Page 13 - Florida Sentinel 2-18-22

FLORIDA SENTINEL
Tampa Woman Featured As Black Business To Know On Annual Forbes List
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2022 B
Allen Temple AME Church Plans ‘John Lewis Voting March And Health Expo’
Starting a business during a pandemic isn’t usually a good idea. Diandra Harvin is a Tampa Bay woman who de- cided to buck the odds and launched her clothing line.
The bold move has paid off as she has been featured in Forbes magazine’s 7 Black- Owned Fashion and Beauty Brands to Know This Black History Month feature.
Diandra Harvin officially launched Noite Rose, a luxury loungewear line, in October 2021.
She stated, "I think it’s so im- portant that you continue to love on yourself. Give yourself
DIANDRA HARVIN
self-care because you can’t pour into others unless you’re fulfilled."
"I don’t know how to exactly describe that because it hap- pened three days ago and I’m still on cloud nine. It was an amazing feeling," Harvin said.
The line is named grand- mother, Rose. She wants her loungewear line to inspire all women.
Harvin is currently work- ing on her spring and summer line as well as plans to host pop up shops throughout the Bay Area.
Allen Temple African Methodist Episcopal Church announces the “John Lewis Voting March and Health Expo.” This event will be held on Saturday, February 19th, starting with a Voter Registra- tion March at 10 a. m. at Allen Temple AME Church, 2101 Lowe Street, Tampa, and marching to the Perry Harvey, Sr. Park, 1000 E. Harrison St., Tampa, for the Health Expo and Community Festival which will begin at 12 p. m.
This is not only exciting, but extremely important as we are being faced with challenges con- cerning voting rights and the potential of losing what our an- cestors fought so desperately to overcome, VOTING EQUAL-
ITY FOR ALL. This is not just an event, IT’S A CALL TO AC- TION! The community is in- vited to a healthy, safe, and energetic atmosphere, while providing access to community resources. We believe that through education, economic empowerment, and synergy, we can continue to strengthen the foundation of our communities.
The Community Festival will be showcasing vendors, motiva- tional speakers, stage perform- ances and gospel choirs, healthcare counseling, job placement assistance, educa- tional groups, as well as civic participation, which will all come together to produce a life- changing empowerment experi- ence.
From the projects of Ponce De Leon to the college cam- pus of the College of Charleston in South Carolina
Kevin R. McCray of Lad- son, South Carolina, transi- tioned on December 24, 2021, at Medical University of South Carolina. He was born in Tampa, Florida, on Febru- ary 10th, 1980, at Tampa General Hospital.
McCray was raised by a single mother, Carolyn Mc- Cray, and maternal grandfa- ther, Mr. Clarence McKendrick in the Ponce De Leon Projects on 22nd St. and 26th Ave. McCray at- tended schools in the Hills- borough County School System.
At the age of eleven, he lost his mother unexpectedly, which left him under the care of his older brother, Michael McCray. Throughout the years, they had their strug- gles, but persevered through the tough times with help from Mrs. Eartha J. Curry, Rose Moye, Gloria Troupe, and Lillie Mingo.
He leaves to cherish his passing: a devoted wife, Ezetta, a son, Ethan, 12,
Left to right: Michael McCray, Sr., Kevin R. McCray, Ethan McCray, in his arm, and Michael McCray, Jr.
KEVIN MCCRAY Birthday: February 10th
death.
In the summer of 2020,
McCray began to advocate for a building on the campus of The College of Charleston that would share the values and culture of the African American student body at the college.
In January of 2021, Mc- Cray’s advocation paid off, as the administration of the col- lege voted for the project to move forward. McCray was given the task to be Senior Project Manager. The build- ing was completed in August 2021. Unfortunately, he took ill in September and was hos- pitalized for three months.
Kevin’s son and daughter, Ethan and McKenzie.
McCray gave up Time for Eternity on Christmas Eve at 4:05 p. m.
The Board of Trustees of The College of Charleston voted unanimously to name the first building on the cam- pus that is geared towards the African American student body, “The Kevin R. McCray Building.”
A young man from the projects of “A small town on the Gulf of Mexico, called T- town USA, AKA Tampa, Florida,” to leaving a legacy on a major college campus, Mr. Kevin McCray.
Later this month, the dedi- cation ceremony will be held.
Tampa Native: Young Man Leaves Legacy
three daughters McKenzie, 9, Somozia Jones (Chris), Tamayia Young, and a host of family and friends.
In 1996, his brother left Tampa, to attend college in North Carolina and left Mc- Cray in the care of Mrs. Eartha J. Curry. He fin- ished school in the spring of 1999 and in the fall was ac- cepted to South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, South Carolina.
In 2004, Kevin McCray
received his B. S. Degree in Electrical Engineering.
In 2005, McCray moved to Charleston, South Carolina. He worked at an Engineering firm as a Junior Engineer until 2007. Subsequently, he was hired at The College of Charleston in the Historical Downtown Charleston, South Carolina.
In 2014, McCray was ele- vated to Project Manager of the Engineering Department, a position he held until his