John Charles King was born on September 18, 1942, in Hardeeville, SC to the late John King and Lena Shiggs King. He attended the Jasper County School system in South Carolina until graduating in 1960. In 1961 John moved to New York and lived with his cousins Charles and Joseph. Upon moving to Lakewood, NJ in 1989 and marrying Carol Pettis-King he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and joined Sixth Street Baptist Church in Lakewood, NJ.

After graduating from the Monmouth Bible Institute, John became ordained as a deacon under Rev. Dr. Edward D. Harper of Macedonia Baptist Church, Lakewood, NJ. In the year 2010 John joined Hope Cathedral Church in Jackson, NJ where he remained a faithful and wholehearted servant until his death.

For 17 years, John was employed by the MTA of MaBSTOA as a city bus driver. His favorite route was the 29 bus which traveled from Manhattan to the Bronx.

After his retirement, John attended Toms River Vocational School and discovered one of his favorite hobbies such as working on automobiles. His other hobbies included watching football and basketball games, track and field, and tennis. During the summer he loved to cook on the barbeque grill and this is where he created his famous barbeque sauce.  John also loved animals, especially his beloved cat Jasmine and dog Isabella.

On Saturday, September 3, 2016, God saw the road was getting rough and the hills too hard to climb, so He closed his eyes and whispered, "Peace be thine" at Jersey Shore Medical Center, Neptune City, NJ.

His Legacy of Love will be missed by his wife, Carol Pettis-King, Manchester, NJ; loving and devoted children, Sharn Ulmer, NY (deceased), Damon Ulmer, NY, John Kevin King, Atlanta, GA, Tammy Barnes, Savannah, GA, and Lena King, Aberdeen, MD; step-daughter, Christine Pettis, Plano, TX; stepson, Lee Pettis, Las Vegas, NV; sister, Edna Mae Dopson (Albert deceased), Hardeeville, SC (deceased); mother-in-law, Anna Palmer; three sisters-in-law, Joanne Lloyd (Hank deceased) Bronx, NY, Geraldine Markland (Milton) Charlotte, NC, and Jacqueline Norris (Jerry) Washingtonville, NY; three brothers-in-law, Raymond McNeil (Diane) Freeburg, PA, Robert Palmer, Bronx, NY, and Rodney Palmer, Bronx, NY; childhood best-friend, James Proctor (Helen); and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces, cousins, relatives, and friends.

With great sorrow we will ALWAYS love and miss you. Until we meet again.