Genealogy and History of the King Family
The World War I Draft Registration Card of Garry DeVon King lists his date of birth as April 27, 1875. His occupation is listed as farmer and lawyer, and his nearest relative as his mother Mrs. Catherine King. He is of medium height and build, with brown hair and light eyes.
From the New Orleans Time-Picayune, June 29, 2007.
William R. McCook, Sr. passed on Sunday, June 24, 2007 in New Orleans, LA. Born in Columbus, Georgia he lived 83 years raising a family, teaching, acting in Community Theater, working and spent many days in the sun and rain playing tennis. William (Bill) served his country in the Army, graduated from Centenary College in Shreveport, LA and received his Master’s from Tulane University in 1950.
He is loved and missed by 2 children: Bill Jr. and Ann; 2 grandchildren: Elizabeth and Kate; his brother and sisters; 2 sisters-in-law; and many nieces and nephews whose lives he influenced with his love, integrity and education. He will be missed.
Services will be held in Shreveport, Louisiana on Friday, July 6th, 2007 at 1:30 p.m. in Forest Park Cemetery, St. Vincent Avenue, through Osborn Funeral Home, Shreveport, Louisiana. In his memory, donations may be sent to Tulane University with memo to the William R. McCook Sr. Memorial Fund, attn: Gift Acounting, 3439 Prytania St., Ste. 200, New Orleans, LA 70115.
From the San Antonio Light, April 7, 1968.
Mrs. Dicie King, age 86, of 203 W. Ridgewood, died Friday at a local hospital.
Survivors: Daughters, Mrs. Cecil Mauldin, San Antonio, Mrs. C. G. Bare, Denver, Colo., Mrs. Florence Roberts, Monroe, La., Mrs. Dee King, Batesville, Tex.,; a number of grandchildren including, Velion Moore, Edward Moore, Floyd Moore, Donald Moore, Mrs. Wade Wiley, all of San Antonio; and a number of great-grandchildren.
The body will be sent Sunday morning to the Mulhearn Funeral Home, Monroe, La. for service Monday afternoon at 3 o’clock. Interment in Riverview Cemetery, Monroe, La.
From the Sabine County Reporter, April 6, 2011.
Mrs. Inez Sparks was born January 31, 1926 in Hemphill, Texas, to Bronson and Marie (Patterson) King. She entered into rest on March 30, 2011 in a Tyler Hospital.
She was retired from San Augustine ISD where she had worked for many years as a teachers aid. She was a member of the Bridge Club and a member of First United Methodist Church in San Augustine.
She is survived by her son H.B. Sparks and his wife Charlotte of Center; daughter Debra Adkins of Tenaha; grandchildren Ashley Golden and D.D., Hillary Sparks, Tanya Byley, Clifton Byley and Amanda, Winter Ogeda, Tiffany Anderson, Timothy; 10 great-grandchildren; sisters Charlotte Walker and Trent of Lufkin; sisters-in-law Betty Jean Cartwright, Frances Maxwell, Claudine Selden, Agnes Sparks; numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by parents; husband Hugh Sparks.
Funeral services will be Sunday, April 3, 2011 at 3:00 P.M. in Wyman Roberts Memorial Chapel with Sara Barbaree and Bro. Jim Moss officiating and burial in Liberty Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be Saturday April 2, 2011 from 5:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. at Wyman Roberts Funeral Home.
King’s School of Aviation was originally started by Gary Wood King, the eldest son of Big John “B.J.” King and Marie Allen King. Gary Wood King died in a plane crash in Virginia in 1947 while on a charter trip with three Army officers. See an article about this tragic accident here. His brothers Jack and Dean took over the business and kept it running for Gary Wood King’s widow Rachel and their young twin daughters.
The King’s School of Aviation was sold by Rachel King in 1948 to brothers George Dean Allen King and John “Jack” Allen King. It was located at the original Columbus Municipal Airport on Victory Drive in Columbus, Georgia, which had only a sod runway. Flying courses were offered, and licensed pilots could rent a plane for the day.
The Fort Benning Sport Parachute Club, the forerunner of the Fort Benning Command Exhibition Parachute Team, performed its first demonstration jump over the King’s School of Aviation. On February 14, 1959, Major Thomas Waldie exited a Cessna aircraft at 6,000 feet in support of the Columbus March of Dimes campaign. He performed a figure eight, opened his main canopy at 2,000 feet, and landed in front of the crowd.
