BY BRANDY TEMPLETON

The Statesville Pride Alliance will host a murder mystery dinner with the Historic Sharpe House on Sunday, August 25.

The dinner event, which starts at 6 p.m. at the Statesville Civic Center, will feature a great mystery presented by the Charlotte Murder Mystery Company.

Keith Rhyne, site director for the Historic Sharpe House, is one of 18 board members for Statesville’s Pride Alliance. He took the position in January to honor his late friend, Ann Brady, and help vulnerable youth.

“The bottom line is that I’m sick and tired of kids killing themselves because they’re mistreated,” Rhyne shared. “The Statesville Pride Alliance will provide safe spaces, places, and activities for everyone.”

Brady would be proud of the work the organization is doing, he said. 

“She always stood for everyone’s rights. She wanted everyone to treat everyone with respect.”

And she stood up for the rights of others. At age 90, she was arrested for peacefully protesting at a Moral Monday event outside the N.C. State Legislative Building.

Rhyne encourages everyone to attend the dinner event.

“It’s a fundraiser for the new pride alliance,” he shared. “You don’t have to be gay or lesbian. My heart is warmed by people that are allies,” Rhyne said. “Ann was one of the biggest allies of all.”

The evening’s performance, “Murder is a Fine Art,” is about an art critic who is murdered before she can criticize again.

“It’s truly a whodunnit,” Rhyne shared.

The event includes drinks and hors d’oeuvres by Crowning Events, followed by the main course provided by Smoke Pit Catering which includes salad and homemade vinaigrette dressing, choice of smoked prime rib, chicken, or vegetarian pasta, mashed potatoes, and green beans, followed by Chocolate Murder by the Pound for dessert.

There will also be a raffle and an auction.

Tickets 

Tickets on sale now until Friday at 5 p.m. on Eventbrite. For those who can’t attend, Statesville Pride Alliance is accepting donations.