Brenda Jane Oswalt King, 76, of Ackerman, MS died Thursday, January 20, 2022, at the Choctaw Regional Medical Center with loved ones by her side.
Brenda was born November 15, 1945 in Starkville, MS and spent much of her childhood wandering the campus of Mississippi State. She graduated from Starkville High School in 1963 and then attended Mississippi State University where she was a majorette in the Famous Maroon Band and during her freshmen year was bestowed the honor of being the sponsor of the MSU Air Force ROTC Blue Knights. It was at MSU that she met her husband, James Waverly King, Sr.
She would later return to college at Mississippi University for Women and graduate summa cum laude while being a coach’s wife and raising three small children. Brenda also received her Master Degree in Education from Mississippi State University. Her children had also bestowed upon her an honorary medical degree due to her hours of studying medical journals and watching medical documentaries. She was quite good a diagnosing sickness and prescribing treatment. Her friends called her Dr. King and would often call her for medical advice. She was once known to call in prescriptions for her children to one unnamed pharmacist in Ackerman.
Brenda began her teaching career as an elementary teacher with the Columbus Municipal School District. After moving to Ackerman, she continued teaching with the Choctaw County School District retiring in 2010 after a 35 year teaching career. She loved her students and enjoyed running into them over the years around Ackerman often hearing a “Mrs. King” yelled down the aisle at the grocery store.
Brenda had a love of music and enjoyed singing and playing the piano and clarinet. One of her requirements of her children was that they must pursue some type of musical interest. She had a beautiful voice and often drew an audience from those seated nearby when singing the National Anthem at MSU football games. She loved flowers and gardening and spent many years with Waverly working in their flower beds and vegetable garden. Brenda enjoyed beekeeping, canning vegetables and making pickles and jelly. There was always an “extra” jar of jelly or honey in the cabinet to send home with her children.
She was a talented seamstress often sewing cheerleader outfits, prom dresses, and curtains for her children and grandchildren. Her work could be found in Ole Miss dorm rooms, the Phi Mu House and she once recovered a sofa that ended up in her son’s room at the Kappa Alpha House. Brenda also enjoyed attending football games with Waverly at Mississippi State and other stadiums throughout the SEC and tailgating with friends. She did though tell one of her sons that she was actually a “closet Rebel” most likely due to years of tailgating in the grove during the years her 3 kids were at Ole Miss. Brenda also had a love of animals once having a pet racoon that was known far and wide on South Montgomery Street in Starkville.
Brenda was a member of Ackerman Baptist Church and former member of the church choir.
Brenda was a survivor of Acute Myeloid Leukemia and was always thankful for the support she received from her husband, Waverly, family, friends, MD Anderson and the University of Mississippi Medical Center during that time.
Brenda is survived by her husband, Waverly and their three children, James “Jimbo” Waverly King, Jr (Elisabeth) of Tuscaloosa, AL, Natalie King Turner (Spencer) of Oxford, MS, and Charles “Charlie” Lawson King (Allison) of Madison, MS. Grandchildren; Trip King, Runa King, Rebekah Turner Frink (Ethan), Jack Turner, Phillips King (Maggie), Mason King (Allie) and Allie King.
Brenda was preceded in death by parents, Meadie Britt and Dora Mae Lemmons Oswalt of Starkville, MS.
Services will be held Monday, January 24 at 11:00 am at Ackerman Baptist Church with visitation beginning at 10:00 am. Burial will follow at South Union Cemetery. Coleman Funeral Home in Ackerman is in charge of the arrangements.
Memorials may be made to Ackerman Baptist Church, 185 East Cherry Street, Ackerman, MS 39735.