James Augustus King III, age 70, passed away peacefully at his residence on Sunday, March 8, 2026. A man of tireless work ethic, James was a fixture of the Decatur business landscape for decades.
Born on July 8, 1955, to the late James A. King II and Martha Nell Raines King, James grew up with an entrepreneurial spirit. He and his family were the owners of River City Sales (formerly King Foods), a cornerstone of his professional life. His career was marked by versatility and a desire to help others; he helped open the King-Wynn Insurance Agency and later got his license to help his son-in-law as an agent. In his later years, served the community as a realtor with Lake Coast Realty.
Outside of his professional achievements, James was a man of distinct hobbies. He found great joy in the craftsmanship of the past, spending many hours admiring sports cars, and his passion for building rockets. Above all, he was a devoted family man and a lover of animals, specifically his fur baby, “Princess” if you know, you know – Punky.
James’s legacy of hard work and kindness lives on through his large and loving family. He is survived by his wife, Sydney Lowery King; his children, Jennifer (Ken) Wynn, James “Jake” (Kristin) King IV, Courtney Holland Serrano, Shelley (Ehren) Vaden, and Nicolas Walker; and his eight cherished grandchildren: Kayla Wynn, Hayden Wynn, Cali (Caleb) Vice-Warnick, Lily King, Jaxen Serrano, Izabela Serrano, Lawson Vaden, and Adley Vaden.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Allison King; his sister, Jamie Heim; and his parents.
A private graveside service will be held at a later date and time to honor James’s memory.
The family is being assisted by Decatur Brown Service Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, donation can be made to the Special Olympics, St. Jude and Meals on Wheels.
