Parents host prom after middle school cancels events

Alan Selph
·2 min read
3

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Prom is a big deal for many students and Saturday night, the big event is happening after it was initially canceled for some students.

The Eighth Grade Sneaker Ball was in full swing at Southbrook Mall Saturday night.

Booking agent Larry Dodson says when his daughter broke the news about canceled events at John P. Freeman Optional School, he leaped into action.

“I figured I would want the young ladies to have a good time. I always see young ladies wearing heels and talking about how their feet hurt. The alums of John P. Freeman are strong so we bonded together to make sure we celebrated the youth,” he said.

“I was really sad and upset about it because we worked really hard for everything. To have that taken away from us wasn’t the best feeling,” John P. Freeman student Larie Dodson said. “They asked me ‘What if we put together a prom for you?’ I was like ‘That’s cool, that’s really nice.’”

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Larry didn’t do it alone. His wife Syreeta Dodson was his partner, working together to gather resources and make sure the prom happened as well as the other events they say were canceled, including cap and gown picture day and high school reveal night.

“The parents are in full support of celebrating the kids. We see the hard work, we see the sleepless night, we see the stress, we see the cramming, and it’s all paid off. And they need to be celebrated and we support that one hundred percent,“ Syreeta said.

It’s unclear what caused the initial cancellation, but the students rocked their fresh sneakers, thrilled to have their prom night transformed from disappointment to celebration.

“It’s a very exciting time for me since it’s my first time,” student Adrian Phillips said. “I was kind of nervous at first, but I kind of got over it and it was pretty chill.”

WREG reached out to Memphis-Shelby County Schools for comment but has not heard back.

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