Virdie Opal King

Virdie Opal Manning King

May 18, 1947 – November 4, 2026

Virdie Opal Manning King, 79, of Morton, Mississippi, passed away at her home on November 4, 2026. She was born and raised in Morton, the same town she proudly called home throughout her life.

Born on May 18, 1947, to James Wardell Manning and Dora Lee Cooper Manning, Opal was raised with the values of hard work, determination, and family. Her parents taught her early in life that hard work wasn't something you talked about; it was simply something you did. She carried those lessons with her throughout her life.

Opal was a devoted wife, loving mother, and woman of strong faith who loved the Lord. She shared 50 years of marriage with her beloved husband, Edistel "Eddie" King. She is survived by her husband, Eddie; her daughter, Keidra King; her son-in-law, Tray Allen; her special friend, Marilyn Garner; numerous nieces and nephews; and her brother-in-law, Gene Gray.

Opal loved gardening and farming and found joy in working with her hands. She was also an avid reader who developed a love for books that she eventually passed along to generations of children.

She worked for many years at Pitney Bowes in Jackson, Mississippi, until the company closed. She later began working in a school cafeteria before becoming an assistant teacher at Morton Elementary. She also worked in the school library, where one of her greatest joys was teaching children to love reading. She left a little piece of herself in the lives of the many children she taught and encouraged.

Above all else, Opal loved her children more than life itself. Her family was her world, and there was never any question about where her heart belonged. If you knew Opal, you knew that although she may have been small in stature, she was certainly not small in spirit. She was feisty, strong-willed, determined, and never afraid to speak her mind.

The last two years of her life were marked by the heartbreak of her son Ward's disappearance. The pain of not knowing where her baby was weighed heavily on her heart. Though she fought through that sorrow, she often longed to be reunited with the loved ones who had gone before her. We find comfort in believing that she is now home with the Lord, reunited with her parents, siblings, and her beloved son.

She was preceded in death by her parents, James Wardell and Dora Lee Manning; her beloved son, Ward; her sisters, Gertrude, Jimmie Dee, Maggie Lee, and Mary Ann; her brother, Truman Manning, who helped take the place of their father after his passing when Opal was just 13 years old; her brothers-in-law, Hamp Pierce, Ed Lingle, and Homer Willingham; and her sister-in-law, Zelle Manning.

To her daughter, she was so much more than a mother. She was her best friend for 48 years. Being able to care for her during her final days was a blessing that will forever be treasured. Though saying goodbye is heartbreaking, the love they shared will never end.

Opal leaves behind a legacy of hard work, faith, fierce love, and countless memories. She will be missed beyond words, but her love will live on in the family she cherished and the lives she touched.

Memorial services will be held on November 22, 2026, at 2:00 pm at Polkville Park, 6280 MS -13, Morton, Mississippi.