Kitty Askins to hold 10th annual gala fundraiser
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on February 9, 2014 1:50 AM
Five local couples are vying for the title of King and Queen of Mardi Gras, part of Kitty Askins Hospice Center's 10th annual gala event.
The gala will be held Saturday at Walnut Creek Country Club. It starts at 5:30 p.m. and features a reverse drawing, silent drawing, dinner and dancing. Tickets are $100 a couple, and proceeds benefit Kitty Askins and the hospice programs of 3HC.
Each year, couples from the community are chosen to participate in the contest as part of the event. The one that raises the most money is crowned during the evening.
This year's contestants are Henry and Tomeka Burwell, Ken and Lisa Davis, "T" and Paula Griffin, Speed and Frances Jones, and Scotty and Nicole Kennedy.
The Burwells have been married for five years and together have five children. Henry is a supervisor at UPS Jacksonville and a minister. Tomeka is the Wage and Benefit Coordinator at 3HC, as well as being a singer and choir director.
Mr. and Mrs. Davis have been married since July 2013. Ken has worked at Tri-County Electric for 22 years, where he is CPA and manager of finance and accounting. Lisa has been a kindergarten teacher for 23 years, currently at LaGrange Elementary School.
The Griffins are a success story from e-harmony.com and have been married 10 years. "T" is a chemistry instructor at Wayne Community College, a third-generation Eagle Scout and currently serves as a district commissioner for the local Boy Scouts. His wife is the spiritual care manager at 3HC and chaplain for Kitty Askins.
Mr. and Mrs. Jones have been married for almost 20 years and have two children and three grandchildren. Speed was a volunteer firefighter in Grantham and retired from fire service after more than 20 years of service. He currently works with Wayne County Sheriff's Office as sergeant of inmate services. His wife has worked for 3HC and Kitty Askins for 20 years and is currently a nursing assistant at the center.
Married since November 2011, Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy are expecting their first child in April. He is owner of Kennedy Electrical Services and Nicole is a physical therapy assistant at Sampson Memorial in the Wellness Center. They live in Mount Olive and said they are participating in the fundraiser because they have had family benefit from the hospice services and know the importance of such care.
For more information on the event, contact April Brantham at 919-735-1387 or email abrantham@3hc.org.