Alton Monroe King

"We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." II Corinthians 5:8 (KJV) Alton Monroe King Trustee Alton Monroe King was born in Sussex County, Virginia on May 10, 1956, the fifth child of eight children, to the late William Junius King and Ruth Bailey King. Alton was baptized at an early age and attended his family's church in Waverly, VA. After his family relocated to Richmond, he was educated in the Richmond Public School System and graduated from Maggie Walker High School. Alton met Janet Delores Johnson who had been a member of New Light Baptist Church since childhood. On September 10, 1967, they were joined in holy matrimony and began a new life as a family at New Light. Through this union, they were blessed with two children, Daryl (1969), and Terri (1971). New Light played a very important role in the life of this family over the years. Alton loved serving the Lord and ultimately served at New Light as an active lifelong member until his health began to fail in 2017. He was a member of the Men's Ministry, Trustee Ministry, spearheaded the audio/visual ministry, and sang in the Mass and Sanctuary Choirs, and Male Chorus providing a memorable and revered tenor and bass presence. His love for singing continued in many outside arenas, such as the Men of Goodwill, formed by lifelong friend James Bynum in 1986, and the Tradewinds shortly thereafter, a "spinoff'' from the Men of Goodwill formed by the Late Delores Williams, local Richmond church musician. Alton was also an active participant in the local Richmond Chapter of the Gospel Music Workshop attending almost every year from 1986 - 1996. Lastly, Alton's artistic, creative side, also inspired by friend James Bynum, yielded jobs for political and other voiceovers as well as performances in community theater such as Tears are not for Me and the Delver Players' God's Favorite, performed in May of 1978. Alton was an extraordinary father whose participation in his children's lives was exemplary. He was a part of their school lives as a PTA President, and as a band parent, purchasing instruments such as a clarinet for Daryl and a flute for Terri, and continued to support their music endeavors throughout their schooling. But he was also a dad who spent quality time with his family at cookouts, family trips, and the usual Saturday at Maymont Park picnicking and tossing around the family frisbee. As a diligent father and husband, Alton made sure his family was provided for. He worked several jobs, mainly at Greyhound as baggage clerk and ticket agent from 1965 - 1986, while "side-hustling" as a commercial driver for the likes of Winn Travel and James River Bus Lines. Finally, he retired from Dominion Virginia Power as Systems Maintenance Support in 2005, having worked there since 1986. During retirement, Alton took great joy in working "full-time" at New Light. Unfortunately, after Janet's passing in 2016, Alton began navigating health issues due to having a second stroke and onset Parkinson's disease. On February 9, 2023, in the early morning hours between 6 and 7 a.m., Alton slipped quietly into eternity, giving up the cares of this world. He was preceded in death by his darling wife, Janet. He leaves to cherish his memory children: Daryl (Angela) and Terri King-Forbes (Leonard); sisters Barbara Carter and Helen Thomas; brother Herbert Leroy King; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends, his beloved New Light family, and five devoted caregivers: Jeanne Williams, Heyshia Tillman, Corlene Lucas, Kenya Moseley, and SzhaNesha Becoat.

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Alton Monroe King

May 10, 1946 - February 9, 2023