Joe King, affectionately known as “Bubba” to his sisters and brothers, was born March 20, 1928, to Jim King and Annie Mae Chapman in Thomaston, Ala. On the night of Dec. 17, 2017, God’s angel came and claimed Joe at his residence. Joe loved God, his family, friends and his church family.

He leaves to cherish his loving memories: four daughters, Lillie (Moses) Fowlkes and Kathy (Faino) Coleman of Bronx, N.Y., Lisa (Lemuel) Holloway and LaTonya Newell of Bogalusa; two sons, Rev. Willie Ray (Janet) Hodges of Raleigh N.C. and Mitchell (Maria) Newell of Bogalusa; 20 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Frankie (Rev. Fred) Alexander of Albion, Mich., Mollie Seals of Cleveland, Ohio, and Ella Owes of Mobile, Ala.; five brothers, Sylvester (Comfort) Chapman of Memphis Tenn., Alfounsia (Hattie) Hill of Cleveland, Tasville (Louise) King of Amite, Fred Lee Chapman and Jimmie Lee Kennedy of Corpus Cove, Texas; a sister-in-law, Lillie Chapman of Mobile; a special niece, Michelle Franklin of Mobile; a special neighbor who was more like a sister, Mable Magee; and a host of other family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; grandmother, Mollie Daniels; son, Joseph James; grandson, Eric Fowlkes; sister, Velma Franklin; three brothers, Willie T. Chapman, Weily Hill and Melvin Chapman; and a long-time companion, Ardell Hodges.

Visitation will be at Crain and Sons Funeral Home in Bogalusa on Friday, Dec. 29, from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m., with the wake from 6 p.m. until 7 p.m.

Funeral services will be at Mt. Bethel Baptist Church on Saturday, Dec. 30, at 1 p.m., with the Rev. Johnny Johnson officiating and the Rev. E.L. Powell as eulogist.

Sign the guestbook online at www.crainandsons.com.