Family, friends and well wishers celebrated the life of Janette Yvonne King recently at Hoosier Memorial United Methodist Church in Southwest Atlanta. King, music director at Hoosier, was well-liked and thought of, as a packed audience poured into the church on Saturday, Nov. 5, around 11 a.m.
A cadre of key speakers remembered the deceased as a gifted musician, who was very sincere in her work and “challenged her own life and others in the church choirs.” She is gone but not forgotten, said Rev. Curtis L. Lester of Greater Bethany Baptist Church, where King was a former member. “She was jolly and a happy-go-lucky spirit, but serious about music,” Rev. Lester said. Rev. Richard Winn, a former pastor of Hoosier and now senior pastor at Ben Hill UMC, said he served nine years as her pastor. “She had a broad span in her music, and challenged her own life and others in church choirs.” Rev. Winn also praised the deceased as being “saved and a servant of God, who understood her challenge was to get here on Sunday.” Winn added that she was “sincere, special, saved and spiritual.”
More reflections were brought by Rev. Dr. Walker Kimbrough, retired UMC pastor, and Dr. Carolyn A. Knight, pastor at Providence Baptist Church, where the deceased was a member, as well. Rev. Knight acknowledged her love for cats and said they became good friends as a student and co-worker. “She was gifted in many ways, and loved ITC and her church, which she served both faithfully.”
Janette King, who died from complications from an illness and stroke, joined Hoosier in 1992 and began working in the music department of that church. She graduated from Gammon Theological Seminary of ITC in 1996, with a Master of Arts Degree in Church Music and a Master of Divinity degree in Christian Education. She also began singing in the ITC Chorus and served as an assistant to Dr. Melva Costen, director of the chorus and a professor at ITC. While at ITC, King received several awards and honors, and was inducted into the International Society of Theta Phi in recognition of her high attainment in scholarship at ITC.
Other reflections were brought by Dr. Michael I.N. Dash of ITC, executive assistant to then-ITC President Robert Franklin, who praised the deceased for her interpretation of music and “who brought music and ministry to her projects.” He praised Janette King for being “at rest, where pure enjoyment remains.” Dr. Dash thanked God for knowing the deceased and having associated with her.
Sylvia Cook, a longtime family friend, spoke of her lineage and heritage rooted in God that was set by her parents, and praised her for being a gifted musician and coming from a mother and daughter, who were diligent and devoted.
Dr. Frederick A. Fresh, of Hoosier, talked about how King made her talents available and how she served well with the five or six ministers she served under. He told how she never flouted her real ability , but could sing and play. She literally built the Gospel Choir and engaged them in competition, said Dr. Fresh, who agreed the deceased will be missed, but “We will continuously be inspired by her commitment.”
Rev. Robert McMichael III, who provided piano music for the occasion, said the deceased inspired and allowed him to accompany her on the organ and he like a son. He thanked her for the helms of the church and the turbulent times and played several musical medleys, accompanied on organ by Jarvis Wilson.
Hoosier Pastor Rev. Dr. Bernice Kirkland brought Words of Comfort, praised the deceased for being “calm, commissioned and committed. Dr. Kirkland said Janette Yvonne King was a spiritual and spirited person, who possessed “Middle C as her key.” She praised the deceased’s love for her sister, brother, daughter and mother, and said she was “a giving spirit, who was committed to excellence.” She also praised Janette King as one who was gracious and passionate, who taught us how to “worship in suffering with a sweet, sweet spirit in this place.” The occasion marked a celebration of her true life with music and one well served.
A member of the Atlanta Chapter of Girl Friends and the United Methodist Women, the deceased was a Christian woman, who loved working with people. Playing the piano and teaching others to sing were her passion, as well as bringing music into the lives of other people. Prior to joining Hoosier, she played piano for choirs at other churches, including Central UMC, Ousley UMC, and Mallalieu UMC. She served as director of human resources of ITC, a position she held until she became ill in May 2010. Before King became ill she had been working on her doctoral degree and had completed all of the course requirements. She was in her final stages of finishing her dissertation, with Dr. Michael Dash, as her doctoral advisor.
Funeral service, handled by Murray Brothers Funeral Home, concluded at Lincoln Cemetery on Joseph Boone Blvd. with Rev. Dr. Bernice Kirkland. Janette Yvonne King is survived by one daughter, Yvonne Gurley; mother, Yvonne Gloster; sister, Carole King, all of Atlanta; a brother Carl King (Donna) of Cedar Knoll, New Jersey; brother, William King III (Jeanne) of France; stepbrother, Dr. Hugh M. Gloster of Cincinnati, Ohio; sister-in-law, Dr. Angelique Gloster of Cincinnati, Ohio; stepsister, Evelyn Dawkins (Harvey) of Hampton, Va.; aunt Ann Arnold of Atlanta, and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and other relatives.
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