FERRIDAY — Services for Jerome L. “J.L.” King Jr., 83, of Clayton, who died Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2010, will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Comer Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jack Knapp and the Rev. Brent Bemont officiating.

Burial will follow at Highland Park Cemetery in Sicily Island under the direction of Comer Funeral Home in Ferriday.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Mr. King was born July 18, 1927, in Jonesville, the son of Jerome and Annie Pendarvis King. After graduating from Block High School, he worked for three years with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and fished to earn enough money to attend Louisiana College in Pineville, La. He continued to work each summer and finally earned a bachelor of science degree in secondary education from Louisiana College in 1954. He was an avid believer in educational advancement and attained a master of education in administration and supervision from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La., in 1957.

He often expressed appreciation for his sister-in-law, Alice Jeter King, for countless words of encouragement and support for all of his educational pursuits. Due to her kind words of inspiration, a number of lives were touched during his career.

J.L. began his teaching career in Singer, La. He also taught at Sicily Island High School and Harrisonburg High School. He retired in 1985 after 32 years of service in public education. In addition to a teaching career, he also had a farm on which he worked during non-school hours and summers. He only partially retired from his career endeavor after becoming sick in 2010.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Mary Sparks and Annie Warner; and four brothers, Jewel, Roy and Charles King and Fred Sparks.

Survivors include his wife of 56 years , Eloiese Barron King; five children, David King and wife, Carrie, of Clayton, Adele King Arthur and husband, Philip, and Amanda King Brown and husband, Bob, all of Monroe, La., Anita King Thompson and husband, Henry, of Carencro, La., and Amy King Kincannon of West Monroe; eight grandchildren, Davey King, Jonathan and Sarah Thompson, Jake, Caity, J.T. and Caroline Brown and Mattie Kincannon.

Pallbearers will be Philip Arthur, Henry Thompson, Bob Brown, Ted Kincannon, Ken King and Ray King.

Honorary pallbearers will be brothers-in-law, Charles Stutson, Bill Barron and a number of nephews and great-nephews who supported J.L. so lovingly.

The family expresses appreciation to Dr. Huey Moak and staff of Ferriday, Dr. Scott Barron and staff at Oncology Associates, Dr. Robert Ebeling and staff at Northeast Louisiana Cancer Institute, The Columns Nursing Home staff in Jonesville and Colvin’s Pharmacy in Ferriday.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Cancer Society, 1761 North 19th St., Monroe, LA 71201.