King family planning 'Celebration of Life'

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Craig Q. King’s Celebration of Life Gala will be held 7 p.m. May 3 at the Matrix Center in Manning.

“This event has experienced tremendous success in the past and is shaping up to be a monumental success again this year,” said Paulette King, Craig’s mother and leader of the King Team for Clarendon County Relay for Life.

Proceeds from the event are divided between Relay for Life and Camp Kemo, a summer camp for children with cancer and their siblings.

“Craig, a 14-year cancer survivor, attended ... and is now one of its counselors,” Paulette King said. “This summer will be his 14th year as a counselor. He serves as head counselor for the 5- and 6-year-old boys.”

Craig said his vision for the event began after about five years of remission from bone cancer, for which he was diagnosed and treated after he graduated from high school. He initially had a celebration of life party at his home with family and friends.

“Later, (I) had a vision of a broader spectrum, wherein (I) wanted to celebrate not only (my) survivorship, but others’ as well,” he said. 

That led to an event for Camp Kemo and Relay for Life, two organizations that have “done so much for me and my family,” Craig said.

The Celebration of Life Gala will include a seated dinner, featuring saxophonist Dante Lewis and the Vision Band with vocalist K. JoyAnn Jamison.

“Lewis is an accomplished artist who is well-known for his music,” King said. “Jamison has appeared on the Super Bowl of Gospel Celebration, the Jeffrey Lampkin Show and other venues delivering electrifying performances.”

Lampkin, who hosts a show on WACH FOX 57, will be the featured spokesman for the gala.

“The dynamic and motivational speakers for this event will be Manning’s very own Jeffrey Black, American Cancer Society supporter, and Clay Dixon, a cancer survivor and Camp Kemo camper,” King said. “We have a (number) of individuals who have come on board as sponsors for this great event.”

The Platinum Sponsor is driDme of Charlotte, N.C., and Gold Sponsor is Samuels Funeral Home LLC of Manning. Bronze sponsors include Land, Parker and Welch law firm, RadioShack Computer Repair, Descendants of Milton and Tina Dozier Gamble and JK’s House of Ribs, all of Manning; attorney Charles T. Brooks III of Sumter; and the Brook of Columbia.

In-kind sponsors include Kimberly Johnson of Orangeburg; Lita’s Treats of Columbia; and the Jeffrey Lampkin Show of Columbia. Businesses or individuals who would like to become sponsors for the Celebration of Life Gala should email Craig King at celebrationoflife10@yahoo.com to receive a sponsorship packet. The deadline is Friday.

“Professional photographs will be provided on the Red Carpet for $15, and will be delivered that night,” said Paulette King. “There will be a chance to win awesome door prizes, which include a cash prize, two flat screen TVs and an outdoor grill for a $5 donation.”

The event has raised about $15,000 since 2010. Tickets sell-out fast, Paulette King said.

Tickets for the gala are $50 each, and may be purchased at celebrationoflifegala2014.eventbrite.com, or from any member of the King Relay for Life Team, which includes Craig and Paulette, along with Andrena King, Carlton King, Deloris King, Darryl King, Linda K. Grant, William Grant, Frances K. Hilton, Deloris Dupree, Pamela C. Brunson and Deborah DeLong.