Charles B. King

Last updated October 8, 2026

Charles B. King, serving ably and satisfactorily as superintendent of schools of Jackson county, is a native son of this section, born December 9, 1883. His father, Isaac P. King, was also a native of Florida and spent his entire active life engaged in agricultural pursuits, interrupting his farming operations only in order to serve in the Civil war. He was in the Confederate army under Captain John L. Davis and was three years at the front, taking part in many hotly contested engagements and receiving a serious wound at the battle of Marianna. He married Miss Rebecca Lockey, a daughter of John P. Lockey, well known as a Methodist preacher and as a veteran of the Seminole Indian war. She was also a native of Florida. To their union were born nine children: Clara, who was killed by lightning; Edgar H., who makes his home in Tampa; Eva, Jack L. and Estella, all of whom have passed away; Isaac H., who is manager of the Ware Mercantile Company of St. Andrew; Charles B., of this review; Dr. Joseph S., who lives in Marianna, Florida; and one daughter, who died in infancy.

At the age of sixteen Charles B. King left his father’s farm and came to Marianna, where he attended high school for one year, going at the end of that time to De Funiak Springs, where he spent three years in the State Normal School. He made good use of his time and opportunities and fitted himself for teaching, engaging in that occupation in Walton county for one year after leaving school. He was afterward for a similar period principal of the Graceville school and followed this by one year as assistant principal of the Marianna high school. For five years thereafter he did able and conscientious work as principal of the Sneads high school, rising in his profession steadily as his ability and worth became more widely known. In 1912 he was elected superintendent of the schools of Jackson county and he is now serving in this capacity. He has already done much for the betterment of educational affairs in this locality, being progressive in his ideas and modern and up-to-date in his methods. He has in addition made himself very popular with the residents of Marianna and is a man held in high esteem by all who know him.

Mr. King married, December 23, 1907, Miss Nellie Gordon Godfrey, a daughter of Orson Peck and Elizabeth Lee Godfrey. Her father died when she was quite small and her mother afterward married S. W. Coley. Mr. and Mrs. King have three children: Charles Bryan, born January 9, 1909; Isaac Godfrey, whose birth occurred August 5, 1910; and Rebecca, born October 31, 1912.

Mr. King is a member of the Methodist church and fraternally is connected with the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen of the World. He has become widely known in educational circles of Jackson county, his excellent record as superintendent of schools having won quick recognition. A man of more than ordinary ability, the success he has attained is well deserved, due, as it is, to his own energy, ability and well directed labor. His strength of character and his honorable public record constitute him a valuable addition to Marianna in the ranks of her citizenship and a native son, of whom Jackson county has every reason to be proud.