Obituary: Kevin Shepard King

Kevin Shepard King, age 73, of Atlanta, Ga., beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend and philanthropist, passed away Saturday, August 14, 2021.

Kevin was born in 1947 in Brooklyn, New York, to Dr. Eugene King, a veterinarian, and Alice, an office manager at Lynchburg Plate Glass Company. Kevin grew up in Lynchburg, Va., and earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Virginia, where he and his fraternity brothers successfully fought to desegregate UVA’s Pi Lambda Phi chapter.

Kevin next earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia School of Law and practiced law for many years. In the 1980s he was instrumental in growing A.L. Williams & Associates into the highest grossing seller of term life insurance in the United States. He served on the Fidelity National Bank board of directors for more than twenty years.

A long-time resident of Atlanta, Kevin was an early advocate for establishing the city of Sandy Springs. Through the years, the mayors of Sandy Springs relied on Kevin’s sharp legal mind as a trusted advisor. Family, friends and colleagues — some new, some dating back more than six decades — describe him as a kind soul, a true optimist, and an eternal student of life.

Kevin dove into hobbies, from photography to cooking and pottery. He loved animals, often combining his passions by photographing dogs up for adoption for local shelters. He frequently donated his time and was an enthusiastic philanthropist, supporting many causes such as Israel, animals and the underserved.

Kevin was deeply devoted to studying the Torah. He attended Daf Yomi classes and studied Talmud daily for many years, was a member of the Hebrew Order of David, served as president of Congregation Beth Tefillah from 2001-2003 and Executive Director of the Greenfield Hebrew Academy (now Atlanta Jewish Academy) from 2007-2009.

Kevin is survived by his wife Claire, brother Gerald (Mimi), daughter Lauren (Bryan) Gershkowitz, son Brian (Sarah) King and grandchildren Ethan and Noah King.

The family held a private funeral on Sunday, August 15, 2021, arranged by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care. Memorial donations may be made to Congregation Beth Tefillah. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

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