Mary Alice King

Mary Alice King was born on May 28, 1940, to Alfred Carpenter and Lola Carpenter Weeks in the cotton rich delta area of Lynn, Mississippi. Mary came from humble beginnings as the daughter of cotton sharecroppers. Her childhood days required long hours in the cotton fields, helping with younger siblings and many other chores. Although a very good student and excellent basketball player, Mary chose to leave high school at 16 years old to take a job in Memphis, Tennessee and eventually moved to Nashville, Tennessee where she met her husband, R.B. Jones. They married in 1957 and by 1964 had six children with the seventh child born in 1969. Throughout the years, jobs and life took them to many locations throughout Mississippi and a couple of moves to Florida. The family moved to the Dallas, Texas area in 1978. Mom's marriage to R.B. ended in 1985.

Seven children required a lot of attention and food; therefore, Mary was a working mother throughout her life and finally retiring from the waitress profession at the age of 65. Vincent Seafoods in Dallas was honored to have her as a most loved employee for over 30 years. Throughout all those evening shifts and often double shifts Mom found time to organize picnics, family vacations and elaborate Christmas dinners and so many from scratch cakes and pies, that there was never enough table space for serving them up.

Mom accepted Christ as her savior when she was nine years old and was baptized in the Baptist faith. Her faith guided her throughout her life.

Although a private person and mostly stoic, Mom loved her children deeply. Though life was sometimes chaotic and uncertain, Mary's children knew that there was no mountain tall enough to keep her from protecting them or providing for them. This deep love and commitment to her family has manifested itself in the loving care her own daughters and grandchildren have for their own families.

James Allen King, Sr. (Pete) became Mary's husband in 1986 and they shared 33 years together until his passing in 2019. Mary was fortunate to acquire four stepsons though the bond of this marriage. Those sons were a source of pride throughout the rest of her life. Pete and Mary shared a full life and enjoyed many friends. They lived at Forest Dale Retirement Apartments for over 14 years and leave a full community of friends behind.

Mary will be missed beyond words. She will be missed by numerous siblings and their families in Mississippi, her daughters Brenda Daberko, Debra Rodriquez and Katherine Murfitt, stepsons John King, James King JR and Peter King and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Mom was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and the following children: Patricia Long, James Jones, Robert Jones JR, Kenneth Jones, and Timothy King.

Pallbearers include Joseph Rodriguez, Clayton Young, Cameron Perry, Catherine Rodriguez, Emily Templeton, and April Liles. 

Visitation will be at Hughes Family Tribute Center at  9 am on Monday, August 1, 2022 with the service following at 10 am.  A reception will follow the service.  Her graveside will be at 1 pm at Restland Cemetery on the same day.