King’s Fitness and Nutrition Center on Warrenton’s East Macon Street continues a family legacy of helping its members develop and maintain healthy lifestyles.

The business began as the vision of Rhonda King-Goode, who established King’s Fitness in October 2014. After her untimely passing in July 2021, daughter-in-law Vanity Goode stepped up to continue the business and maintain King-Goode’s legacy. Today, a photograph of Rhonda King-Goode is displayed in a place of honor at the business.

Owner/Manager Vanity Goode is a Warren County High School graduate and the daughter of Annie Newell and Gundy Richardson, Jr. She earned a degree in Kinesiology from East Carolina and became a Health and Physical Education teacher at Northwest Halifax High School. There, she also served as athletic director before returning to her home county.

Goode is grateful for all of the community support as she moved from teaching in the classroom to operating King’s Fitness and Nutrition Center.

“Members helped in the transition after my mother-in-law’s death, from cleaning to notifying other members,” she said.

King’s Fitness has grown over the years through community collaborations, partnerships and support, Goode said. She serves on Warren County Schools’ Career and Technical Education Business Council, and the business is a fixture at school system Career Days. King’s Fitness also participates in local health fairs on a regular basis. The business has organized health and fitness activities in conjunction with local businesses.

Goode continues to participate in these activities in addition to helping members at King’s Fitness and Nutrition Center. Members range in age from youth as young as 10 or 12, to people in their 80s. At this time, senior citizens make up the majority of members.

Both individual and family memberships are available. Members age 16 and older may work out on their own. Those younger than 16 need parent or guardian supervision.

King’s Fitness offers 24/7 access to members, personal training/nutritional recommendations, body assessments and group fitness classes. Fitness equipment includes everything from treadmills and bikes to free weights and more.

There are also smoothies and juices. Goode noted that at first, people created their own. Now, she and her husband, Reginald Goode, Jr. have created a list that includes the Rhonda Special (strawberry, pineapple and banana), Green Machine (spinach, pineapple and mango), Very Berry (strawberry and blueberry), Sunny Delight (pineapple, mango and banana) and Super Berry (blueberries, banana and avocado).

“Smoothies are made fresh daily and made to order,” Goode said.

Both members and non-members may purchase smoothies and juices during regular hours.

Goode continues to educate the public about developing and maintaining healthy lifestyles through fitness and nutrition education services throughout the county, by speaking at churches and through partnerships with a number of community organizations.

For Goode, the most meaningful aspect of her work is interacting with the community, especially in consideration of the impact that fitness and nutrition have on one’s physical, mental and emotional health.

“I have a lot of community member support,” she said.

In everything she does, she never forgets the love that Rhonda King-Goode had for her community — and how much the community loved her.

“I am making sure that I uphold her legacy and continue what she started,” Vanity Goode said.

King’s Fitness and Nutrition Center, located at 317 E. Macon St. in the former Just Save shopping center, is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and from noon-7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. To become a member, stop by during regular hours and complete a sign-up form. For more information, visit www.kingsfitnessnc.com or go to the King’s Fitness Facebook page. Watch the website and Facebook page for information about upcoming events.