Tears were flowing and the dollars grew during an eight hour on air plea Monday spearheaded by V-103′s first ladies Wanda Smith of the Frank and Wanda Morning Show and Egypt Sherrod. The two V-103 personalities banned together to ask Atlanta to help bury 18- year- old Joseph Wyatt Jr., a student at Martin Luther King High School who died unexpectedly in his sleep last week.

At the time of Joseph’s death, the family did not have any means to bury the young artist and member of Jr. ROTC. But it didn’t take long for the V-103 listeners to support the effort by donating more than  the amount originally targeted to cover funeral costs of ten thousand dollars.

By the end of the broadcast, close to twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) had been raised. All of the money was donated to the family. Wanda and Egypt tag teamed the 8 hour fund raiser by co-hosting both shows back to back with a live broadcast at the “This Is It BBQ and Seafood” on Panola Road in Lithonia.

The effort was supported by other members of the V-103 family including Larry Tinsley, Ryan Cameron, and Greg Street and comedian Arnez J. Members of the Dekalb County Fire Department donated money and stayed throughout the broadcast to show their support along with students and hundreds of  V-103 listeners.

As the broadcast came to an end, T. Lanier Levett of the Gregory B. Levett & Sons Funeral Home, announced the total amount of money raised but then brought to tear to every eye by also announcing that all funeral and burial costs would be covered by the Levett Funeral Home so that all of the money raised could be given to the family to cover other expenses.

Thanks goes out to the Martin Luther King High School students, teachers and administrators who supported the fundraiser in spirit and in person and who shared many stories of Joseph and how much he meant to the MLK family; “This Is It BBQ and Seafood” which provided a great location accessible to everyone in addition to security and food for the workers; T. Lanier Levett of the Gregory B. Levett & Sons Funeral Home for donating all costs associated with the funeral and burial of Joseph; D & K Menswear which is donating the clothing to dress the family for the funeral and the suit in which to bury Joseph and the V-103 listening family for once again proving that everyday is a chance to give to someone to make their life better. We couldn’t do what we do….without YOU!

Here are some pictures from today’s fundraiser.