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Julie King has played many roles, both in her 29
years at the Christian Village and on stage with the Lincoln
Community Theater.
At Christian Village, Julie King has had eight
different positions over the past 29 years which include Resident
Services Director, Director of Independent Living Services,
Assistant Administrator, Community Liaison, Director of
Admissions/Concierge, Social Services Director, Activity Supervisor
and Activity Aide.
King has a number of favorite memories from working with residents
of the Christian Village. For instance, she loved singing for the
residents, especially those who were passing. She also enjoyed
organizing a Mother’s Day Tea. A fun memory King has is dressing up
like Cupid in Long John’s, boxer shorts and wings plus carrying a
bow and arrow.
A wedding dress fashion show Julie organized is a
special memory for her because she found her wedding dress there.
Finally, King loved being able to reach into the mind of someone
with Alzheimer's and share a moment of clarity and presence with
them.
Working with people with Alzheimer's helped Julie King be alert to
its signs.
According to Paul Boatman, “Julie King was the first person ever to
"diagnose" Dad's Alzheimer's. We suspected it, but back in the
mid-90s medical personnel typically avoided diagnosis. The only firm
diagnosis was an autopsy, which left caregivers in the position of
not having access to appropriately focused assistance, but Julie,
who interacted with Dad on the Christian Village Campus, where he
had an apartment, merely observed that Russell Boatman acted the way
that people in early-stage Alzheimer's typically acted.”
As Boatman said, “Her experienced observation enabled us to do
further research and equip ourselves to deal with his progressive
dementia. He never was medically diagnosed, but when 16 of 16
"markers" were identified, we knew Julie was right on target.”
Additionally, Boatman said, “15 years later, as the science and
knowledge of Alzheimer's progressed and my insight was intensified
as my late wife developed the disease, I sought affirmation from
Alzheimer's Association to start a support group for Alzheimer's
caregivers. Julie was the obvious choice for co-facilitating the
group. She always served well, and the caregiving community knew her
as a trusted partner in difficult times.”
On Friday, May 17, the Christian Village held a retirement party in
the Congregate building’s dining hall. The full room of people
showed just how many lives she touched.
In a prayer at Julie’s retirement party, former
Christian Nursing Home Chaplain Ryan Edgecombe, who worked with her
for many years, spoke of her impact. Edgecombe said residents became
like family to Julie in her years of ministry at the Christian
Village. He then said Julie put her whole self [into the work] and
allowed people to see the love of Jesus.
Carolyn Neal, who has known the Kings many years said, “Julie eased
the transition of my mother’s move to The Christian Village a long
time ago with her genuine hospitality and understanding of delicate
dynamics. Julie was a critical component of the care group, but more
importantly was the one person who could read troubled faces, feel
burdened hearts, and stop in the middle of the hallway to put her
arms around you and pray.”
In reflecting on Julie’s retirement, Neal said, “I join Julie’s
family, clients, and friends in praying for a marvelous,
well-deserved ‘retirement.’ I know that Julie relates to the
dragonfly with its ability to go in any direction as needed. She is
a very beautiful Dragonfly Lady, so her retirement will simply
continue her life’s great adventure.”
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The Neals and the Kings both attend Lincoln Christian
Church, and Carolyn Neal has seen Julie’s heart for people there
too. Neal spoke of Julie’s character saying, “As a matter of fact, I
dearly love to hear Julie pray ~ in the nursing home, at home Bible
study sessions, at the end of a meeting, in Sunday School class,
over someone in need, quietly in your ear or over the phone. Her
sense of empathy is exceptional, matched only by her unbridled yet
gentle acts of kindness. It doesn’t seem to even occur to her to
hold back at an opportunity to serve. How does she have so much to
give? She totally relies on Christ to use her to His glory.”
Both Julie and Barry King, her husband of 23 years,
have long served on the Ministry Team for the Harvest of Talents for
World Hunger. Neal has served with Julie and Barry on the Harvest of
Talents for World Hunger Ministry Team for many years and said, “I
am a key witness to their amazing creativity.”
Neal has seen the King’s creativity “evidenced by the work of their
hands and by their endeavors to problem-solve, their energy in
giving what it takes to get the job done and ideas as they worked
hours on end to help events and projects come to fruition.” As Neal
said the Kings “truly believe they are blessed to be a Blessing.
Their hearts for the hungry compel them to use their myriads of
talents to help raise funds to alleviate hunger in Jesus’ name.
Because they work so well as a couple, complementing each other’s
strengths, they are such a valued addition to ministry.”
It is Julie’s leadership that Neal said helped bring forth the
Junior Harvest Team. Neal said, “She and Barry have long provided
artistic expertise in helping display hundreds of handcrafted items
for the popular Harvest Day live auction and have made lots of
unique and delightful repurposed articles that are sought after by
Harvest supporters every year. They can make such beautiful items
out of discarded, unrelated pieces, often reminiscent of beauty from
ashes.” But it’s in the way they encourage, support, and uplift
others that Neal particularly admires.
As the Kings make “beauty from ashes,” they have
turned a broken sideboard into a high back bench and taken an old
oscillating fan and made it into a lamp. Coffee pots have been
turned into bird feeders or lamps. Barry and Julie once took a
headboard and made it into a bench. They have also used old
suitcases to make a dresser. An outboard motor was made into a table
and a toboggan was made into a wine holder. These are just some of
the ways the Kings have used their creativity to help bless people.
Tim Searby has known the Kings for many years from
the Christian Village and Lincoln Christian Church and has also been
in Lincoln Community Theater productions with them. What Searby has
noticed about the Kings is their willingness to serve.
As Searby said, “Julie and Barry King are true servants of God. They
have blessed literally hundreds of people through their generosity
and genuine love for others.” In addition, Searby said, “They are
also two of the funniest people I know. I thank my God for their
friendship and witness.”
Julie and Barry King are definitely a Blessing to many! Neal said,
“With a cherished and longstanding friendship developed over many
years, I am so grateful for them, and I know our community is richer
because of their big, big hearts and tireless hours devoted to
serving others with rare dedication, compassion, cheerfulness, wit,
and resourcefulness. Whether you know one or both of them, you
benefit!”
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