NIGHT OF JOY PROM HELD AT LODGE

Sheriff Jared Miller presents Abigail Maddi with a Roku TV.


Tiffany Noland and Daniel Abraham.


Taylor Marshall

Story and Photos By LINDA ANN McDONALD

Wakulla Springs Lodge hosted the Night of Joy event for more than 100 people including students and their guests. The event that was formerly referred to as the Special Needs Prom, was held at the Lodge on Saturday, May 13th and organized by event manager Mary Wallace.
“This is an event for the students to come to a prom where they feel comfortable being together with their classmates – along with their family, teachers and school resource officers- people they see every day and gained familiarity with- to have fun and dance the night away,” said volunteer Quincee Messersmith.“The people involved is what creates a perfect combination for a true Night of Joy.”
There was a raffle including a Nintendo Game System, and a brand new SMART television along with other donated items and gifts that were given away during the event.
Sheriff Jared Miller proudly presented Student Abigail Maddi with her prize of a Roku TV.
“This event is absolutely awesome,” Sheriff Miller said.
Keepsake T-shirts of the event were provided to the students as well.
Leigh Anne Batt of the RoShenell Ellerbe and daughter Iani Kendrick attended the prom. “This is beautiful,” Ellerbe said. “I feel joyful that the students enjoy a night just for them and participate in a traditional social event.”
When asked about the prom dresses, Wallace said, “I want the kids to be dressed how they feel comfortable; I want them to be themselves and have fun. If they do not want to wear a prom dress, that is perfectly OK!”
Rachel Monroe, a student attending the prom wearing an elegant red evening dress said, “My mom helped me pick out my dress and I am going to dance with my dad tonight.”
The event was started in 2009 by Wakulla Springs Baptist Church, Wallace’s church.
“In 2018, (the event) outgrew the church, and I wanted to find a way to continue it for the amazing kids we have,” Wallace said. “So I started finding other places to accommodate it. I am honored to be able to continue it and follow in the footsteps of an extraordinary testament of caring for all the Joy these children bring to everyone’s lives. I am so thankful to my church family for seeing the need for this back then.”
“2019 was the first year we had it at Wakulla Springs Lodge. It was such a huge success that our goal was to continue it there,” Wallace said. “So happy to have been able to come back this year that Jesse Askew, general manager (of the Lodge) and I started discussing ideas back in November of 2022, and once the holidays had passed, wheels were set in motion.”
In March of 2023, Amy Drexler of End of the Rainbow Events joined in along with Wallace’s daughter Sara to brainstorm on all the ways to make the prom amazing.
“First,” Wallace said, “we change the name to Night of Joy, Spring Prom. Also creating a Facebook page and other social media to help get the word out. Along with Sara’s insight, we are creating a foundation, Joyful journeys that will allow us to offer more events throughout the year that the kids can participate in.
“I am so thankful for all the wonderful people God has placed in my path. It is because of all of them, we were able to create a great team to accomplish Night of Joy 2023,” Wallace said.
Special thanks to Kevin Andrew with Rockulla music, studio, for DJ and all the flowers. Jamie at Clothesline for the T-shirts. Kristi Knowles with Anne & Me for decorations. Terri Hiller with Wakulla Sign Company for signage. Desiree Chapman for event photography, Volunteers Frank and Quincee Messersmith, Jordan and Andrea Lee, Angel and Carter Tallent, Claire and Caleb Drexler, Megan Smith, Heather, Bryan, Leigh Anne Batt, Joshua Chapman.
Donors included Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office, Operation Wakulla, Defenders Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club, Coastal Optimist Club, The Wakulla Sun, Hayward Title Group, Jimmy John’s, Olan and Sonia Bronson, Heather Ryback, Barineau Heating and Air, Steve Cushman, Sandra Apthorp, Amy Geiger, Niraj Patel, Greg James, Sherry Fordham and Rachel Pienta.
Wallace has another event called the Festival of Joy which is slated for September at Wakulla Springs. You can find JOYful Journeys on Facebook.