A.D. King Foundation

The Reverend Doctor A. D. Williams King Foundation

About Rev. Alfred Daniel Williams King, I

Childhood:

Born in 1932 to Dr. and Mrs. Martin Luther King, Sr., A. D. was the third and last living child. A. D. was a fun loving and adventurous child, full of jokes and pranks. He was also very athletic. He attended both public and private schools.

Young Adult Life:

As a young man, A. D. married Naomi Barber. They began their family, which would result in five children (Alveda, Alfred II (d), Derek I, Darlene (d) and Vernon. During this time, A.D. accepted the call to ministry and also finished his college education by graduating from Morehouse College in Atlanta.

Pastorate:

During his lifetime, Rev. King pastored four churches, Mt. Vernon Baptist Church in Newnan, Georgia, First Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, and Zion Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky. and Ebenezer Baptist Church, with his father. One of his favorite sermons was "Peace Be Still," where he marveled at the peace and calmness of Christ in the midst of the storm. Rev. King was known and loved for his work with the youth and children’s ministries and his founding of the Ebenezer television program. He and his brother Martin were often termed "sons of thunder," for their preaching styles.

Civil Rights:

Rev. King is credited with organizing the Birmingham and Louisville Civil Rights Activities. His home was bombed in Birmingham, and his church was bombed in Louisville during the heat of the struggle. Daddy King was the first to publicly announce that "both of my sons were murdered for civil rights."