Obit – Mr. Jacky King Sr.
Lifelong Carthage resident and a highly decorated military service man who made three deployments, Mr. Jacky King Sr. departed his earthly journey at 2:18 p.m. Sunday afternoon October 18th, 2026 at the age of 65 at his Third Avenue East home. He was both an Army and Marine veteran of the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq Wars.
Mr. King was at the Carthage Chapel of Sanderson Funeral Home where his funeral services were conducted on Friday afternoon October 23rd at 1 p.m. His son, Eld. Jacky King Jr. delivered the eulogy and prayer and his sister, Carolyn King Lancaster moderated and read the scripture.
A chapel military tribute to Mr. King’s years of service to our country was conducted by American Legion Post # 57 of Carthage.
He was born Jacky King at the former Smith County Memorial Hospital on March 22, 1961 and was one of three sons and three daughters of the late Andrew Jackson (Jack) King who died on May 15, 1992 at the age of 75 and Laura Louise Ferrell King who died August 10, 2008 at the age of 87.
A sister, Doris Ann (Gran) King Gibbs preceded him in death on February 20, 2025 at the age of 83 and a brother, John Harold King who died March 11, 1999 at the age of 53.
Mr. King was a 1979 graduate of Snith County High School where he excelled in sports and played football all four years and was a member of the “C” Club all four years.
Jacky was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Carthage native, Zina Angela Evans. the ceremony was performed at the Braden United Methodist Church in Carthage by Rev. Johnny Grimes.
He was a member of the United States Marines, the United States Army and the Army National Guard. His service was from April 3, 1980 and was discharged April 2, 1983 at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina with the rank of Lance Corporal. For that tour of duty, he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, and an M-16 Marksman Badge.
From 1994 until 2004 he served ten years, two months and sixteen days and was again honorably discharged with the rank of Staff Sergent. During this period, he was assigned to the 1175th Quarter Master Petroleum Fuel Unit.
For nine years he was a motor transport operator and for eighteen years was a petroleum Supply Specialist. He was mobilized in Operation Iraqi Freedom twice and also served during the Persian Gulf Conflict and Afghanistan War and in Desert Storm.
With the termination of retirement, he was awarded the Marine Corp Good Conduct Medal, Army Service Ribbon, two National Defense Service Medals, Southwest Asia Service with three Bronze Stars, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon, Overseas Service Bar, Army Commendation Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Reserve Components Achieve Medal (2 awards) and the Army Achievement Medal.
He was saved as a teenager and was baptized into the full fellowship of the Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Carthage where he remained a member at death.
He was a longtime member of the Smith County Fire Department Central District Town of Carthage Fire Department & the Smith County Rescue Squad.
His final civilian retirement was as a truck driver for the Smith County Highway Department, from which he retired in 2019 because of failing health.
Surviving in addition to his wife Zina of over forty-four years are their two children, the daughter, Jacinta King Jackson and Jason of South Carthage; Eld. Jacky King Jr. and Cayte of Hendersonville; three surviving siblings, Billy King of Cookeville, Carolyn King Lancaster of Gordonsville, Darlene King Gist also of Cookeville; six grandchildren, Evan King, Evangelina King, Olyvia King, Caylee Lou King, Zealand Jackson and Jordan Jackson; sister-in-law, Lanette Tillman of Frankford, Kentucky; brothers-in-law, Eric Evans and wife Becky of the Riddleton Community, Byron Evans and wife Anne of the Elmwood Community, Trent Evans and companion Sandra of Hartsville.
SANDERSON of CARTHAGE
