VALDOSTA —
The 17th Annual Father-Daughter Valentine Dance started off strong in its first night of the new year.
Around 2,450 daddies and daughters showed up to celebrate the meaning behind treating a girl or young woman with respect.
Rodney Bullard and his two-year-old daughter Sydney, came out to the dance for their “first date.”
“It’s our first time at the dance and it’s awesome,” Bullard said.
As the fathers and daughters enter the James H. Rainwater Conference Center, they are greeted by the dedicated staff and First Presbyterian Church family.
Once tickets are collected, the couples can hardly contain their excitement as they make their way under the red valentine arches.
“This is our fourth time,” Brent and seven-year-old daughter, Mabry Hart said. “It’s a very special time, every year. She tells me we can keep coming back until I’m 70 years old.”
As past dances are reflected upon, new memories are created by those experiencing the dance for the first time.
Charles Askew traveled over one thousand miles to treat his two princesses, Eva, 6, and Ansleigh, 4, to a night on the town.
“We’re having a great time,” Askew said. “It’s our first time, all the way from Albany, N.Y.”
Local News
Related Photos
-
The first of four father-daughter dances gets under way Friday at the James H. Rainwater Conference Center. Brandon Powers / VDT
Discussion
Annual father-daughter event under way in Valdosta
- Local News
-
-
Lowndes County facing budget woes
In a brief meeting Tuesday evening, Lowndes County Commissioners and a small audience reviewed a power point presentation compiled by Finance director Stephanie Black, which shows a rather bleak picture for this fiscal year.
-
Celebrating Juneteenth
Some find it hard to look US slavery in its eyes when glancing back on history, but the Juneteeth committee reminded Valdostans how a people persevered through the barbaric institution as they held the city's 21st annual Juneteenth celebration at Mathis City Auditorium on Tuesday evening.
-
Child drowns in family pool
Emergency workers raced a two-year-old child to South Georgia Medical Center from a Pearl Davis Road residence Monday evening in response to a reported drowning, but the toddler did not respond to resuscitation efforts, according to reports from the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office.
-
Easter Seals benefit Thursday
Easter Seals Southern Georgia will be hosting “Sweet Charity: Desserts for a Cause” Thursday at Mathis Auditorium. The event will be from 7 to 9 p.m. and will include several local restaurants serving dessert as well as a silent auction.
-
Dollar General robbed at gunpoint
A customer and two employees were unharmed during a Sunday evening robbery as two masked men demanded cash from registers and the business’ safe as the Dollar General on Bemiss Road prepared to close at around 11:30 p.m., according to reports from the Valdosta Police Department.
-
Overpass work causes detours
All vehicles which are not making a delivery in the immediate vicinity of the new overpass will have to find alternate routes immediately.
-
Crossing guard keeping kids safe
Meet Merita Williams, crossing guard.
-
Juneteenth’s coming
Held in just as high a regard as the celebration of our country’s independence to many, the county’s annual Juneteenth dinner returns this Tuesday at 7 p.m. for its 21st year and will offer citizens of all races with a central point to celebrate human rights.
-
A soldier called preacher
In Vietnam, Wesley Harrell spread the Lord’s word among his fellow soldiers. He spoke of God often though few seemed to listen until they encountered war’s sudden death.
-
History on the move
In the right hands, a divided house can again mount a sound foundation and settle into a new era, as proved on Saturday when the 100 Black Men of Valdosta unveiled a transplanted house that’ll likely serve as their headquarters at its Martin Luther King Jr. Drive location.
- More Local News Headlines
-
