Fred Douglas King

Deacon Fred Douglas King was the seventh born of 14 children to the late Henry Lee King Sr. and Bessie Lee (Burns) King in Saint Pauls, North Carolina, July 21, 1949. He died at 9:19 a.m. Monday, Oct. 25, 2021, at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Fred was educated in the Bladen County School in Tar Heel, North Carolina. He was the first black male to graduate from Tar Heel High School. In December 1968, Fred enlisted in the United States Air Force and served in the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1970. He met the love of his life, Deborah "Sweet Potata" (Andrews) King; they were married on June 5, 1971, and have been married for over 50 years. From this union, they had four children, Rochelle Hemingway (Dominic Hemingway), Yolanda King, Athena Beaty and Maximilliano Raimundo King. Growing up, Fred was highly ambitious and worked very hard in the tobacco fields and on the farm. Prior to military service, Fred started driving 18-wheeler tractor-trailers from Bell Glade, Florida, to Montreal, Canada, hauling watermelons. Fred, affectionally referred to many as "Sarge," honorably served in the United States Air Force for 22 years and retired in February 1991. He also worked at Delphi Electronics for 17 years. After retirement, he was extremely active in the community. Fred was a self-made business man; he rented out and owned real estate, ran a lawn care business, repaired small cars and tractor engines. Fred will always be remembered for serving and treating everyone like family; he knew no stranger and he had a fiery spirit. He was a faithful man of God and loved his church family. Fred and his family have been members of Second Missionary Baptist Church for over 35 years. He served as a deacon, worked in the audiovisual department, led the bus ministry, volunteered at Vacation Bible School and whatever else needed to be done. Fred was also a member of the NAACP Kokomo Chapter 3055 and part of a veterans support group. His grandchildren, Dominique Beaty, Kierah Beaty, Ellana Beaty and Andrew Hemingway referred to him as "Papa." They were his pride and joy, and they loved him so much. "Papa" enjoyed spending time watching them play sports, taking them to get ice cream, attending school events and passing lifelong wisdom. Fred was preceded in death by six brothers and sisters-in-law, Leonard (Francis), Willie (Alma), Nathaniel (Myrtle), Henry Jr. (Lillian), Anthony and Thurman. He leaves to cherish his memory his beloved wife, Deborah; four children, Rochelle and Dominic (son-in-law) Hemingway, of Odenton, Maryland, Yolanda E. King, of West Palm Beach, Florida, Athena V. Beaty, of Kokomo, Maximilliano Raimundo King, of Kokomo; four grandchildren, Dominique Beaty, Kierah Beaty, Ellana Beaty (all of Kokomo) and Andrew Hemingway, of Odenton, Maryland; brothers, Harry (Ramsey), of District of Columbia, Charles (Rose Marie), of Hyattsville, Maryland, Thomas (Tersea), of Raeford, North Carolina; first cousin who grew up like brothers, Frank E. Burns Jr. (Judy), of St. Pauls, North Carolina; brothers-in-law, David Andrews, of Angola, Indiana, and Theotis Prosser (Karen), of Leo, Indiana; sisters, Sadie Sanders (Robert), of District of Columbia, Patricia Purdie (Willie Sr.), of St. Pauls, North Carolina, Linda Faye Cunningham (Michael), of District of Columbia, Sharon Edwards-King (Leonard), of St. Pauls, North Carolina; and sisters-in-law, JoAnn Thompson, of Auburn, Indiana and Patricia; as well as host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and many friends. Services will be Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, at Second Missionary Baptist Church, 819 N. Apperson Way. Viewing is from 9-11 a.m. with homegoing services starting at 11 a.m. Officiating will be the Rev. Dr. William J. Smith Jr. and eulogist, Dr. Robert A. Lee. Final internment will be Monday, Nov. 8, 2021, in Marion National Cemetery, Marion, Indiana. CDC guidelines will be enforced. Masks are required. TO WATCH LIVE CLICK HERE