In 1938, she caught the eye of a beginning young preacher, Elder Felton King,. who had just been sent to pastor Church #3. They later became engaged and were advised by the Overseer J.W. Taylor, that they should marry soon. Because their obedience to the leader, on December 24, 1938 they were married. Their first child named Felton Eugene was born the following year on December 22, 1939.
In the early years. because she was the wife of the pastor. she played an active role in the fund raising events and building projects for the property which Is now known as The Greater Emmanuel Church of God in Christ.
• The original church was located at 7th Avenue & Buchannan, which was an old mortuary building, and the family lived in the back quarters of that location.
• The church moved to 1322 West Sherman. where a wood frame building was erected,. built by her Father Jim Curry and a friend.
• Later there was a block constructed building in the sarne location.
In 1950. her husband ventured 10 buy property at the current location on the comer of l6th Avenue and Buckeye Rd. She sold mouth-watering pies, and dinners to help in raising the money to buy the property. She also helped her husband in his contracting ventures, where she ran a chuck wagon in the cotton contracting building. Nine years after the birth of their son. Teresa Carol united with the family. As a surprise to both, Nineteen years and 5 months after their first born child, they gave birth to Rhonda Antoinette King, this completed their family and the rest is history.
She was married to Felton King for more than 66 years. Lorene stood by her husband's side as he moved through all of the many assignments that he held such as:
• He served as Pastor of Emmanuel Church of God in Christ. for over 60 years
• He served dually as Pastor of Mt. Olive Church of God in Christ in Tucson AZ. for 13 years,
• Bishop of the Arizona Jurisdiction of the Church~ o r God in Christ for 29 years.
Lorene and Felton have left a listing legacy that will continue the walk they both labored tirelessly to build, the family has a wealth of preachers, pastors, superintendents, missionaries, evangelist educators, administrators, clerical and IT specialist, service delivery agent, College counselor, social service technician, behavioral health counselor, Federal government agent, and a newly consecrate Bishop.
Mother Lorene King
In the year of 1916 Lorene Curry Was born to the union of Jim Curry and Susie Brooks Curry She was the 4th of the5 children born to the union in Boley, Oklahoma. Both her parents and all of her siblings, Naomi, Milton, L.C., and Ruth have preceded her in death. The family moved to Phoenix, Arizona when she was only 3 years old. Her schooling began in 1927 giving her the distinction of being one of the first elementary students at Dunbar School.
She attended Phoenix Union Colored School which later became Carver High School. Upon graduation from high school, her love of cooking and sewing led her to pursue a degree in home economics at the junior college which later became Phoenix College. The work history includes working as an aide and cook with Phoenix Elementary School District and a cook with St. Pius Day Care center. Her calling was that of a “Domestic Engineer.”
Her spiritual training began at Lucy Philips CME Church where her parents were charter members. She was very active in the church administration and was a committed church attendee. Because there was no Sunday night service at the Methodist church, the family often attended the Holiness Church, which was then called Church #2.
Emmanuel Church Of God In Christ
