Longtime area resident, Harriet Susan Rogers King Hufstedler died Thursday, August 7, 2014 at her residence. After a private interment at Florence Cemetery, a memorial service to celebrate her life will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Florence, Alabama at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 13. The family will receive friends at her home between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday and after the service in the church library.
Mrs. King was born June 27, 1912, and with the exception of the World War II years, lived in Florence all of her life. She was the only child of Virginia Irvine Sherrod and Benjamin Armstead Rogers, Jr. Her family was among the earliest settlers and developers of this area in North Alabama. Her father, uncle and grandfather founded Rogers Department Store. Her maternal family was instrumental in the development of the pioneer steamboat lines and railroad connections of the Shoals area.
Mrs.King and her first husband, Madding King, raised their children at Irvine Place where five generations of her family had lived. Irvine Place is now known as Coby Hall. She was always interested in North Alabama’s treasured landmarks, many of which were associated with her Irvine, Foster and Watkins families; namely Courtview, now known as Rogers Hall, Hickory Place, Mapleton and, Irvine Place.
Mrs. King was a graduate of Stuart Hall School in Staunton, Virginia and the Ogontz School in Rydal, Pennsylvania. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Florence, the Alamance Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Hypathian Literary Club, the Maud Lindsay Free Kindergarten Club, Kennedy Douglass Center for the Arts and the Shoals Master Gardners.
She was the widow of Madding King and Dr. Joe Gideon Hufstedler. Also, preceding her in death was a son, Madding King, Jr. She is survived by her daughters, Sherrod King Allen and husband William Joseph Allen, Jr. of Mt. Pleasant, SC. Harriet King Gussoni and husband Aldo Luigi Roberto Gussoni of Florence, Italy, Ellen Irvine King of OR, son, Dr. Benjamin Rogers King and wife Carla Miller King of Huntsville, AL and daughter-in-law, Charlotte McCauley King of Birmingham, AL. Grandchildren are Lt. Col. William Joseph Allen, III, USAF(Retired) of Mt. Pleasant, SC, Irvine Allen Gaskin of Spring Island, SC, Madding King, III of Birmingham, AL, Charles Hartman King of Lugana Beach, CA, Lara Catherine Gussoni of Mountain View, CA, Deborah Gussoni Mohr of Cumberland, ME, Roberto Giampaolo Gussoni of Gorle, Italy, Benjamin Rogers King, Jr. of Atlanta, GA, and Bradley King Fogelman of Memphis TN. She also had thirteen great grand children.
A special word of thanks is extended to Mrs. King’s caregivers including doctors, nurses, therapists, and personal caregivers who have given so much to ensure her comfort and well being.
For those contemplating a remembrance, in lieu of flowers, please consider First Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 550,Florence, AL 35631, Kennedy Douglass Center for the Arts, 217 E. Tuscaloosa St., Florence, AL 35630 or a local charity organization of their choice.
Elkins Funeral Home of Florence invites you to leave online condolences at www.elkinsfuneralhome.com
