Edward Jesse "EJ" King, Sr.

Edward Jesse “EJ” King, Sr., 86, passed away July 13, 2021 at AnMed Hospital in Anderson County, SC. EJ was the son of Charlie E. and Virgie Ball King of Leicester, NC.

He grew up in Western North Carolina, and was a backhoe/trackhoe operator for 35 years. After retiring in NC, he moved to Iva, SC and worked with his son Eddie King for 20+ years.

He loved to stay busy and enjoyed good health until the last several months. You could say with certainty that EJ loved, loved to work! He was a Navy veteran during the Korean Conflict. He also started several businesses associated with sanitation in the Asheville area.

EJ attended Grace Fellowship Baptist Church in the Asheville area for many years. He loved God’s work and even memorized many Bible passages in his eighties. He had a heart for missionary work and gladly supported their ministry. The last 12 years he attended Grace Baptist Church in Starr, SC and thoroughly enjoyed Pastor Mike Thomas and the church family.

Preceded him in death were his parents and an infant sister.

Surviving are his wife of 62 years, Wylma Jean Duckett King; daughter, Tamara Jean King of Greensboro, NC; son, Edward Jesse “Eddie” King, Jr., and wife Laura, of Iva, SC; two brothers, Charles and wife Margaret, of Asheville, and Gerald and wife Karon, of Leicester; sister, Shirley and husband Harold Roberts, of Leicester; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Monday, July 19, in the Patton Avenue chapel of Groce Funeral Home with Dr. Bob Doom, the Rev. Danny Hardin and Pastor Mike Thomas officiating. Interment will follow at Little Sandy Methodist Church Cemetery in Leicester, NC.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

Flowers will be welcomed. The cards, visits, phone calls and food are greatly appreciated by the family, and the support they have been shown at this time, and as they continue the many days without EJ, but looking forward to seeing EJ again and being at home with Jesus.