Juanita May King

“Women Who Behave Rarely Make History”

Eleanor Roosevelt
“He Loved Her So Gently He Drew Her Away….”

Juanita M. Harris King, formerly of Greenfield, MA, Boston, MA and Conyers, GA., passed peacefully in both her daughters’ arms on Mother’s Day, May, 9, 2021. She was 86 years old.

Born on March 9, 1935 in Greenfield, Massachusetts to Myrtle Liberty Hall Harris and Calvin Rufus Harris, Sr., Juanita was a precocious and musically gifted child in both voice and piano. She graduated from Greenfield High School in 1953 where her love of Opera began under the tutelage of Mrs. Jane Russell, a township music lover and Juanita’s musical benefactor. With her Mother’s and Mrs. Russel’s encouragement, she sang in the GHS Chorale and local and state singing competitions, all of which she won. She received a scholarship to continue her musical education at The New England Conservatory of Music, studying under Roland Hayes as a Classical Pianist and Opera Singer. While at NECM she received a scholarship to attend the Sorbonne in Paris, France, however, she felt a higher calling and stayed at home to marry our Father, Frankie. A prolific Mezzo Soprano, she recorded with both the Boston Philharmonic and the Philadelphia Philharmonic. She married Francis L.M. King, Sr. (Frankie) in October 1956 and from their union three children were born, Francis Jr. (Toby), Torreen (Reenie) and Christine (Kissy/Chrissy). The racial climate in Boston would not allow her to perform in major venues as a Black Opera singer and the promoters wanted to bill her as Hawaiian, but Juanita refused to be considered as anything other than who she was. Shortly thereafter Europe contacted her to sing there but, pregnant with her 3rd child, she turned it down, even though her beloved Frankie told her to go and he’d take care of the kids. Juanita was always family 1st.

Juanita and Frankie raised their family in Boston, Massachusetts. Juanita worked for Harvard Community Health Plan, and then Eaton Corporation as a Management Liaison for Japanese Investments. Because of this position, she had to learn to speak Japanese, which she did while simultaneously earning her Master’s in Education from Antioch College in 1981. Juanita and Frankie were activists in their community and were elected Board Members of Model Cities in Boston, a Federal Program aimed at improving the life quality of inner-city people throughout the nation. Their home was always a haven for friends and family, full of music, good food and lively political discussions. After Frankie passed away in 1996, Juanita started a new chapter of her life in Conyers, GA with her daughter Torreen and her family.

Juanita continued to sing as a guest artist in many venues, most notably for the NAACP in Georgia, the Conyers Chorale and local churches. She joined a group of traveling seniors and “ran the party circuit” from Atlanta to New Rochelle, New York. In her later years she taught piano to local children in the Conyers area, many of whom grew up and brought their own children back to be taught by “Ms. Juanita”.

Predeceased by both her beloved Husband Frankie and Her son Frank, she leaves to honor her memory, and keep the faith, her daughters, Torreen A.M. Cummings (nee Ernest) of Conyers, GA and Christine E.L. Houston-Lacy of Lawnside, NJ; Grandchildren Francis L.M. King III (Frank); Angelique G.S. Cummings, Lauren A.D. Cumming and Darren Borden (Torreen & Ernest), Robert E. Houston, Jr., Rachel Lacy, Jessica Lacy and Sarah Lacy (Christine); Great Grandchildren Justin Johnson (Rachel); Omari, Imani, Jaylen, Jalani and Joshua Borden (Darren & Stephanie); Great-Great Grandson Brandon Borden (Imani); Son-In-Laws Ernest Cummings Jr., Robert Houston Sr. and Mark Lacy; beloved nephews Michael & Leonard King, her lifelong Best Friend Nancy Decareau, daughters by love Valerie Stevens and Jackie Jones-Garrison and a host of other nieces, nephews and friends.

Juanita King Funeral Mass Live Stream from Essence of Life Video on Vimeo.