MARTHA MCPHAIL KING
Died May 2, 2008
MOUNT OLIVE -- Mrs. Martha McPhail King, 86, of 420 Norbert Wilson St., Mount Olive, died Friday May 2, 2008, at Sunbridge of Mount Olive. Mrs. King had been in declining health for the last several years.
Born in Yadkin County, she was daughter of the late Harvey Campbell and Mary Benbow McPhail of Mount Olive. Her childhood years, as well as most of her adult life, were spent in the Mount Olive community. After graduation from Mount Olive High School, she attended Woman's College of Greensboro, graduating in 1941 with a teaching degree in business education. Her first employment was at Clemmons High School in Forsyth County. Mrs. King taught several years in the public schools of North Carolina prior to her marriage. She was a well-known teacher of adult business classes which were offered at night by Mount Olive College during its formative years.
Mrs. King retired from Wayne County Public Schools after serving as secretary/bookkeeper for both Southern Wayne High School and Mount Olive Middle School during her tenure. She was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church of Mount Olive, which her grandfather, Joseph R. McPhail, helped to found.
Throughout the years she served her church diligently, serving in many capacities. She was a past Sunday school and Bible school teacher, past chairperson and president of United Methodist Women, past member of Board of Stewards, an officer in the Women's Society Organization, and long-time director of the Spiritual Life Prayer Group.
Mrs. King, the widow of Eddice Randolph King, is survived by six children and their spouses; Marianne K. Bishop and husband, Bob, of New Bern, Randolph McPhail King and wife, Jackie, of Kenley, William Benbow King and wife, Martha, of Mount Olive, Thomas Harvey King and wife, Debbie, of Charlotte, Olivia K. Strickland and husband, Donnie, of Goldsboro, and Sue K. Davis and husband, Ronnie, of Mount Olive; a sister, Mary Edythe McPhail of Greensboro. She also leaves nine grandchildren, Perri Jacquelyn King of Greenville, Parker McPhail King of Kenly, Heather King Coffey of Spring Hope, Elizabeth King Quigley of Plainfield, Ill., Leslie King Fticsar of Suffolk, Va., Rusty Campbell King of Oceanside, Calif., Jamie Strickland Crawford of Goldsboro, Mary Edythe Strickland of Goldsboro, and Erin Brette Davis of Mount Olive; two step-grandchildren, Dawn Crawford Stribble and Mathew Crawford both of Mount Olive. Mrs. King is survived by seven great-grandchildren, and three step-great grandchildren. In addition to her husband and parents, she is preceded in death by a step-grandson, Eric Crawford.
The funeral will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Mount Olive on Monday at 11 a.m. with Dr. Dennis Draper officiating. Burial will follow in Maplewood Cemetery in Mount Olive. The family will receive friends at Tyndall Funeral Home on Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m., and at other times they will be at the home of Ben and Martha King at 235 Smith Chapel Road, Mount Olive. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First United Methodist of Mount Olive, 120 E. James St., Mount Olive, N.C., 28365.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on May 4, 2008 2:09 PM