Tara La'Bonnae Kea

Livestream of December 4, 2021 Memorial: https://vimeo.com/event/1619296/d8c4d16a45

Tara La’Bonnae Kea was born in Hanover County Hospital, Wilmington, NC on June 17, 1983 to her beloved mother Cheryr Kea Simenton. From the moment she began her journey of life she was a beacon of light. At the age of 10, she dedicated her life to Christ and was a member of the Youth Choir at Roseville Baptist church in Harrells, NC. La’Bonnae remained strong in her faith and believed in God based on the love and wisdom shared by her Grandmother, Mother, and Matriarchs of her family. 

In her younger years, La’Bonnae lived in Manassas, VA with her mother, where she graduated with honors from Osbourn High School in 2001. Upon graduating, she attended Chowan University of Murfreesboro, NC. Her sophomore year, La’Bonnae transferred to Valdosta State University of Valdosta, GA, completing her undergraduate experience with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Speech Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations in 2006. She later continued her educational career attending Duquesne University of Pittsburgh, PA with a Master of Science in Leadership Development in 2012. Her education journey continued with receiving her Conference & Meeting Management Certification (2008) as well as Professional Meeting Planner Certification (2011).

In High School, “La” was a social butterfly, friendly with all of the students and faculty. La’Bonnae was the creator and founder of Cultural Essence, a social networking club, which celebrated cultural diversity. She coordinated various events throughout her high school tenure, from social events to school activities. From the beginning, it was clear she was bound for leadership and development of her peers, new friends, and strangers.  La was the head Student Training Coordinator of the Athletic Department, with a special focus on the Varsity Football and Basketball Programs. She worked hard to study and obtain her Cosmetology License at age seventeen. La’Bonnae enjoyed spending spring break with friends at the beaches of Wilmington, NC.

In college, “La”, “Lala”, “Labbie”, Las” was a natural leader on campus; her infectious personality exuded confidence; empathy; warmth; togetherness; purpose; and love. She was highly involved on campus whether participating in and coordinating the Miss Black and Gold Pageant, instructing kickball at the Campus Recreation Center or planning Campus Activities Board events where she ultimately became the Director. She embraced her college experience fully. Her giving spirit prioritized supporting friends, fraternities, and sororities on campus, whether that included attending events, lending a listening ear or providing words of wisdom. Through her chosen sister-friend group, “GGC”, La’Bonnae’s old soul was truly valued, adored, cherished, and respected. It was through this group of women, a sisterhood was developed, and thus created lasting friendships that would stand the test of time. At Valdosta State University, she was initiated into Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Theta Tau Chapter, in the Spring of 2005. She was the #10 on her line and affectionately called “Panic Room”. 

Upon graduating from Valdosta State University, she settled as an adult in Atlanta, GA. She joined the Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church, was active in the Young Adult Ministry (YAMS) and Sunday Bible School. It was clear La’Bonnae was on a path not only to greatness but bound for limitless success. In 2006, she joined Autotrader US; throughout her 7-year career, she incubated, developed and mastered Corporate Event Planning. Her crafted talent and appetite for Event Planning grew leaps and bounds, however, she knew there was MORE she could do. What MORE could she learn? Who could she teach? In 2017, she designed a 15-week curriculum and facilitated instruction for the Leven School of Culinary Sustainability and Hospitality Events Management, Meetings, and Conventions at Kennesaw State University. Student classification ranged between Freshman Year and Senior Year with an average enrollment of 20 students. During this time, she was most recognized for “real-world” curriculum alignment through a student event agency model. In late 2017 La’Bonnae took a leap of faith and pushed her career into Event Production. As a freelance event manager and producer, she executed components of large-scale productions for South by Southwest, American Society of Travel Advisors, Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics, and Neonatal Nurses. She designed, produced, and managed events for Sundance Film Festival, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and National Sales Network.  In conjunction with her event management and production experience, La’Bonnae spearheaded event programming and design consultations with Chick-Fil-A, American Cancer Society, and event portfolio development with the National Center for Civil and Human Right’s partner, Arc of Justice Institute. 

Her legacy in event planning, dubbed her perfectly by her peers as “the official event nerd”. She established her own event management business, Vintage Socialite Event Management Services. Vintage Socialite would stand on 4 service pillars: Event Strategy, Event Management, Event Production, and Event Education. As the owner and operator of Vintage Socialite, her mission was to plan events using technology and innovative meeting design to help companies, organizations, and brands advance organizational goals and drive business value through strategic, creative and unforgettable events. Vintage Socialite was just beginning to soar, and her legacy will live on in all those who attended her events.

“I want to see the meetings and events industry be one of the world’s best. I believeI can contribute to the reality of this vision by delivering the best, training the best, and being MY personal best. And the best is yet to come!” 

~La’Bonnae Kea

La’Bonnae’s sunset was on November 21, 2021. She is survived by her mother Cheryr Kea Simenton and brother Tyon Kea. Best Friend/Sister: Rachel Fuller. Sister: Maree Kea. Matriarchs: Great Aunt Eloise Joseph, Aunt Bernestine Kea, Aunt Sybia Harrison. Nieces: Kmiko Johnson, Anessa Johnson, Ti’Yonna Kea, and Shia Kea. Uncles: Jimmy Harrison, Linnwood Keith (La’Vone). Cousins: Randy Keith (Megan), Lisa Keith, Danielle Lewis (Jason), Erica Kea, Aubrey Harrison (Tiffany), Eugene Kea, Terear Roby (David), James T. Harrison IV (Nicole), Micheal Tapp (Kristina), Meristi Kea. Aunt: Yvonne Kea. God Parents: LaBonnie Hunter, Ernie Fuller (Eurvin). God Brothers and Sisters: Tonya Hunter, LaTisha Hunter, Marco Hunter, Tony Hunter, Maurice Harris Jr., Dionna Daniel (Germal), John Blackman, Jarvis Braxton (Tamara), Chivonne Hyppolite, Sadie Domineck, Marcus Polite, Tameka Allen (Odeb), Justin Kirnon, Cookie Garrett, Gala Jackson, Gala Njeri Goodwin-Johnson, Alfred Johnson (Melinda). God Children: Braxton Raegan Cotton, Bellamy Rosalind Cotton, and Ava Joan Daniel. Her Sorors of Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority, Inc., Theta Tau Chapter – 19 Survivors of The Holocaust - Spring 2005. In addition to those named above, La’Bonnae leaves behind a host of Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, God Brothers, God Sisters, Nephews and Nieces. Because family is not always who you are born with, family is also determined by those in which you CHOOSE. La’Bonnae is also survived by an immeasurable amount of close “Family”, friends, loved ones, chosen brothers and sisters whom she loved dearly as well as nieces and nephews, whom she poured in to with love and wisdom. She was preceded in death by her Grandfather Ulice Kea, Grandmother Marie “Ma” Kea, Uncle Joey Kea (Aunt Ammie), Uncle Theautrus Kea and Godfather Maurice Harris. 

La’Bonnae will be deeply missed by all the lives she touched, and we will miss her dearly.