Laverne Dukes King

NAOMI LAVERNE DUKES KING, peacefully, departed this life Saturday, April 30, 2022, at Mother Angeline McCrory Manor, with her step grandsons, Brian and David King, at her side.

LaVerne was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she graduated from the prestigious Girls’ High School. LaVerne earned a BS degree from Wilberforce University, in Wilberforce, Ohio, and a master’s in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania. A licensed Independent Social Worker, with membership in the National Association of Social Workers and the Academy of Certified Social Workers, LaVerne had a fulfilling career in the field of Social Work. She served for many years in the, then new, Social Work Department at Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, rising in position there to Supervisor, then Associate Director, and ultimately, Acting Director of the Clinical Department of Social Work. She said her greatest “high” was in helping and mentoring others, especially children and families. LaVerne volunteered at a YWCA and YMCA in Philadelphia; a nursing home in Gahanna, Ohio, where she worked with disabled, abused, and physically ill children; and she independently assisted elderly individuals.

LaVerne was a loving and very loyal family member and cherished her many friendships. She loved cats, music, dancing, partying, shows and musicals, photography, shopping, and traveling across the United States and abroad. Always colorful and confident, she liked experiencing new and exciting things. She was an active member of the Columbus Community, a Charter Member of The Columbus Chapter of The Girl Friends, Inc., where she was a quintessential member and National President from 1996 to 1998; a member of the Northeasterners, Inc., Columbus, Ohio Chapter and its National Financial Secretary (1998-2000); and a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., initiated in the Beta Chapter, Wilberforce University. She was a member of St. Phillip Episcopal Church, where she was married to her husband, William “Bill” King. LaVerne also continued her ties to her hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Orlando, Florida, where her parents and aunt resided.

LaVerne was preceded in death by her father, Oliver Dukes, Sr. and mother, Ethel Dukes; beloved husband of 27 years, William L. “Billy” King; brothers, Oliver Dukes Jr. and George (Ruth) Dukes; aunts, Clifford Wells (Dr. William Monroe Wells), Bertha Parham, and Mary Parham; sister and brother-in-law, Betty Pride Sawyer and William Wesley Sawyer; niece, Deborah M. Sawyer; step grandson, Kevin Jeffrey King; nephew-in-law, David McAllister; good friends, Minnie and Dr. John D. White; long-time companion, David “Duck” Hamlar, Sr., DDS.

She leaves to celebrate her life: brother, Howard (Millie) Dukes of Philadelphia, PA; nieces, Joyce Dukes, Patricia (Roosevelt) Dukes-Mickens, and Georgette Dukes-McAllister, all of Philadelphia, PA; Leslie J. (Rick Redmon) Sawyer of Columbus, OH and Chicago, IL; and nephews, George Dukes Jr. of Philadelphia, PA and William Gregory (Rita) Sawyer, Ph.D. of Corpus Christi, TX; stepdaughter, Karen (Fred) Phillips of Carson City, NV; stepson, William David (Patricia) King of Columbus, OH; step grandsons, William Brian King and David Allen King, both of Columbus, OH; Anthony Albert “Tony” King of Atlanta, GA; step granddaughter, Tiffanie Dawn King of Chicago, IL; step daughter-in-law, Theresa Harris; lifelong friend, Carmen Danley of Orlando, Florida; good friend, Linda Jackson of Columbus, OH; dear companion, Brigadier General Norris W. Overton, Ret. of McLean, VA.; and a host of other family and friends.