Joyce Purvis King, 82, of Fitzgerald, Georgia, died Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at her residence.
Funeral services will be held 1 PM, Saturday, October 31, 2026, at the Paulk Funeral Home Chapel in Fitzgerald, Georgia, with the Rev. Dr. Ralph Griffin officiating. At 3:30 PM, her body will lie in state at the Hephzibah Baptist Church in Ware County, Georgia with interment following in the church cemetery at 4:00 PM. The family will also receive friends from 6-8 PM, Friday afternoon at the funeral home in Fitzgerald.
Mrs. King was born June 24, 1944, in Bacon County, Georgia, to the late George L. & Inez Batten Purvis. She graduated from Andrew Jackson High School in Jacksonville, Florida and later worked as a Customer Service Representative at the Credit Bureau in Jacksonville. Mrs. King worked for a brief time as the church secretary for Ephesus Baptist Church in Hillard, Florida. She enjoyed tending to her flowers, shopping, and decorating her home for each season. Mrs. King especially enjoyed cooking for her family and her church family. She was a member of Salem Baptist Church in Ben Hill County.
She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Samuel King; sons: Scott King & Keri and Sean King; grandchildren: Sean Paul King & Estercita “Stella”, Austin King & Brittany, and Kayla Faragher & Kyle; great grandchildren: Creed Faragher and Sean Edward King; and a brother, Virgil Purvis & Sandra. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Vernon Purvis.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests those desiring to send memorials, please send them to Hospice Care Options, 715 Legion Dr. Eastman, GA 31023.
Paulk Funeral Home, Fitzgerald, is in charge of arrangements.