Henry L. King

Henry L. King, age 79, of Dublin, Georgia, passed away on Monday, August 31, 2020.

Mr. King was a native of West Virginia, born November 27, 1940, to the late Harry King and the late Sarah Linville Craddock. Upon graduating from Barboursville High School, he attended the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, Ohio on a music scholarship, majoring in piano and organ performance. After leaving the conservatory, he opened up a piano and organ studio in Barboursville, West Virginia, and taught private piano and organ lessons there for twenty-four years. During that time, he also served as Director of Music at Steele Memorial United Methodist Church in Barboursville. He also worked as Music Therapist at the Barboursville State Hospital and helped develop the first music and camping program for mental patients in West Virginia.

In 1968 he returned to school and graduated from Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, where he majored in Music Education with an emphasis on piano and voice. Upon graduating, he became a certified Music Specialist in the State of West Virginia. He taught in the Cabell County School System until 1983. During that time, he also continued graduate work at Marshall University in music and counseling. He also became a member of the Phi Mu Alpha Music Honorary Fraternity and has still maintained that membership.

For four years, Mr. King taught vocal and instrumental at Salt Rock Jr. High and Elementary School followed by being a vocal and general music teacher at the Barboursville J. High School. During these years he was listed in Outstanding Teachers of America and Outstanding Young Men of America.

In 1972, he became a certified Director of Music under Diaconal Ministries of the United Methodist Church, and in 1983; he answered the call into full-time ministry. He moved to Owensboro, Kentucky to become Music Director for the George Phillips Evangelistic Association. Brother George was a full-time Methodist evangelist and he traveled extensively with him developing evangelistic crusade choirs throughout the United States.

In 1986 he accepted the position of Director of Youth and Music at St. John United Methodist Church in Owensboro, Kentucky. During this time he developed a District Choir in the United Methodist Church and was responsible for the music at Annual Conference. He accepted the position of Director of Youth and Music in 1988 at the McRae United Methodist Church in McRae, Georgia. After being there for one year, he accepted a position as Director of Music Ministries at First United Methodist Church in Dublin, Georgia. While there he coordinated all of the music programs in the church which included the Cherub, Melody, Surrender, Chancel, and Handbell Choirs, and sometimes a Senior Adult Choir. He also directed the music for the Dublin District Campmeeting for a number of years.

 Mr. King was currently the Director of Worship Music at Jefferson Street Baptist Church in Dublin, Georgia, and worked at the Dublin Country Club. He was an Honorary Member of the Dublin Rotary Club and President for the Heart of Georgia Community Concert Association.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia Warden King, of Dublin, Georgia, whom he married in 1961. He is also survived by his special nieces, Michele Gervais and her husband, Michael, of Jacksonville, Florida, and Patti Harden and her husband, Curt, of Cape Coral, Florida, and many other nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held for Mr. King on Thursday, September 3, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. at Jefferson Street Baptist Church. Rev. Kyle Giddens, Rev. Darren Talley, and Rev. Bob Williams will officiate. The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until the service hour at the church. The family requests no flowers, and instead, memorial contributions are made in his memory to Jefferson Street Baptist Church, 201 North Jefferson Street, Dublin, GA 31021.

Townsend Brothers Funeral Home and Staff respectfully ask all in attendance to follow social distancing guidelines and masks are encouraged.

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