Marley Lion Music Festival is Sunday

Marley Lion's family and friends decided the best way to remember him was to hold a music festival in his honor.

The First Annual Marley Lion Music Festival will be held 3 - 8 p.m. Sunday at James Island County Park.

The , just weeks after graduating from Academic Magnet High School. He was an athlete and a musician.

Since his death, Marley's family and friends have been trying to make sense of the tragedy. On June 26, Lee Jamison, a family friend that helped organize a reward fund for information leading to the arrest of Lion's killer, got a one line email that led to Sunday's event.

"It said 'How about we hold a music festival in memory of Marley?'" Jamison said. "I sent it to Marley's mom and I got a one word answer, it said 'Yay!'"

Initially Jamison sat down with three others to begin planning the festival. The group soon ballooned to a core group of about 20 organizers, with another 60-70 volunteers helping out.

"The purpose of it is to honor Marley Lion's memory through music and fellowship," Jamison said. "It's given the family something to look forward to. They have strong faith, and the Music Festival, has provided something positive for them to focus on."

The festival will feature five bands and performers, all of whom either went to school with Marley Lion or are members of his family. The festival will also feature a silent auction, and organizers are selling festival T-shirts and stickers as well. Admission is $5, plus a $1 park entrance fee.

All proceeds will go the Heart of the Lion Fund for grants to to non profit organizations that save and restore lives, including organ donation programs and programs that provide clean water to underserved populations.

Water Missions International and LifePoint, Inc. will have booths at the festival as well.

The Charleston Police Department is still investigating Lion's murder and has asked for help from the community in identifying the gunman. More than $12,000 in donations have poured into reward funds at CresCom Bank and online through YouCaring.com, in addition to a $1,000 reward through Crime Stoppers.