Joyce Lorraine (Davis) King

Joyce Lorraine Davis King was born to the Late Hayward Davis, Sr. and Hellen Ruth Feaster Caldwell Davis on March 12, 1946, in Chester County, South Carolina. Joyce’s father died while she was just a young child, and her mother raised her and her seven siblings.  Her mother, Hellen, stressed the importance of the reliance and love of family to Joyce and to her five brothers (Ernest, Odell, Willie, Hayward, Jr., and Joe) and her two sisters (Delores and Barbara).   Her mother also instilled Joyce with a deep and abiding faith that would carry her through life.  She would accept Christ and join Sweet Hope Baptist Church in Chester County, South Carolina.

Joyce developed a lifelong love for learning from an early childhood. Joyce’s formal education would begin in the schools of Chester County, South Carolina. She would then further her education at Friendship College in Rock Hill, South Carolina. From there Joyce would continue to take additional courses.  Joyce was avid about the pursuit of education and being a lifelong educator, formally employed by the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System, stressed this to anyone she encountered.  She also was formally a licensed realtor and Joyce owned and operated her very own real-estate agency. 

Joyce’s almost 60-year journey into the funeral profession began when she met and later married the late Edward Johnson “Sonny” King, Sr.  Their union led to the expansion of King Funeral Home into Pageland, South Carolina in the early 1970’s.  Joyce would personally start to serve the Pageland community exclusively in 1994.  She loved to be of service to the families of Pageland and the surrounding areas in her capacity as a funeral director.  Joyce’s passion for the people she served and her love of the funeral profession always showed in every service she delivered.  She strove to continue building on the foundation that she and her husband had built.

Joyce was also known to have large personality that could fill the room. She enjoyed making everyone laugh with her wit and humor. Also, anyone who was close in her orbit knew how much she cared. Joyce was also a great cook who loved to see the joy her food brought to her family and friends. She and her brothers and sister shared an incredible bond forged by their mother Hellen. Their love for each other could be felt by all. To her children Joyce was all that a mother should and could ever be. Joyce was truly a mother in all senses of the word. She was and will continue to be their north star.

Joyce was not immune to the heartache that death brings to each and every family as she had lost her husband Edward Johnson “Sonny” King, Sr., as well as her parents: Hayward Davis, Sr. and Hellen Feaster Caldwell Davis and her brothers: Ernest, Odell, Willie, and Joe. 

Joyce leaves to cherish memories of her wondrous life: four children: daughters and spouses, Hellen Louise King Walker and Michael Walker, Sr. Ellen Louise King Amudipe and Oluwole Amudipe,, sons and spouses Edward Johnson “Lil’ Sonny” King, II, William Hayward King and Nykeojuan Davis.  Her cherished two sisters and their spouse, Delores Davis Jackson and Richard S. Jackson, Sr. and Barbara Davis Wilks and Rayford B. Wilks, Sr., her beloved brother and wife, Hayward Davis, Jr. and Maggie Davis. Eight loving sisters-in-laws:  Barbara Joyce Caldwell, Virgiree Caldwell, Reba Caldwell, Diana Davis, Margie Buckson King,  Ellen Ferguson, Ruby Rucker, and Patricia King. Three treasured brothers-in-laws: Andrew Corley, Louis James, and Howard Jones.  Five adoring grand-children and spouses: Sydney King Greene and Micah Greene, Oluwole Amudipe and Jacquelin Amudipe, Oladameji Amudipe, Michael Walker, Jr. and Nicholas Walker.  Two precious great-grandchildren: Mercy Greene and Oluwole Amudipe. She was also like a second loving mother and great grandmother to Roger Louallen and Sunni Merrett.  Joyce also has a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.

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