MURFREESBORO -- Funeral services were held Friday afternoon, May 15 at the Woodfin Memorial Chapel in Rutherford County for Rev. King, formerly of Wilson County.

The son of the late William Benton and Dora Ann Johnson King Richardson, the longtime Southern Baptist preacher died May 12, 2009.

After growing up in Trousdale and Wilson Counties, he pastored Smith Fork Baptist in Statesville, Greenvale Baptist in Norene, Silverville Baptist in Williams, Indiana, First Baptist Church in Smithville, Homestead Baptist in Crossville, West View Baptist in Cookeville and was instrumental in the startup of Southeast Baptist in Murfreesboro where he pastured for some 17 years.

From 1977 to 1988 Rev. King served as the Brotherhood Director of the Tennessee Baptist Convention where he played a key role in the organization of the Tennessee Baptist Convention’s Disaster Relief Program.

With a passion for missions, he undertook mission trips to Uganda, Kenya, East Africa, Jamaica, Upper Volta, Venezuela, Egypt and in the United States to Ohio, Oklahoma with the Cherokee Indians, Michigan and Wyoming.

Services were conducted by Rev. Donald Owen with burial at Roselawn Memorial Gardens.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years Mary Catherine Riggs King: children Dennis (Raylene), Claude (Reta), Phil (Kathy), Marsha Flinn (Jeff), Avery (Lynda), and Keith. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, Rev. King was preceded in death by sister Ann Lois King Rouse. His sons and son-in-law served pallbearers. Members of the Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief Teams served as honorary pallbearers.

In addition to his parents, Rev. King was preceded in death by sister Ann Lois King Rouse.

Woodfin Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.