Dean purchased his brother’s interest in the business and became the sole owner, running it with the help of his wife Mary Poole King. Dean’s son Gary Wood King (a name shared with both his uncle and his great-grandfather) was said to be an excellent pilot and plans were for him to inherit the school from his father, but he died in an automobile accident at the age of 15. In 1969 the school was closed and moved to the current Columbus Airport location. The original metal hangar can still be seen at the corner of Jackson Avenue and Victory Drive, and as of 2013 it was in use as an auto body shop.
Photo used with permission of Paul Freeman. Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields
Many thanks to my cousin Henry Lee “Harry” King for his corrections and additions to this story.
From the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, February 17, 2012.
PATRICIA KING JEFFERSON died on February 14, 2012 at Southwest Christian Care, Union City, Ga. Pat, one of seven children, was born May 20, 1923 to BJ and Marie Allen King of Columbus, Ga. She is preceded in death her husband Reverend Hugh M. Jefferson; sisters; Mary Allen King Thomas, and Catherine Alice King Binns; brothers; Gary Wood King, John Allen King, and G. Dean Allen King and 2 nephews. She is survived by her brother Henry Lee (“Harry”) King of Clearwater, FL, 15 dearly beloved nieces and nephews whom she nurtured as her own; 27 great nieces and nephews and 6 great-great nieces and nephews.
Pat attended Wynnton Elementary and Columbus High School (CHS) and was a long time member of Wynnton Methodist Church. She was active with lead rolls in CHS plays and later directed The Christian Fellowship productions. She was a Drama Major at the University of Georgia, graduating in 1945. She went on to study at the University of North Carolina, Northwestern U and in New York City. She then returned to Columbus where she worked in sales at WRBL and was the star in the radio program: “Chat with Pat”. After many years, she became a speech teacher at Andrew College, in Cuthbert, GA where she met and married Hugh Jefferson, a retired Presbyterian Minister who was also on the faculty. Their greatest joys together were serving in Camp Fartherest Out, a Christian Lay organization. Since her husband’s death, Pat has worshipped at the First Baptist Church, Cuthbert.
A memorial services will be held on Sunday February 19, 2012 at 3:00PM at First Baptist Church of Cuthbert with Reverend Tom McClendon officiating. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the music ministry of First Baptist Church, Cuthbert.
From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, July 4, 2010.
BINNS, Alice Mrs. Catherine Alice King Binns, 94, of Columbus, died Friday, July 2, 2010 at St. Francis Hospital. Graveside services will be 11:00 A.M. Monday, July 5, 2010 in Parkhill Cemetery with Rev. Helen Berenthien officiating according to Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 4071 Macon Road, Columbus. The family will receive friends Monday from 10am until 10:30am at the funeral home.
She was born on September 13, 1915, in Cusseta, Georgia, daughter of the late Mrs. Marie Allen King. Mrs. Binns was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Joseph Marion Binns, her son, Dr. Allen Davis Binns, her grandson, Allen Davis Binns, Jr., and her granddaughter, Erika Marie Binns.
Survivors are two sons, Joseph M. Binns, Jr. (Carol), Michael John Binns (Susan); a daughter, Catherine Alice Binns Johnpeer; and a daughter-in-law, Susan Nevels Binns, widow of Allen Binns; seven grandchildren, Elizabeth (Beth) Binns Henley, Joseph Marion Binns III, Ward Mobley Binns, James Ellis Redd, Mary Railey Binns, Katherine Renate Binns, Grant Leslie Johnpeer; two great-grandchildren, Michael Henley and Hunter Johnpeer; and two sisters, Mary Allen Thomas and Patricia (Pat) Jefferson, and a brother Henry L. (Harry) King.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to your favorite charity.
From the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, November 7, 2011.
After a long, fulfilling dedicated and devoted Christ centered life marked by dignity, strength, grace, beauty and love, Mary Allen King Thomas passed away on November 4, 2011 at the age of 97 to be with her Lord and Savior.
She was born in Haloca, Chattahoochee County, GA near Cusseta on February 7, 1914 to the late John and Marie Allen King. She attended Wynnton Grammar School in Columbus and graduated from Columbus High School in 1932, where she was very active in the Drama Club and also a member of the GLEE Club. She went to Industrial High, a vocational school for business trades, and graduated July 1933. She assisted with a kindergarten class at Wynnton School and later went on to be the assistant to the manager of the Georgia Power Company in Richland, GA in 1935. She worked for Spencer Insurance Company until after Pearl Harbor in 1941, when she left to go on to work in the Adjutant General’s office, The Infantry School, as a civil service Stenographer. She became Special Order Clerk overseeing the assignment of enlisted personnel coming into the Infantry School and transferring them out upon completion of classes. At the height of the war she coordinated troop movements to the Ports of embarkation. On occasion, she acted as secretary to General Omar Bradley, Commandant of the Infantry School at that time.
