Alice Neal King, beloved wife, mom, “Nana”, faithful friend, closed her eyes for the last time to this world on March 17, 2023 and opened them in the presence of Jesus. She slipped quietly away in Bossier City, LA at 84 years old, after a short battle with cancer. We will miss her every minute of every day to come.
Alice Neal was born in Shelby, MS and lived most of her young life in various areas in the Mississippi Delta, where her father managed plantations. Her family eventually put down roots in Indianola MS where she met a young man named Jimmy King. They graduated from High School together and struck up a romance on their Senior Trip. A romance, as it turned out, that led to a 64 year marriage between best friends.
Alice filled her life with investing in her family, teaching Sunday School, mentoring women and even worked as a Preschool teacher for a few years. She faithfully served Waller Baptist Church for 33 years as the Pastor’s Secretary, and retired from that role in 2016. In those years some precious relationships formed and lasted through Rook playing road trips and game nights filled with laughter and love. Though retirement was slower and quieter, these last few years still found her faith in Jesus strong and her spirit content.
Alice was gracious and warm, an avid reader and a passionate student of Scripture. She was the perfect complement and companion to Jimmy, but never his partner in Rook. She was cheerleader, prayer warrior and coach to her children and grandchildren. She was teacher and counselor and friend to many, always available to listen, encourage and speak truth to a struggling heart. Her faith was her foundation and held her strong through all the challenges of marriage, motherhood, ministry and work.
Alice is survived by her loving husband of almost 65 years, Jimmy King (Bossier City, LA); her two sons, Andy King (Angola, LA), Chris King and wife, Janice (Flower Mound, TX); and 2 daughters, Lisa King Horn, widow of Peter Horn (Leander TX), and Carol King Andersen and husband Mark (Bossier City LA). She leaves behind 8 grandchildren, all of whom dearly love her –Jared Horn (Dallas TX); Jami Goodlin (San Antonio TX); Jessi Kearns (Kerrville TX); Evie Schonfarber (Shreveport LA); Ali Andersen (Bossier City LA); and Jax, Brenley and Havyn King (Flower Mound TX). In the last 5 years, she has welcomed and thoroughly enjoyed her 5 great granddaughters – Kinsey & Kenadee Goodlin; Andi & Sparrow Kearns and Saylor Schonfarber.
She is also survived by many other cousins, nieces, nephews and extended family across the country whom she diligently worked to keep connected by organizing regular Mississippi reunions borne out of her passion for her family, their story and their people.
When hearing an unexpected cancer diagnosis in late 2021, she quickly told the doctor, “I’ve lived a beautiful 83 years and even gotten to meet some great grands. If this is how I go it won’t be cancer taking my life, it’ll be Jesus calling me home – and if he’s ready, then so am I!”
Alice (Mom, Nana) - even walking through cancer and chemotherapy these last 16 months, you have been a warrior! Your smile and your spirit, tinged with bit of southern ‘sass’, has given clear testimony to your faith in the God you followed so fiercely! You are forever our hero! We love you and we celebrate that TODAY you are more alive than you have ever been before.
Memorial Service will be held at Hill Crest Memorial Funeral Home in Haughton LA on Thursday, March 23, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. There will be no formal visitation prior to the service but doors will open at 10:30am for friends and family to enjoy some memory tables set-up by Alice’s children and grandchildren. And following the service, there will be a reception in the fellowship hall of Bellaire Baptist Church to greet the family.
