetry. His works would later be published, now adding the title ‘Author’ to his already extensive list of accomplishments. “Out of the Abyss: From Cradled Innocence to Caged Intolerance” is the result of multiple decades of hard work and pain. It is one of the accomplishments for which he was most proud. Clarence leaves to cherish his memory, his daughter Brittney of whom he was always very proud of, his two sons Melvin and Bryan, his two beautiful grandchildren whom he adored, Paris (10) and Preston (9), and his daughters-in-law Melinda (Bryan) and Belinda (Reginal). He also leaves siblings Anita Welch (Eli), Jacqueline Vaughn (Lloyd) and Elston King (Imogene) and a host of nieces and nephews including Joanna Kathryn Welch, Lloyd Christopher Vaughn (Nia), Eli Welch III (Allison), Lisa Anita Vaughn Riggs (Hubert), Michael Henderson Welch (Brynita) and Lori Elizabeth Vaughn. He also lives behind many other extended family, including brothers-in-law Lionel (Lottie) Marco, Allen (Cathy) Marco, Donald (Gwendolyn) Marco, Hal Marco, David Marco, Dean Marco, and Gregory (Kecia) Marco; sisters-in-law Diane Dexter, Barbara Duggan, Donna Marco, Gwendolyn Odom, Carolyn (Samuel) Richardson and Vanessa Salmon. He is also survived by a host of other great nieces and nephews, as well as other dear friends and family. Clarence will forever be remembered in our hearts and minds after God has blessed us with him for 69 years. But God and “Mama King” needed him more. His love, smile, generosity, and compassion will never be forgotten. His memory will live on through those of us that are left behind and will forever be immortalized in his book. We will love and miss him dearl Services entrusted to Gregory B. Levett & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory Lawrenceville 770-338-5558

Tributes

Mr. Clarence King Jr.

June 4, 1953 - December 19, 2022