William Mitchell King

Friday, August 28, 2020

William Mitchell King, Sr., 84, of Blytheville, passed away Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020, at NEA Baptist Hospital in Jonesboro.

Mitchell was born in Blytheville to Melvin and Myrtle Elliott King. He worked for Dr. Pepper Bottling Company for 33 years before retiring, and was also a retired minister. Mitchell was a member of Woodland Corner Baptist Church where he served as a deacon from 1969 until the Lord called him to pastor the church in 1976. He pastored until the church closed in May of 2015. After the closing of Woodland Corner Baptist Church, he transferred his membership to Lone Oak Baptist Church. Mitchell was a former member of the Blytheville Ministerial Alliance and also served as a chaplain for Baptist Hospital in Blytheville. Mitchell enjoyed woodworking and sitting in his porch swing and watching his birds eat from his feeders.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Leon, Jesse and T.J. King; two sisters, Mattie Webb and Mildred Halbrooks; son-in-law, Larry Christie.

At the time of his death, Mitchell was survived by his wife, Frances Battles King; four children, Tammy Christie of Little Rock, Sarah Welch and her husband Mike and Kathleen Franklin and her husband Allen, all of Steele, and Mitchell King, Jr. and his wife Carrie of Blytheville; stepsister, Geneva Blanton and her husband Jack of Independence, Miss.; 19 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.

Funeral services will be private with Rev. Mitchell King, Jr., Rev. Mike Welch and Rev. Billy Hardesty officiating. A walk-through viewing for friends will be held Friday evening, Aug. 28, from 4-6 p.m. at Cobb Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Lone Oak Baptist Church. Following the State of Arkansas COVID-19 guidelines, no more than 100 people will be allowed to gather inside of Cobb Funeral Home at one time and practice social distancing, keeping a 6-foot distance between one another. Face masks are required to enter the building. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.cobbfuneralhome.com.