Robbie Nell Cooper King, 88, of Madison, Alabama, passed peacefully from this life at her home on Monday, October 12th. She was born on January 10, 1932. A 1950 graduate of Lauderdale County High School, she married her sweetheart, John Hiram King, in 1953. They moved to Arab, Alabama in 1964 where they owned and managed King’s Store on Main Street for 36 years. Robbie’s keen eye for fashion and great business sense proved invaluable to the success of their clothing business. Robbie received a degree in psychology from the Alabama School of Religion in 1982. While living in Arab, Robbie was an active member of the Arab Church of Christ where she shared her gift for teaching ladies’ classes. She also loved to host showers and teas for the brides of the congregation. Robbie was a lovely homemaker and will be remembered by the family for her signature angel food and Coca Cola cakes. Robbie moved to Madison in 2005 to be near family. She was a member of the Madison Church of Christ.
Robbie loved to travel! Among the treasured places she visited were Hawaii, Alaska, and The Holy Lands-where she loved visiting places she had spent her life learning about through her Biblical studies. A special memory she shared was riding a camel in Egypt! But perhaps her favorite place to vacation was the Great Smokey Mountains in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, where she and her husband owned beautiful mountain property.
Robbie’s highest calling, however, was being chosen to be the mother of her special-needs son, John David. Her patience, wisdom, and unfailing love coupled with her desire to see John excel truly have become the wind beneath his wings. Robbie also found a special way to minister to other parents of children with special needs to encourage and support them.
Robbie was preceded in death by her devoted husband of 46 years, Hiram King, her parents, Faires and Annie Cooper, and her siblings Bonnie Joiner, Joyce McLemore, Betty Whitehead, and Faires Cooper, Jr.
She is survived by her son, the light of her life, John David King of Madison, two sisters,
Emma Goode, of Rogersville, and Eula Goode, also of Rogersville. She is also survived by a host of nieces and nephews from both the King and Cooper families who adored her and considered her as a second mother. “Aunt Robbie” is a term of endearment used not only by them, but by many friends who knew and loved her as well.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, October 15th, at two o’clock in the afternoon at Legacy Chapel Funeral Home in Madison. Her body will lie in state for one half hour prior. Ken Tyler and Mike Winkler will officiate. Due to Covid concerns, no visitation will be held and all guests are required to wear masks, as well as socially distance. A graveside service will follow at Cooper Cemetery in Rogersville, Alabama at four o’clock. Nephews will serve as pallbearers.
The family wishes to thank Lauren Caraway, Martha Jane Kirby, Liz Moore, Susan Moore, and Odessa Robinson, the wonderful care givers, who have lovingly attended Aunt Robbie and John during the past two years. Also, a special thank you to “In Good Hands Home Health Care” and Kindred Hospice.
Memorial donations may be made to Heritage Christian University for the Betty Whitehead Memorial Scholarship Fund (3625 Helton Drive, Florence, AL 35630), Arab Church of Christ Missions Fund (1005 North Main Street, Arab, AL 35016), or Madison Church of Christ Missions Fund (556 Hughes Road, Madison, AL 35758).
