You can’t imagine what a lasting impact you can make on a group of people in just one weekend. That is what Janice Lee Beasley-Gray did. In September 2021 Janice and her mother Carlyon Lewis from Tennessee decided to take a chance and attend the 1st Annual Flamingo Fling that was held in Las Vegas at the Flamingo Hotel. This was a group of around seventy people from all over the country, they all came as strangers, and many left as lifelong friends.
Janice said she came to Las Vegas because she needed to keep an eye on her mom so she won’t get in any trouble. At the time we didn’t know what she meant by that, but we soon found out.
The first person Janice and Carlyon met was Ginny Kingsman in the hallway at the hotel trying to get into her room. Janice was a very kind and caring person she wasn’t going to stand by as a mature single woman struggled to get into her hotel room. Janice ran down to the other end of the hallway just to give Ginny a helping hand, That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Janice touched the lives of so many more that weekend with her infectious beaming smile and her southern draw. When the week was over Janice and Carlyon were already making plans to attend the 2022 Fling in Florida. Carlyon wrote this on our group chat.
Carolyn: Thank You for an amazing adventure You made a week of MEMORIES for JANICE and myself I Love you and we will be Flocking TOGETHER again
This is Janice and her family at Christmas 2022. Sadly this would be Janice’s last Christmas she passed away suddenly on March 10, 2022, at the young age of 55.
Carylon was just devastated she and Janice traveled everywhere together, Janice was her best friend. Fortunately, Ginny Kingsman was the friend that Carylon truly needed in what had to be the worst time of her life. They had long conversations and Ginny checked on her often.
We knew at the 2nd Annual Flamingo Fling it wasn’t going to be the same without Janice. As hard as it was we had to pay tribute to her. So in her memory, we adopted a Flamingo at the Louisville Zoo and then presented it to Carylon at our final dinner. We will continue to make a donation to the zoo in Janice’s memory for as long as we are able.
Carolyn and Ginny are still good friends, while in Florida they became Flamingo Sisters with matching tattoos. This is the magical power of Flamingos we all share a bond that will last a lifetime. Rest in Pink Janice.
” Sprinkle a little Pink” into someone’s life every day. You never know what someone is going through and how a smile can make a world of difference.
Until next time