In 1943 Mary Allen married George Russell Thomas in Wynnton Methodist Church, which his father, The Reverend G.W. Thomas helped found in 1928. They both were very active in the church and have a long legacy there. In 1947, and for the following eleven years, Mrs. Thomas was secretary to A. Illges, President and Chairman of the Board at Swift Spinning Mills. After the birth of her daughter, she resigned from her position with the desire to become a full time mother.
Mrs. Thomas and her husband accumulated several rental properties in Columbus, which they managed together. She later attended Columbus College majoring in Psychology, also with a concentration of History, Literature and Philosophy. She also enjoyed tennis, walking, dancing and ballet classes.
While a member of Wynnton Methodist Church, Mary Allen taught kindergarten, Junior Department Classes, played the piano, was President of the Epworth League as well as Recording Secretary of the Columbus District Epworth League and also accompanied the District Director on official trips. She has also been President of the Wesleyan Service Guild, Director of Vacation Bible School, a member and Recording Secretary of the Columbus Business and Professional Women’s Club. Mrs. Thomas was a former member of C.A.L.L., The Woman’s Club and Prime Timers at St. Paul Methodist Church.
After her husband’s death, Mrs. Thomas joined the First Presbyterian Church where she was a member of The Calvin Reid Class, Circle 4 and the Theology and Literature Group.
Mary Allen’s life was rich of knowledge from a life time of learning. She loved keeping up with the world, national and local news, politics and the economy. She loved life and had a genuine interest in everyone she met.
We are thankful for her life as a wonderful, giving and always loving mother, grandmother and wife. For the guidance, inspiration and encouragement she gave to us and the examples she set. She loved much and was loved much.
Other than her parents Mrs. Thomas was preceded in death by her husband, George R. Thomas, a sister, Alice King Binns, three brothers, Gary Wood King, John Allen King, George Dean King and many, many other dear friends and relatives.
She is survived by her daughter, Eugenia Marie Thomas Shaw, a granddaughter, Kelli Lauren Southerland, one sister, Patricia King Jefferson of Cuthbert, GA, a brother, Henry Lee King and his wife Shirley of Clearwater, FL, a half-sister, Arleen King Beasley of Virginia Beach, VA and many nieces, nephews and loving and caring friends.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at 2:00 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, Columbus, GA with the Reverend Charles Hasty officiating with interment following at Riverdale Cemetery. The family will receive friends Monday, November 7, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary on Macon Road.
Donations in memory of Mary may be given to First Presbyterian Church, Columbus Hospice or the charity of your choice.
From the Stewart-Webster Journal, March 7, 1940.
Hon. Charles N. King Chattahoochee Citizen Passes.
Prominent Citizen Claimed by Death After Long Illness.
Charles N. King, age 70, prominent Chattahoochee County citizen, died at his home at Cusseta Wednesday morning after an illness of three months duration with heart trouble. He had been a citizen of Chattahoochee county for fifty – two years and was one of the leading citizens of the county, and has held some
of the most prominent offices of the county.During the past few years, Mr. King has devoted his time to his farming interests. He was a son of the late William King and Georgia Ann Dennard. Surviving him are his wife, one son Joe King and one daughter, Mrs. S. J. Patterson, Jr. He was a member of the Cusseta Baptist Church and was also a member of the Chattahoochee Board of Commissioners.
Funeral services were conducted at the Cusseta Baptist Church Thursday morning with the Rev. R. L. Bivins and Dr. Wood officiating.
Interment was made at the Cusseta Cemetery.
The pall bearers were H. W. Sappinton, C. R. Manifee, Walter Bird, Dixon Smith, A. E. Johnson, Henry Harp, Eugene Willis and Moley Culpepper.
The Davis Funeral Home of Richland had charge of the funeral arrangements.
This World War II Flying Tigers bomber jacket belonged to Hal Foster King. He was a pilot in the 23d Fighter Group, based in China during World War II and tasked with air defense of the Chinese terminus of the “Hump” route.
The first patch shown is the famous “Flying Tiger” emblem of the 23d Fighter Group. Next is the “Tiger Shark” emblem of the 75th Fighter Squadron, one of the three original squadrons in the 23d Fighter Group. On the shoulder is the China-Burma-India Theater patch.
Learn more about the 23d Fighter Group on Wikipedia.
This jacket is currently in the King-Fisher Sisters’ Collection.