Connect with us

Entertainment

5 B.B. King Children Visit Body a Day Before Public Viewing

Published

on

Willie King, from left, Tanya Deckard, Patty King, Karen Williams, Barbara King Winfree and Rita Washington stand outside of a funeral home after a private family viewing of blues musician B.B. King Thursday, May 21, 2015, in Las Vegas. The family members attended a private viewing ahead of a public viewing scheduled for Friday. King died May 14 in Las Vegas at age 89. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Willie King, from left, Tanya Deckard, Patty King, Karen Williams, Barbara King Winfree and Rita Washington stand outside of a funeral home after a private family viewing of blues musician B.B. King Thursday, May 21, 2015, in Las Vegas. The family members attended a private viewing ahead of a public viewing scheduled for Friday. King died May 14 in Las Vegas at age 89. (AP Photo/John Locher)

KEN RITTER, Associated Press

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Five of B.B. King’s adult children visited the blues great one last time in private at a Las Vegas funeral home that will host a public viewing Friday ahead of a Saturday memorial service.

They said the King of the Blues was dressed in a signature purple and gold brocade jacket with black lapels. It wasn’t one of his most ornate.

But some among the group — daughters Karen Williams, Patty King, Rita Washington and Barbara King Winfree, and son Willie King — told The Associated Press Thursday that they didn’t think their father looked like himself.

Williams and Patty King accused King’s longtime business agent, LaVerne Toney, of keeping them from seeing their father for a week after he died May 14 at home at age 89 — and of preventing them from taking photos of him in his casket.

“A picture paints 1,000 words,” Patty King said as she showed cellphone images of the same family group with their father at his birthday in September. “He loved his children.”

The five family members refer to themselves as a family board. B.B. King is survived by eleven of his 15 children.

Toney, who worked for King for 39 years, has retained power-of-attorney over his affairs and estate despite several court challenges by Williams and Patty King.

Toney told AP she’s doing what B.B. King said he wanted.

“They want to do what they want to do, which is take over, I guess,” Toney said of the family group. “But that wasn’t Mr. King’s wishes. Mr. King would be appalled.”

B.B. King’s will, dated Jan. 18, 2007, and filed Wednesday under his birth name, Riley B. King, appoints Toney as sole executor of his affairs. Another daughter, Riletta Williams, was second in line, but she died last September.

Toney is banning the media and photographs of any kind during the public viewing from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Palm Mortuary on South Jones Boulevard.

Funeral director Matt Phillips said viewers will be able to file past the open casket and security officials will prevent photos. The media won’t be allowed inside.

King’s eldest daughter, Shirley King, who isn’t part of the group, has booked a Las Vegas Strip venue for what she said will be a free musical tribute event starting an hour after the public viewing ends.

“I don’t want to be part of the argument over his life,” said Shirley King, who lives in Chicago and performs as Daughter of the Blues.

She booked a room at the Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas at the Linq promenade to open at 8 p.m. Friday for what she said will be live music and remembrances.

“I don’t want to fight with family. I don’t want to fight with management,” she said. “When everybody gets through being sad about him leaving, I want them to come out and let the good times roll and be happy about his life.”

Saturday’s 11 a.m. memorial service at a Palm Mortuary chapel near downtown Las Vegas was announced as a gathering for family and friends only, but Toney said she doesn’t know who will attend.

Plans then call for a Wednesday procession with his body down Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee, and a Handy Park tribute.

After that, King’s body will be driven to Mississippi for another ceremony and burial May 30 at the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center in Indianola.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of March 19 – 25, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 19 – 25, 2025

Published

on

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

Continue Reading

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of March 12 – 18, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 12 – 18, 2025

Published

on

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

Continue Reading

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of March 5 – 11, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 5 – 11, 2025

Published

on

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

Continue Reading

Subscribe to receive news and updates from the Oakland Post

* indicates required

CHECK OUT THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE OAKLAND POST

ADVERTISEMENT

WORK FROM HOME

Home-based business with potential monthly income of $10K+ per month. A proven training system and website provided to maximize business effectiveness. Perfect job to earn side and primary income. Contact Lynne for more details: Lynne4npusa@gmail.com 800-334-0540

Facebook

#NNPA BlackPress3 weeks ago

Target Takes a Hit: $12.4 Billion Wiped Out as Boycotts Grow

U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (left) and Rep. Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12) (Right).
Activism1 month ago

U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Rep. Lateefah Simon to Speak at Elihu Harris Lecture Series

Blair Underwood (left) and Barbara Lee (right). Courtesy photo.
Activism1 month ago

Actor, Philanthropist Blair Underwood Visits Bay Area, Kicks Off Literacy Program in ‘New Oakland’ Initiative

Oakland City Hall. File photo.
Alameda County1 month ago

After Years of Working Remotely, Oakland Requires All City Employees to Return to Office by April 7

iStock.
Activism1 month ago

Lawsuit Accuses UC Schools of Giving Preference to Black and Hispanic Students

Barbara Lee. Courtesy photo.
Alameda County1 month ago

Lee Releases Strong Statement on Integrity and Ethics in Government

Activism1 month ago

Oakland Post: Week of February 5 – 11, 2025

Day laborer zone sites are scattered across several streets in East Oakland, California. The sites allow workers to find temporary jobs in skilled labor such as construction, landscaping, and agriculture. Photo by Magaly Muñoz.
Activism3 weeks ago

Undocumented Workers Are Struggling to Feed Themselves. Slashed Budgets and New Immigration Policies Bring Fresh Challenges

Activism1 month ago

Oakland Post: Week of February 12 – 18, 2025

Rep. Barbara Lee. File photo.
Activism1 month ago

Former U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee Reflects on Her Career as She Bids Farewell to Congress

iStock.
Activism1 month ago

NNPA Launches National Public Education and Selective Buying Campaign

Ricki Stevenson, Blacks in Paris. Courtesy photo.
Activism1 month ago

Retired Bay Area Journalist Finds Success in Paris with Black History Tours

#NNPA BlackPress3 weeks ago

BREAKING Groundbreaking Singer Angie Stone Dies in Car Accident at 63

Paul Robeson. Public domain.
Arts and Culture1 month ago

Paul Robeson: A Voice for the Ages, A Champion for Justice

iStock.
Activism1 month ago

Two New California Bills Are Aiming to Lower Your Prescription Drug Costs

Trending

Copyright ©2021 Post News Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.