William Reddoch King

Judge William Reddoch King, 84, a resident of Luverne, Alabama, passed away peacefully at Baptist Medical Center South on Saturday, April 9th, 2022. Funeral services for Judge King will be held at 11 AM on Tuesday, April 12th, in the Chapel of Turners Funeral Home of Luverne with Rev. Morris May officiating. Interment will follow in Luverne Emmaus Cemetery with Turner's Funeral Home of Luverne directing. Visitation will be held beginning at 10am on Tuesday.

Judge King was a proud graduate of Luverne High School where he was an all-state quarterback. He continued his football career at both Gordon Military Academy in Georgia and the University of Alabama. He received both his bachelor's degree and his juris doctorate from Alabama and then returned to his hometown to open his law practice. After being in private practice for a number of years, he then served 27 years as a state court district judge before retiring and resuming his private practice. In total, Judge King devoted 54 years to the practice of law before retiring at the age of 80. Judge King helped so many in Crenshaw County in so many different ways throughout his career, and he was a compassionate judge who believed in second chances, following the philosophy of Bryan Stevenson -- "each of us is more than the worst thing we've ever done." He took his duty to uphold the law seriously, but always with compassion and the intent to do what was best for both the individual and the community as a whole.

In his free time, Judge King was an avid golfer, and later in life made an annual trek to Scotland to play the country's famous courses, making new friends along the way who stayed in touch with him throughout the year. He was also a dedicated supporter of his alma mater, the University of Alabama, and the Southeastern Conference as a whole. He always enjoyed getting together with his old friends to either play golf or a game (or two) of cards. Above all, he was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who loved few things more than spending time with his family whenever possible. He was a pillar of the Crenshaw County community, and he will be missed by all of the lives he has touched over the years.

Judge King was preceded in death by his parents, William H. King Jr & LaRue Reddoch King Collum. He is survived by his loving wife of 22 years, Jill Smith King; children, Kelly (Chuck) Kelley, William (Dolly) King, David "Bo" King, and Adrianne (Tommy) Cox; grandchildren, Sarah Kelley, Charlie Kelley, Harrison King, Alex King, Emma King, Brooke Little, Pete King, Ty Cox, Tate Cox, and Trace Cox; and great-grandchildren, Virginia, Harrison, and Townes.

Active pallbearers will be Wendell Butts, Tate Cox, Ty Cox, Charlie Kelley, John Sport, Kruse Smith, Charlie Sport, and Dennis Anderson. Honorary pallbearers will be Joe Johnson, John David Johnson, Dan Jackson, Jim Jackson, Mike Jones, Ed Beasley, Billy Tames, and Mike Jones.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to St. Jude Hospital, ALS Foundation - Alabama Chapter, or Petrey Methodist Church.