Mrs. Helen (Henderson) King

Mrs. Helen King was a warm, beautiful, and kind soul who came into the world the morning of Thursday, April 10th, 1924 as the child of Della and Willie Henderson in Goldsboro, North Carolina. Helen grew up and excelled in academics and while in school met her life-long devoted partner and was married to Garland M. King in 1940. Their only child Garland M. King Jr. was born two years later on July 27th, 1942.

She, with her husband, Garland, established the famous King’s Barbecue of Goldsboro, North Carolina at their restaurant club in Goldsboro by the time she was 24 years old. The Casablanca became an entertainment mecca for black people from Virginia to South Carolina.

After the war ended and demand began to dwindle, they set out to try their fortune in New York. There they did executive catering until becoming permanent employees of Mr. Frank M Smith, founder and CEO of Capital Cities Broadcast Group. She was also secretary for the Rueben A. Donnally Company located in the Chrysler building at age 27. She had several modeling offers and opportunities from such publications as Ebony and Jet magazines which considered her an extremely attractive lady. They lived several tranquil and fulfilling years retired at their White Plains residence in Westchester County, New York until her son and daughter-in-law Katherine relocated them to Chapel Hill, North Carolina in 2004.

Her husband, Garland Sr., preceded her in death on December 20th, 2010 and Helen was called home on Friday, November 19th, 2021.

Helen leaves one child, Garland M. King, Jr. of Hillsborough, NC, one nephew, Jimmy Flowers of Charlotte, NC, one grandson, Garland King III, one granddaughter, Ms. Lovey King-Imonti, and two great-granddaughters Ashley Imonti and Kenya Imonti.

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