Talk, dark and handsome might be an outdated adage but it’s also an accurate description of a community member that is truly making an impact. From sexual health and wellness to sexy cool events, Craymon Garner has us covered. With a debonair, laid back and slightly aloof demeanor, Garner has resided in Charlotte since he moved from Winston-Salem in 1998. During this interview we learned more about Garner and his best friend Winston. More importantly, we also received some helpful tips on holiday decorating from a pro with a flair for the cool, creative and some of the best tasting pound cake you’ll ever eat.
L’Monique King: What brought you to Charlotte?
Craymon Garner: I attended UNC-Charlotte. When I completed my undergraduate degree in biology and sociology (minoring in psychology) I stayed. I’m originally from Winston-Salem, but I’ve really enjoyed the Charlotte area and have been here ever since.
LMK: What side of town do you live on?
CG: I live uptown. I like city life, but the older I get, I’ve been thinking about moving into a more rural area. I love the access Uptown offers but am getting to a point in my life where I’d like a quiet space with a yard. I have a four-year-old Cockapoo named His Royal Highness Winston Clifford Garner. <laughter>. Yes, that’s really his full name, it’s on all his papers. He’s a lovable dog and he’s very particular about who he allows in his space. He’s a very good judge of character.
LMK: How do you identify?
CG: I’m gay.
LMK: And Winston?
CG: Is Winston gay? I think he’s DL. He won’t let male dogs get close to him but the female dogs he be all on. I think he does understand my life though.
LMK: Are you happily partnered or single and ready to mingle?
CG: <Chuckling> Single and ready to mingle.
LMK: Describe your ideal mate.
CG: My ideal mate? Hmmm. <long pause> this is hard because of where I am in my life right now. What I thought I wanted didn’t line up with who my last partner was. So I’m sitting with that right now and learning more about me before looking to get into anything serious and committed.
LMK: How do you make your livelihood?
CG: I’m a full-time employee of PowerHouse 2.0 where I’m the Director of Prevention. I’m also an entrepreneur and the Chief of Creative Cool at my company Craymon Garner Design and Lifestyle. My business focuses more on the event side, where we do florals, rentals and designs for events. My most lucrative season is the winter holiday season.
LMK: Speaking of the winter holidays, let’s jump right into some tips and tricks for those of us who aren’t event designers. When should people take their Christmas trees down?
CG: The rule of thumb is to take your tree down before the New Year comes. That’s the old school way. Nowadays, people are keeping their trees up – almost until Easter. They’re leaving their trees up and redecorating them for holidays following Christmas; like Valentines Day, St. Patrick’s Day and Easter. There are people who have a tree up now, decorated for Halloween. As a designer I’ve seen many people who just don’t want to take down a tree they feel is pretty and enjoy looking at beyond the Christmas holiday – especially now. The current political climate seems to have influenced that. People are seeking more joy, more reasons to smile. Holiday decorations do that – they provide a sense of joy we need now more than ever.
LMK: What’s the one thing you wished folks would stop doing when it comes to decorating Christmas trees or otherwise?
CG: There are a couple of things. When it comes to designing [a Christmas tree] for your home, consider how many ornaments you have. Clients say they have a lot of stuff, but when I get to their homes I find they have a bin of ornaments, not much else and then expect me to decorate a 12-foot tree with just a few items. I like to remind people to think of tree decorating as an investment and really wish those that can would consider investing in better ornaments. Your tree will be a place to create memories around and it will forever show up in your family photos.
LMK: Describe the ugliest tree you’ve ever seen?
CG: <Heavy sigh> It was last year. I was actually called in to fix it. A mom decorated her tree and her daughter called me to fix it. Mom literally had everything on the tree but the kitchen sink. Nothing matched and it was just stuff – all over. So, I literally took everything down, donated some ornaments I had and redid it. Once I was done, mom and daughter were both pleased.
LMK: For folks on a budget who still want that cool factor, what two items would you say are must haves?
CG: Orbs and pics. If you’re on a budget you’ll definitely want to Invest in big orbs, large bulbs. They make a bigger impact. With small ones, you’ll spend a lot of time trying to fill up your tree and if you don’t have a good feel for placement your end result won’t be balanced and your impact will be minimal. You’ll also want to invest in pics – they are fillers for your tree. Things like little branches. They come in various sizes, shapes and textures. They can look like wood, snow frosted branches or have berries on them. I like using them to give trees a realistic look – almost as though the tree was still planted and decorated outside. Adding those natural elements gives a more organic feel.
LMK: Your floral arrangements are stunning; What motivated you to add florals to your design business?
CG: I actually started with florals. Growing up in Winston-Salem, my grandmother had the prettiest flower garden ever. She had rose bushes, hydrangeas, daffodils, tulips, lily of the valley, azaleas and so many more. I just can’t think of them all right now. In spring she would plant a variety of beautiful flowers and plants. That’s really where it all started for me. As I grew up, there was a time when I used to work with an event planner creating floral arrangements for weddings and other events. When I was ready to start doing my own thing, I was only doing floral arrangements. Then, one day someone reached out and asked me to design their tree and that’s how that started.
LMK: What’s on your holiday wish list this year? What do you want for Christmas?
CG: <Without hesitation> I want a truck for Christmas – with a big red bow. I have my eyes set on these GMC Sierras I’ve been seeing around.
LMK: What is your holiday wish for the community this year?
CG: My holiday wish is this: I want people to continue to trust God or whoever their higher power is and believe we’re going to be okay. I think with the [political] climate we’re experiencing, [it] has a lot of people fearing the unknown. Many people are in crisis right now, worrying about their jobs, their children’s Christmas, survival. With all that though, you’ve got to keep your head, keep going and have faith. I really believe God will make a way.
LMK: As a successful LGBT public health professional, entrepreneur and out gay man – what advice can you offer our LGBT youth community?
CG: If I had a moment to speak to the youth I would say, be you, be consistent and don’t change who you are for anyone. I spent a lot of time in my life trying to be everything for everybody and almost lost a sense of self in the process. So be you.