‘A continuous fighter for justice’: Quaynell King remembered for his work in Lexington
Lexington activist Quaynell King is being remembered as a loving father and dedicated community organizer and leader.
Friends said King was a community advocate, working closely with the Smithtown Neighborhood Association to be a voice for and to lift up his neighborhood. King, 44, died after being shot on Versailles Road Sunday night, the second Lexington homicide in the span of two days.
The investigation continues, and Bluegrass Crime Stoppers is accepting tips about the incident: (859) 253-2020.
Trevor Claiborn met King in the 1990s and grew up in Lexington with him. King would do anything to help his neighbors, at times literally giving away the shoes on his feet, Claiborn said.
King will be remembered as “a Lexington legend,” he said.
“He was a bright, intentional, entrepreneurial person,” Claiborn said. “He demanded respect, but he earned respect, just by having good character. He was someone to trust.”
Leandra Forman, an executive director at the nonprofit FoodChain, which provides free fresh food to those in need in Lexington, worked with King on many service projects in the Smithtown and Coolavin area. King was “a continuous fighter for justice and opportunities for his neighborhood,” she said.
“He was so passionate about his community and being a representative and a voice for justice and advocacy in that community,” Forman said. “He was a really, really hard worker. He didn’t just talk about getting things done. If he wanted something done, he was the one there making it happen and putting in the work.”
King recently worked to open the East End Shared Kitchen, a community kitchen space for small food businesses, seeing food as a need and a way to connect with people. Last week, he led the organization of a Thanksgiving meal for people experiencing homelessness. He was constantly serving others, which made him a great leader, he said.
King is survived by a son and daughter.
“I hope the community is able to continue his legacy for his children, to see how important their father was, and his many efforts were, for everybody here,” Claiborn said.
A vigil for King is to take place at 3 p.m. Saturday at Coolivan Park.