Dec. 23, 1928 – Feb. 2, 2016

NATCHEZ — Services for Valoree Cooper King, 87, of Natchez, who died Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016, at Merit Health Natchez, will be 11 a.m. today at Parkway Baptist Church with the Rev. Gerald Buckley and the Rev. Jeff Brewer officiating.

Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until time of service today at the church.

Mrs. King was born Dec. 23, 1928, in Sicily Island, the daughter of Sam Cooper and Beulah Williamson Cooper.

Mrs. King graduated from Sicily Island and while there played varsity basketball and was awarded a scholarship to Southwest Louisiana University.

Mrs. King earned a degree in food services from the College of American Dietetics in Chicago.

Mrs. King also attended the University of Southern Mississippi and Mississippi University for Women.

She worked in Franklin County, Meadville and Georgetown, S.C., as a food services director.

Mrs. King was an active member of Parkway Baptist Church. She started the Wednesday night suppers. She was also an active leader in the Christian Women’s Club.

She and her husband, Curtis, traveled in their retirement to all 50 states and some foreign countries.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, J.T. Cooper and wife, Mary; and two sisters, Vondell Smith and husband, William “Bill” and Bertille Cooper.

Survivors include her husband of 69 years, Curtis King; one son, James W. King and wife, Shelia, of Ferriday; one daughter, Janice King Jones and husband, James Ronald, of Nashville, Tenn.; and a number of beloved nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be grandchildren, great-grandchildren, Glenn Mizell and George McFarland.

Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Carl “Bouncer” Passman, Jason Russell, Huey Martin and Buster Jones.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Parkway Baptist Church Building Fund, 117 Seargent S. Prentiss Drive, Natchez, MS, 39120.

Online condolences may be sent to lairdfh.com.