Kenneth Granville King

Every English teacher I know will tell you, “When you tell a story, you must start at the beginning, follow up with supporting paragraphs, and then have a strong and relatable conclusion.” And this is the story of the life of Kenneth Grenville King, as only his wife calls him… or Ken King, as he introduces himself.

Geoffrey Chaucer, that notable British poet, popularized the saying, “from little acorns mighty oak trees grow,” and such was the life of Ken King. He came from very humble beginnings in a quiet village called Kiltearn on the east coast of Corentyne Berbice, in Guyana. I stress "quiet village" because, as you will discover, Kiltearn is now anything but quiet, and he, in part, has contributed to this change.

On January 13, 1945, Ken was born to his proud parents, Abraham and Princess. He spent his formative years being educated by some of the stalwarts of Guyana, and he sat and passed the entry certificate to become a teacher. However, he had many options for his first employment; he also gained entry to the Guyana Police Force and was about to take up that position when he got the opportunity to travel to London to pursue his studies. Of course, he chose the latter, and for the next 40 years, he resided in various parts of England.

This first journey ignited a passion for travel so that by the time of his death he could have boasted travel to every continent with his favorite countries being South Africa and Bolivia. However, it was while he was in London in 1970 that he met the then-Lynette Stuart, with whom he eloped. He has been her loving and devoted husband for the last 54 years.

Ken was multifaceted. He was one of those “larger-than-life” personalities.

He was a philanthropist: He gave of himself wherever he could.

A politician: He kept abreast of world news and local politics—especially in relation to education. In London, he was a force in the Croydon Black Forum, where he and other members of the community represented parents and students against unfair discrimination within the school system.

A union leader: Later, as a member of NATFHE (National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education), he became a Regional Representative. This was his passion—representing members, networking with colleagues, and negotiating with management on behalf of his union. He made many friends in this arena and remained in contact with most of them even after migrating to the U.S.A.

He was an orator: With that booming broadcaster’s voice, who wouldn’t listen when he spoke? He could command an audience, strike up a conversation out of nothing, and had no fear of discussing an issue publicly or leading a debate.

An entertainer: He was the life and soul of the party, a game player, a perfect host, and so much more.

He will be sorely missed by his family members: his brothers Oliver, Dennis, Winston, Jerome, and Neville; his sisters Jean and Doris; and his many cousins, including Averil, Marie, the two Vernas, Shelda, the two Myrnas, and many more. But most of all, he will be missed by his granddaughter, Mya; his daughter, Deborah; and his wife, Lynette. We thank God for the time we had with him and the memories we share, as well as for his legacy and the outpouring of love we have encountered at this time. May his soul rest in peace.

Visitation will be held at Hodges Funeral Home at Lee Memorial Park, 12777 State Road 82, Fort Myers, FL 33913, on June 2, 2026, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, followed by a Funeral Service at the same location on June 2, 2026, from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm. A small reception will follow services at the family's residence.

The Funeral Service will be livestreamed and may be viewed by visiting the following link: https://www.youtube.com/live/_Zgr6VM9HZk