Christine King Borders

Christine King Borders, age 82, beloved grandmother and devoted wife, passed away peacefully on January 29th, 2025, after a brief bout with an autoimmune disease, leaving behind a legacy as deep and enduring as the roots she so passionately loved.

Chris is survived by her husband Larry Borders, son Michael King (Gina King), daughter Lisa King Morgan (Nathan Morgan), grandchildren Logan King, Meredith Caleb, Lexuss King, and Emma Christine Jones. She has 6 beautiful great granddaughters with another one coming soon. She is also survived by her sister, Penny Willis, along with her nieces and nephew, and her beloved “Copperhill cousins”. She is predeceased by her parents, Grover Cleveland (Red) Jones and Elaine Marie Jones.

Born in a humble log cabin in Copperhill, Tennessee, her early years were shaped by her granny, family, resilience, curiosity, and a mentality of work that mostly involved farming, gardening and love for the land.

She attended Model High School, and then went on to Berry College. From there, her early adult years were spent in Atlanta where she found love and adventure, traveling to the Caribbean for months, across the USA and then to England for 8 years. After England, she made her way to Gordon county where she lived most of her remaining years. She was found faith as a member of Hill City Baptist Church, where she and her son were baptized together in a creek by Pastor Rembert Moore. Later she joined Antioch Baptist Church in Calhoun. She retired from Advent Health Redmond as the manager of environmental services in 2014. Throughout her life she was a business owner at different times of greenhouses as well as janitorial companies.

Her greatest joy was in nurturing. She was a phenomenal cook and baker. Many sat at her table or enjoyed a red velvet cake from her through the years. She loved family gatherings and staying connected with others. She also nurtured her garden and plants. Her yard is full of blooms almost year round. Her love of plants led to her owning Chris’ Greenhouse, later Fern World, where she provided plants to all of the Walmart stores in the southeast region in the 1980’s.

Chris invested in the miracle of life—whether it was vegetables in her garden, ferns in her nursery, or the family she so deeply cherished. She believed in tending to the things that mattered, in caring for them with patience, and in watching them grow strong.

Chris carried these values with her by honoring not only the beauty of nature but also the history that connects generations. She often talked about her cousins, and the importance of cousins. "Know your roots," she'd often say, a philosophy that guided both her gardening and her dedication to preserving family history. She loved her family historical book, The Tanner Trail. Chris was a masterful keeper of memories. Her mind a vast archive of family history, she understood that each memory passed down was another thread connecting generations. In her mind, family trees weren't just branches and leaves on paper; they were living, breathing threads that connected past to present.

Her greatest adventure was the life she built with those she loved. She was spirited, strong, and deeply devoted to her family. Her love was a constant, her laughter a gift, and her counsel a comforting light. Her life included some of the lowest lows, as well as the highest highs. She had dresses made of potato sacks as a child, and also attended a White House Christmas party in a beautiful ball gown and met the President.

In the glow of the afternoon sun, Chris could often be found sitting on the stone porch of her country cottage, a cigarette in hand, listening to the gentle song of wind chimes as they swayed in the breeze. She found peace in the simple rhythm of nature—the rustling leaves, the distant birdsong, the golden afternoon light filtering through the trees. Here, in the heart of nature she was at ease, content to simply exist, to listen, to be. Those who loved her will always remember her there, sitting on her porch or in her garden, phone nearby, surrounded by the life she so deeply treasured.

Though she has left her earthly garden, Chris’ legacy blooms in the stories we tell, the traditions we keep, and the family bonds she worked so tirelessly to strengthen. She taught us that we are part of something larger than ourselves—a garden of lives, loves, and memories that stretch back through time. Jeremiah 17:8 They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, February 1, 2025, from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM at Antioch Baptist Church. 

A memorial service will follow on Saturday, at 11:00 AM from Antioch Baptist Church with Rev. Darren Brown and Rev. Andrew Bearden officiating. 

Flowers are omitted, and donations may be made to Antioch Baptist Church, 2666 Dews Pond Rd SE, Calhoun, GA 30701. 

The Brannon family and staff are honored to serve the family of Christine King Borders.