Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 9-25-15 Edition

Local
Local Author To Host Book Signing
NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet Honorary Chairs Chosen
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
David King, Sr. experi- enced a lot of ups and downs in his life. The ups had him growing up in the Palm River area, then later in Thonoto- sassa, and spending time riding dirt bikes and horses, or as King describes it, just enjoying life. The downs had him getting involved in crim- inal activity that resulted in him being shot by police, and spending time in prison.
King said he was raised in a home where the Christian doctrine was the rule.
“My mother, my sister, and myself all lived with my grandmother, and she lived a spiritual and God-filled life.”
On Saturday from 12 noon to 2 p. m., King will be host- ing a book signing of his book, “Stuck But Chosen,” at Barnes and Noble at the Brandon Town Center.
King said it took a little more than two years to com- plete the book and he was in- spired by his incarceration 12 years ago.
“God spoke to me and along with my house going into foreclosure, I began to dictate to my wife Ninya, and she wrote it all down.
“I chose the title because to me it means I was stuck in the world for more than 20 years, but chosen by God to spread His word.”
King said the book covers different aspects of his life, and during his period of in- carceration, reading the word of God was a revelation for him.
“I felt compelled to share my vision with others. I hope readers who purchase my book will learn about failure, redemption and success.
“The book can appeal to any age group, and I find myself spending more time in church and accepting that doctrine.”
King said on October 12, 2001, after robbing someone he got involved in a high speed chase with police, shots were fired, and he sus- tained a head wound.
MR. AND MRS. DAVID (NINYA) KING, SR.
“When I went through that surgery, I got a spiritual awakening and realized my mind had to be renewed, and I’m blessed to be able to share my life story with oth- ers.
“After serving 5 years of a 50 year sentence, I was re- leased, and now I know I’ve been transformed. Looking back, I think the time I spent in prison was a great awak- ening for me.”
King attended Without Walls Non-Denominational Church and took a pastoral internship course.
“I later joined Northside M. B. Church, and under the guidance and leadership of Pastor Ricardo Robin- son, I was put in a position of enlightenment and given the task of being on outreach director and later ordained into the ministry as a rev- erend.
“Currently, I’m attending Israel Bethel P.B. Church under the direction of Pas- tor Patrick Woodfork, andIowealotofthanksto Minister Erica Harring- ton for actually writing the book for me.”
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Members of the Hillsbor- ough County Branch NAACP are currently finalizing plans for the 2015 Annual Freedom Fund Banquet. This year, the event will take place on Fri- day, October 30th, at the Em- bassy Suites Hotel on Spectrum Blvd. The dinner will begin at 7 p.m. The theme for this year is “Pursuing Lib- erty in the Face of Injustice.”
Dr. Bennie Small,
Hillsborough County NAACP Branch President will serve as the Banquet Chairman.
The keynote speaker for the banquet is businessman Simeon O. Terry, Corpo- rate Director of Diversity Af- fairs for Austin Commercial, L. P., of Dallas, Texas.
The Honorary Co-Chair- persons for the banquet are Ms. Machelle Maner, Vice President, Community Devel- opment for Wells Fargo Bank, and Jerome Ryans, Presi- dent and CEO of the Tampa Housing Authority.
Dr. Small said, “The Freedom Fund Dinner, our annual fundraiser, is an im- portant event, which allows
JEROME RYANS President and CEO of the Tampa Housing Authority
the NAACP Branch to con- tinue working with other or- ganizations and businesses to address the needs of our com- munity. Our focus is in areas that impact the well-being of children and their families, such as education, health, employment, housing, jus- tice, and the expansion of op- portunities for success.”
This year, the organiza- tion will honor the following individuals: Living Legend Award recipient: Attorney Jeraldine Williams Smith. The Unsung Hero Award recipients are: Mrs. Renee Panko, Hillsborough County Public Defender Ju- lianne Holt, and Tampa
MS. MACHELLE MANER Vice President, Community Development, Wells Fargo Bank
Fire Chief Tom Forward. Ms. Lou Ann Wash- ington and Robert Cole, Sr., were chosen as recipients of the Living Bridges
Awards.
The 2015 Freedom Fund Dinner Committee members are: Dr. Bennie Small, Chairperson; Natasha Goodley, Joseph Robin- son, Pat Spencer, Mau- rice Jackson, Ella Coffee, Yvette Lewis, Norene Miller, James Cole, and Darrell Richardson.
For more information con- tact the Hillsborough County Branch NAACP at (813) 234- 8683 or visit the website at www.hillsboroughnaacp.org.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 3-A