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Kerry Allen King, 84, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, Jan. 11, 2021. He was a resident of Poplar Creek Senior Care in LaGrange.

Born on April 5, 1936, in Troup County, Kerry was the son of the late Ammon A. King and Lila Willingham King. He graduated from Center High School in 1955, where he met the love of his life and wife of 65 years, Irene Hodnett King, who passed away on Dec. 31, 2020. They were married in August, 1955.

Kerry retired from Milliken & Company (Hillside plant) in 1998 after 32 years of service. He did some part time work in the auto parts industry until he fully retired in June, 2020.

Kerry was a faithful member of Unity Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon, Sunday School teacher, and choir member. In 1971, he started a southern gospel singing group called The Gospel Messengers with his children and two young men from his Sunday School class. The ministry of the Gospel Messengers grew into quite a ministry and ultimately became solely a family group. Kerry continued leadership of the group with other members after the children left the group to pursue other careers, and retired the group after more than 45 years of ministry. He was a Godly man, a true disciple of Christ, sharing his faith and love with others.

Kerry is survived by his daughters, Cynthia King Brown (Boley), of LaGrange, Sherri King Vestal (Mark) of Greensboro, North Carolina, son, Rev. Christopher Allen King (Kathy), of Tignall, Georgia, grandchildren, Jason King (Leslie) of LaGrange, Emily Lawrence (Jackson) of Roopville, Georgia, Ben Vestal (Kristdel) of Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, Colby Brown (Joanna) of Newnan, Georgia, and Tyler Vestal (Gerica) of Nashville, Tennessee, 6 great-grandchildren, Jackson Emory Lawrence, Harleigh McKenzie King, Brooklyn Reese King, Natalie Joanne Brown, Davis Lane Vestal, and Bodhi James Vestal, sister-in-law, Helen King, and numerous nieces, nephews, and other extended family.

In addition to his parents, Kerry was preceded in death by his sister, Rozane King Green Chapman, and his brother, Rev. Wyatt Berlin King.

A joint memorial service honoring both Kerry and Irene King will be held on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021, at 11 a.m., at Unity Baptist Church, 715 S. Greenwood Street, LaGrange, Georgia. Please wear a facial covering and practice social distancing.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Unity Baptist Church, 715 S. Greenwood Street, LaGrange, Georgia 30240.  Higgins Funeral Home at Hunter Allen Myhand, 506 Hill Street, LaGrange, 706-884-5626.