James Earl "SPOT" King

With heavy hearts, we, the Staff and Management of R. Swinson Funeral Services along with the King Family announce the transition of 84-year-old Mr. James "Spot" King on Saturday, December 9, 2023, at his home.  

Service will be held on Saturday, December 23, 2023, at noon from the United American Free Will Baptist Tabernacle, with burial to follow in Westview Cemetery.  Visitation will be held on Friday, December 22, 2023, from the Robert Swinson, Jr. Memorial Chapel from 4 to 6 pm.

With great sorrow and bittersweet gratitude, our father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend, James Earl King, transitioned peacefully on December 9, 2023, with his loving family by his side. James Earl King started his life journey on February 2, 1939, born to the late Ruby Mae and James Hebrew King of Lenoir County. He was the eldest of 8 children and attended Lenoir County Public Schools. Although his name was James, he was affectionately known as Spot King, Lightning, and DAD to his family and friends. James was married to Doris Marie Parks, and to this union, three beautiful daughters were born: Beverly, Kimberly, and Debbie. His greatest joy was spending time with his daughters and family. At a very young age, he started his first job at Dillard Wallace Supermarket and later became a Supervisor at Danty Made Bakery, where he was employed for many years. He was a member of The Church of Faith & Deliverance under the leadership of Pastor John Flowers, where he was awarded the Community Service, Wisdom, and Membership Award. Another great achievement was being a member of the NAACP. He received the Humanitarian Unsung Hero Award on March 31, 2023. On June 2, 2023, Mr. King threw the first pitch for the Kinston Indians Semipro baseball team. He was inducted into the Eastern North Carolina Baseball League (ENSB) Hall of Fame. James was a loving man with a spirited soul whose smile was so stunning; it would light up the whole room. His many passions included baseball and being an adventurous cook, including deer, bear, koon, goat, turtle, rabbit, and duck, and his favorite dishes were fish stew, collards, chicken, and pastry. He loved a good celebration, including his annual birthday party, “Western Style,” in which he was always the “Best Dressed.” He was a true revolutionary who understood love and sacrifice. He was dedicated to his family and had a willingness to sacrifice everything for the good of others. Mr. King approached life the way he played baseball and true to his nickname, Lightning...fast, full speed ahead with fierce determination and infectious joy in life that he shared with family and friends. In 1977, Mr. King began playing baseball for the Kinston Royals & LC Stars semipro baseball team as a pitcher at the POLO grounds baseball field in Grifton, North Carolina. Several years later, the team’s name changed to Kinston Mets, where he was the team’s Head Coach and later became the Manager. In this role, he traveled extensively, recruiting players from community colleges and universities. His players became more like his sons and family. He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Ruby King; brothers, Allen King and Melvin C King; sisters, Shelby King Moore, Betty Jean Wiggins, Nellie Ray Wiggins. His legacy is left to many, including his daughters, Beverly King Brown and Kimberly Denise King, both of Kinston, NC, and Debbie Semien (Joseph), Prince George, VA; one grandson, Joseph Semien Jr., Prince George, VA; sisters,(devoted) Linda Coleman Kinston, NC, Hattie King-Hall (John) Sandra Hines, Kinston, NC, Deloris Wiggins, Bronx, New York; brothers (devoted) Willie King (Diane), Johnnie King, Curtis Hines (Donna), and Calvin Hines, all of Kinston NC; a special nephew, Lataio King Kinston, NC and loving nephews Cory King, Kinston, NC, Andrea Coleman, Raleigh, NC Defonte (Shayla) Coleman, Raleigh, NC Dontrez King (Erica) Inwood, West Virginia, OmarFisher, Raleigh, NC, Keenan King, Las Vegas, Nevada, Devon Hines (Esther), Kinston, NC, Jarvis Jones, Atlanta, Georgia. loving nieces, Tanyikka Coleman, Hyna King, Arleene King, and Shonda Hines, all of Kinston, NC, Terese Ellise, Trina King, both of Raleigh, NC, Christy Rountree (Donwan) and Ruby King, both of Wilson, NC, Skyra Thomas Houston Texas, and friends