A visitation will be held at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, located at 4071 Macon Road, Columbus, GA, 31907, on January 18, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 2:50 pm, a celebration of life service will follow at 3:00 pm.
Burial will be on Monday January 19, 2026 in Parkhill Cemetery at 10:00 AM
Born in LaGrange, GA. to Buel Cohen Arnett and Mattie Kate Prather Arnett, she and her family would soon move to Fairfax, AL where she attended school and lived until marrying her husband, James Lanier King, who had just returned home from serving in the US Navy. She was a loving and caring wife, mother, and grandmother, She and Lanier were “golden” members of Wynnbrook Baptist Church where she was a proud deacon’s wife and active in many church activities. For many years, Opal worked in the nursery, often speaking about how she was now watching babies, or even grandbabies, of babies that she had watched in the nursery years before. She was an outstanding a matriarch to her large family of five boys, two girls, and many grandchildren which she cherished deeply. Opal would spend hours in attempt to get all of her large family together for a holiday gathering, enjoying good food and desserts, opening Christmas or birthday presents, or hunting eggs for Easter. Many fun days were had in her home. Opal was devoted not only to her on mother, but also to Lanier’s mother, both of whom would live with them in their aging years. Opal has also taken care of her dependent sister, Kathryn, providing a home for her.
In addition to her parents, Opal was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Lanier King, two sons, Lanny and Jamie King, a daughter and her husband, Vickie and Dr. George Stephenson and a daughter in law, Patricia King.
Opal was a graduate of Valley High School, in Fairfax (Valley), AL. She raised seven children. For forty plus years without a break, from the day her oldest started 1st grade to the day her youngest graduated from college, Opal would fix breakfasts, pack lunches, and get them off to school. With as many as six in the house at one time with she picked them up after school from band practice, cheerleader practice, football practice, often driving her large station wagon in circles between different elementary schools, middle schools, and a high schools.
As if raising seven kids wasn’t enough, she began working in retail sales in stores like Rich’s and Davidson’s in Atlanta, and and then in Columbus at Kirven’s and Mansour’s Even after semi-retirement, she returned to work at Pier One Imports. Working in women’s apparel was her expertise and thus many ladies around Columbus were fond of her and would request her assistance. Opal always dressed the part and was a beautiful lady, proud of her career. She kept a miraculous looking yard, full of flowers and ornamentals, showing the green thumb she inherited from her mother. Her home was spotless and every bed was always made.
Opal loved traveling. She and Lanier along with lifelong friends, Helon and Tommy Magouirk, went on many vacation trips in their camper and on cruises. These trips included the Florida Keys, the Grand Canyon, San Fransico, Seattle, and Niagara Falls and the White House. Opal loved the beach but would be the last one to leave the motel room after cleaning up breakfast dishes and the first back to the room to prepare dinner. She loved doing for others. Besides being active in her church, she and Lanier were leaders in the Muscogee Chapter of Civitan International, and also founded a group called “The Valley High School Combined Classes Reunion” of which, each year as a graduating class reached their golden anniversary, the alumni would be added to the membership. They maintained a mailing list sending out extremely informative newsletters to each member and also bereavement list, which sadly, as life is, became longer and longer as the years went by.
She was a huge Braves fan and would spend every night pulling for her team unless they started losing. At that time, she’d get up saying she had more important things to do and go to the kitchen.
Opal is survived by her children Mike (Joy), Debbie, Randy (Beth) King of Columbus, GA, Tim (Renee) King of Pensacola, FL; and a daughter-in-law Shelley (John) Bogenshultz of Union, KY.
Surviving grandchildren are Steven King of Lima, Ohio, Charles King of Columbus, GA, Arrianne (Jud) Faircloth of Box Springs, GA, Stacy (Greg) Tate of Chattanooga, TN, Brandon Stephenson of Columbus, GA, Ryan (Pam) Stephenson of Seattle, WA, Aaron (Che-Na) Stephenson of Damascus, PA, James (Farress) King of Columbus, GA, Mattie (Hunter) Miller of Cleveland, GA., Jamie (Tamara), and Tony King of Seale, AL, Trevor, Madison, and Avery King of Pensacola, FL, Justin King of Cannon AFB, NM, Dameron Ervin of Lincolnton, NC, Sierra Ervin of Pensacola, FL, and Holden (Ashley) Ervin of Mobile, AL, Daniel King, Luke and Jackson Bogenshultz of Union, KY, many great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
Opal will be remembered for her warmth and kindness, always busy and hardworking, caring for the needs of others, always wishing and wanting the best for her family and last but not least, for her unending love and devotion to her husband.
