The King family will celebrate its 35th annual reunion on June 26 in Rutherfordton, N.C.

This year the family is giving special honors to the family members who are in their 80s and 90s.

The reunion includes descendants of Henry King (born 1836, Hendersonville, a slave) and Elizabeth (Betty) Twitty King (born 1856, Polk County, a slave).
Henry and Betty had nine children, born between 1874-1899. They were John Wesley King (10 children), Elizer Lillie King Davis (nine children), Mary G. King Miller (three children), Mount King (seven children), James Butler King (eight children), Miller King (one child), Frank King (11 children), Georgia King Williams (12 children) and Roy King.
Later in life, Henry King married Jane Mills.

Today there are five grandchildren in their 90s:
• Ted King (95) of Tryon, who served in the U.S. Army during World War II, earning three battle stars and the rank of sergeant;
• Lucy King (94) of Tryon, honored for her dedication and service to her family, church and community, and for stepping up to raise her nephew, Scottie;
• Beatrice Williams Logan (92) of Marion, N.C., a devoted wife, mother and church member who was active in community service for many years;

• Lillian (King) Roberts (91) of Charlotte, N.C., a dedicated registered nurse with Mecklenburg County’s Health Department and in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg public schools for 35 years; and
• Mattie King (90) of Ann Arbor, Mich., a devoted caregiver to her nieces and nephews who also made extraordinary contributions to the building of the Life Center at Wheats Creek Baptist Church and other church projects.
In addition to the five descandants in their 90s, nine grandchildren and great-grandchildren are in their 80s, still living productive lives.
They are:
• Dr. Ralph Bryson (88) who is a professor of English at the University of Alabama in Montgomery and was recently recognized by the University of Cincinnati (College of Education Criminal Justice & Human Services)
• Mary Dickerson of Spindale, N.C.;
• David C. King of Arlington, Va.;
• Andy Williams of Spindale, N.C.;
• James E. King of Asheville, N.C.;
• Ruth King Porter of Tryon;

• Katie Wilson of Detroit, Mich.; and
• Regina Kay of Bloomfield, Mich.; and
• Paul L. Ledbetter of Winston Salem, N.C.
There are more than 600 other King family members living in California, Michigan, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Maryland, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, North and South Carolina and other states who continue to share family stories and memories (church gatherings, farming, brick masonry, basket weaving, carpentry, baking and cooking).
For 35 years, the King family has held its family reunion at Wheats Creek Baptist Church, Moores Grove Baptist Church, Bethlehem Center Camp (Rutherfordton), Unionville Lodge, Carver Middle School (Spindale, N.C.), Fairfield Mountains Colony Resort (Lake Lure, N.C.), Ryan’s (Forest City, N.C.), Harmon Field (Tryon) and Charlotte, N.C.