Lena King

On November 11, 1957, Robert & Lula McCray Bell welcomed the sweetest vessel imaginable. Lena was the 9th of 13 children. At an early age, she received Christ at the Sweet Union Baptist Church in Spearsville, LA.,

Love is a beautiful thing to have, and on September 9, 1976, she united in Holy Matrimony with the Rev. Daniel R. King. Two blessings were born to this union: Tomonco & Selena King-Hamilton. Together, through Foster Care, they raised many other young people after being ordained as the Youth Pastor at St. John Baptist Church in El Dorado, AR., Rev. and Sis. King grew in ministry and served in various churches in the surrounding area, pastoring Mt. Zion #1 Baptist Church in Lisbon, AR. and County Line Baptist Church in Stamps, AR. For the last 16 years, she was a member of the Morning Star #2 Baptist Church in El Dorado, AR., where she served faithfully as the Assistant Sunday School Superintendent, choir member, and church bus driver.

In her young life, she received her education at Lillie Middle School in Lillie, LA. and Spearsville High School in Spearsville, LA, she worked as a Nanny, a cashier at Hurry Back, and an assembly line worker at ConAgra, all before finding her calling as an El Dorado School District Bus Driver. As a bus driver, she played an integral part in the lives of children of all ages. She had a way of making each child smile and reminding them that they mattered. She could not get enough of loving kids through the life of transportation and she continued her calling as Foster Care Provider for the State of Arkansas. Through this calling, she was able to touch the lives of countless youths. They say 'Home' is where the heart is, and by pouring out her heart, she built a place you could call home.

Preceding her in death are her parents, Robert and Lula McCray Bell; six brothers, Jerry, Robert Jr., Jimmy, Willie, Bobby, and Leroy Bell; three sisters, Rosemary Bell and two twin girls; and a Special Son, Vinte Miles.

To cherish her precious memories are her children: Tomonco King of Spearsville, LA., Selena King-Hamilton of Killeen, TX., Carlo Clary of El Dorado, AR.; 2 current foster children: Treydan Penigar and Zaire Clark-Hicks; several other foster children; 12 grandchildren: Tomario, Anthony, Te'a, Chani, Earnest (Bailey), Ashley, Devontre, Caia, Kianna, Rochelle, Carter and Carson; 1 great-grandson, William; 3 sisters: Brenda (David) Watson, Linda Singleton, and Cynthia (Larry) Gatson all of Spearsville, LA.; Special Aunt, Earlie B. Green of Chicago, IL; Her Best Friend, Shirley Franks of Trenton, NC., and a host of nieces, nephews, friends, and a village who called her MOM.