Kenneth Michael Givens

Kenneth Michael Givens passed away February 10, 2023, at Royal Park in Matthews, North Carolina, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Ken was born to Ernest Alfred Givens and Ophelia Fletcher Givens on August 14, 1952, in Gastonia, North Carolina.

Anyone who knew Ken will miss his smart, funny, sarcastic humor. He could always find humor in the most intense situations. He was a loving father who enjoyed time in his later years with his daughter, Melanie, and son-in-law, Brian, at Checkers Hockey games and music concerts. Ken had a love of art, shared by his family. He loved music, sports, snow skiing and especially the beach. In October 1977 in Greenville, North Carolina, he attended the last Lynyrd Skynyrd concert before their fatal airplane crash. He saved all of his ticket stubs, including that one.

He was also a hard worker and had a career that took him around the country. Ken attended Ashley High School in Gastonia and the Carolina School of Broadcasting before working in the textile industry for many years. He worked at Farrah Slacks in El Paso, Texas, Cone Mills in Greenville, South Carolina, and the Greif Companies in both Fredericksburg, Virginia and Allentown, Pennsylvania. Ken’s determined personality and skill set eventually landed him a career at Burlington Industries on the Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan, New York from 1992-1996. He lost that job due to corporate downsizing, but if you knew Ken, you knew he never gave up. Ken attended Lehigh County Community College in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania from 1996-97 where he received an Associates Degree in Business before going on to graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Muhlenberg College in Allentown in 1999. While working on his degree, Ken was employed by Kohl’s in Whitehall, Pennsylvania until his graduation. He then worked for Simmons Bedding Company before returning to Charlotte, North Carolina. Upon his return, he was employed by Sterling Gaming.

Once Ken had had enough of the corporate life, he studied for a geriatric Activities Director certificate at Central Piedmont Community College and interned at The Golden Living Center in Charlotte. The skills he learned there were on display in recent years. Despite being a patient himself, Ken was often found assisting others at Royal Park where he resided.

He is survived by his daughter, Melanie (Brian) and former spouses, Kathy "Kat" Benninghove Gross and Kathy Smith Brewer; brothers, Charles Givens (Jamie) and Robert Givens (Debbie); nephews and nieces, Lynn Hudson, Susan Bray (Steve), Tisha Reed, Todd Givens Hall, Angela Lutz Munoz, Michael (Kristina), Ryan (Alexa) and Benjamin (Stephanie) Givens; and many great nieces and great nephews. He is also survived by special friends, Danielle Taylor-Scott (Darryl), Joe Buser (Terri), Ted (Linda) and Jonathan Wise. In December of 2022, he was honored and very touched to be mentioned by his friend and author Joseph Sciuto in his latest book "Mr. Laurence, I Presume...". The family would like to thank all of those on the Royal Park staff who were so kind to him and went the extra mile to show they cared.

He was predeceased by his parents, sister, Ruby Hudson, and brother, James Givens.

A service will be held Thursday, February 16, 2023 at McEwen Funeral Service in Mint Hill, North Carolina with a visitation from 5:00 - 6:30 pm. and a celebration of life service at 6:30 pm.

For those unable to attend in person, the celebration of life will be livestreamed at: https://www.facebook.com/McEwenMintHill/

Anybody who cannot attend and would like to share a memory to be read, please send it to Melanie.