Valerie King

Precious Life

Valerie King (Valley Rae) was born on Tuesday, December 10, 1935 in Grenada Mississippi to Spence Beck and Amelia Robinson; her parents preceded her in Death.

Valerie was the 7th child out of 14 (two died at childbirth); Lerlie Lee White, Marie Nellum, Otha Beck, Pearlie Mae Beck; Tommy James Roberson, Johnny Robinson and Pastor Charlie E. Robinson preceded her in death.

Valerie, known as “Bae Bae”, accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at Providence Baptist Church by Pastor W.L. Terrell in the Blue Lake River.  As a teenager, Valerie was a Daughter of the Order of the Eastern Star.  She attended Stone Street High School in Greenwood, Mississippi.  Valerie moved to Chicago in 1953 and worked at Sweet Corp Candy Manufacturer Company (Tootsie Roll) on the West-side of Chicago.  Valerie returned to Greenwood, Mississippi in 1954 to give birth to her first child.  She went on to marry Minnie King Jr. on December 23, 1955. To this union, six children were born.  Two of her children, Edger Jerome and Maurice Colavito King, preceded her in death.

Valerie earned her Associate Degree from Triton College and became an entrepreneur.   She was the proud owner of King’s Daycare.   She devoted her life to her children. When they were younger, she would take them, three at a time, on excursions all throughout Chicago. Whether it was a trip to a museum, the movies or the zoo each adventure would end at the Woolworth’s in downtown Chicago for a snack.  Valerie was quite the mother!  While living on the south side, in the late 60’s, when gangs were recruiting younger boys and girls, she would fight them off with the fierceness she became legendary for.  She covered the ground she and her children walked on with prayer and wisdom, vowing to keep them safe at all costs. Valerie’s favorite pastimes included playing cards, traveling with her sisters, binge watching westerns, and spending time her grandchildren.

Valerie was a member of Holy Starlight Missionary Baptist Church under the spiritual guidance of her brother, Pastor C.E. Robinson, until her failing health prevented her attendance. There was a special bond and extreme respect between the two. Pastor Robinson was the only person who could stop Valerie mid-sentence with a simple “Now,Val…” and she would actually stop and listen. This was rare because she was always going to make sure her opinion was heard.

Her love will forever live on in her five children: Valeria Denise Neal, Booker Tyrone  King (Michelle), William Marcus King (Robin) of Bloomington, Il, Electra Ann King, Minnieetta Gibson (Dureya) of South Haven, Mi. Valerie has a growing legacy with her twelve grandchildren: Mandisa Dowsey, John Maurice King, Aisha Davis, Candise Deese, John Dwayne King, Bonita Crocket, Colton King, Maya Stainback, Jabria Stainback, LaDabi Neal, Elijah King and Noah King; Nine great-grandchildren: Kayla King, DaQwan Davis, Migoni Dowsey, Maurice, Madison, and Melody Deese,  Jonathan King, Loyalty King, John Drake King, Layla Crocket, and Jayci Alyse Shaw. She leaves to cherish her memory with four sisters and one brother; Deloris Pruitt (Berley) of New Smyrna Beach, FL, Dorthy Wilson, Ernye McNeal (Charles), Patricia Ann Lipsey (Arthur) of Kansas City, KS and Robert Roberson of Houston TX.