Raymond Sharpe

Raymond is a natural flirt, with charm and panache that are undeniable. He’s worked at Southern Nights for over 30 years, longer than any other employee. He spent a lot of time at Pulse and was friends with many of the victims and survivors. Raymond says, “Other than me being there, it couldn’t have hit me any closer than it did.” His friend Kevin Jenks came down from New York City the week after Pulse to grieve with him, and to get a matching Pulse tattoo. Five days after Kevin returned to New York, he was killed in a home invasion. In spite of all this, Raymond keeps a smile on his face. His tattoo artist, Thomas Jacobson at 1010 Mills, donated the proceeds from the tattoo directly to Raymond’s friend Victor Guanchez, who worked at Pulse and was one of Raymond’s close friends. Raymond was there when Victor got to meet President Obama in the hospital, and remembers this moment with a mix of pride and awe. Raymond was one of many who highlighted positive things that have happened in the wake of Pulse, namely the many fundraising efforts he’s been part of. He has done this in his work at Southern Nights, but he’s more impacted by the personal connection he has with Victor. The money he helped raise for Victor enabled him to purchase a food truck for his family in Orlando.