Dora Bernice Wylie King

Dora Bernice Wylie King went to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. Dora Bernice came into this world April 23, 1938, at Methodist Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. Growing up in Blytheville with two exceptionally fine and loving parents, Heard Lawrence Wylie and Hiram William Wylie, and one older sister, Heard Wylie, D.B., as was always her nickname, was a delightful child and turned into a most beautiful teenager, inside and out. Among her many talents were dance, piano, and being a majorette in the Blytheville High School Band, as well as being immensely popular with the boys and girls.

As she blossomed in to a beauty at 16 years old, the family decided to temporarily move to Greenwood, Miss., because of her father’s health. While attending Greenwood High School her junior and senior years, D.B. had a busy schedule being a school beauty and, of course, attending the many Red Top dances in and around the MS Delta. It was at one of the dances where she met her future husband, the late James William King (Jake). 

After moving back to Greenwood with her own family, and being left a widow at a young age, D.B. was faced and struggled with the task of raising four children as a single mother, but she did so successfully. Later in her life, she moved to Oxford, Miss., where she had relatives and many great friends, including Kay Alford and Darlene Mason. 

A most generous, kind, sweet, and thoughtful Southern lady, in addition to being a devout Christian, she is now most likely in charge of the “Praise Team” with her Lord. 

D.B. has left the earthly presence of her four children: Katheryn King Coleman (Ray), Carolyn King Boswell (Walter), James William King, Jr. (Olivia), and Elizabeth King Barth (Mike), with many grandchildren whom she adored (and they adored her) including Michael Bradley Hawkins (Claudette), Martha Boswell Brock (Lucius), Joseph Tuminello Cascio, Jr. (Sarah), Merrel Boswell Patridge (Bailey), Helen Boswell Simpkins (Daniel), Anne Todd Boswell Lockwood, Carolyn Boswell Hawkins (Chris), Walter Ira Boswell, Jr., James William King III, and Catherine Blaise King. Great grandchildren include Ann Hollis, Mimsie, Lu, George, Frances, Clara James, Callaway, Price, Walt, Monroe, Mills, Polly, Bo, Ira, and Olney. 

Other family members include cousins, Norval Yerger, Frank Mitchener, Connie Lawrence and Carol Lawrence; nephews, Rob Butler, Bill Butler; and a niece, Heard Butler Critchlow. 

She also leaves her longtime friends, Sally Muirhead of Greenwood, Kelley Kyte Oglesby of Little Rock, Emmett Chassaniol, and her best friend, A. Lee Abraham, Jr., both of Greenwood, Miss. D.B. was predeceased by her parents, her sister, her husband, and her grandson, William Wylie Coleman.  

Being very involved with the community, she was president of The Town and Country Garden Club; Women’s AGLOW, Greenwood Chapter; and a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution; and a member of the Blytheville Junior Auxiliary. Many, many thanks and love to her sitter, Wonderful Wendy. 

Pallbearers are Michael Bradley Hawkins, Joseph Tuminello Cascio, Jr., Walter Ira Boswell, Jr., James William King III, Daniel Monroe Simpkins, and Christopher Brent Hawkins.

Honorary pallbearers are Robert Abernathy Butler III, William Wylie Butler, James Pierce Cole III, Harold Lyman Shaw, Jr., Walter Bailey Patridge, and James Lucius Brock.

The family requests that charitable donations be given to Delta Streets Ministries, Greenwood, Miss., or French Camp Academy, French Camp, Miss. 

Visitation is at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 804 East Park Avenue in Greenwood, MS, 12-2 p.m., and the funeral services start at 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 9, with Rev. Richard Owens and the Rev. Josh Reagan officiating. Interment is in Odd Fellows Cemetery, 1635 Carrollton Avenue, Greenwood, MS.

Wilson and Knight Funeral Home is in charge. Online guest book may be signed at www.wilsonandknight.com.