By CHRISTINE BOATWRIGHT / Staff Writer

CALERA – Seniors danced the night away in a Titanic-themed ballroom at a senior prom held at Calera First United Methodist Church.

“To see 93 year old seniors out there dancing. It was just great,” said Mara Tierce, community relations director of Southern Care in Clanton. “We had a few assisted living facilities bring some of their residents. Every facility designated a king and queen, or at least a queen.”

As seniors, dressed in their best, came into the prom, they took their picture with the “captain,” or Alabaster resident Doug Tisdale, regional executive of Lifeguard Ambulance.

“I got to have my picture taken with a whole lot of beautiful women,” he said, laughing. “We even had our COO dancing with one of the queens from one of the senior centers. “That’s one good thing about our group of folks, health car in general, we like to be able to help folks and have fun they haven’t had in a long time,” he added. “We just had a good time.”

Leadership from Southern Care and the Calera Senior Center put the even together with the help of sponsors across the area.

John Pope of Over the Top DJ volunteered to provide music for the dance, and Darlene’s Discount and Deli provided food.

“People generally are kind, and if they can give they absolutely want to give,” Tierce said.

Other Shelby County sponsors included Middle Alabama Area Agency on Aging, Bailey and Holliman, Rehab Select Shelby Ridge, Helena Hometown Pharmacy, Joe’s Italian, Home Plate Cooking, Harrison Regional Library, Alabama Furniture Market, Dr. James Belyeu, New Beacon Hospice and Diversified Supply, Inc.

“They just know how much I like to do those special things,” Tisdale said. “We jumped in and did everything we could to make it happen. Our staff at Lifeguard, we wound up having 13 folks. We had the COO, director of communications, managers, then staff-level folks. It was a good cross-section of the company to show up to help.”

The following seniors were crowned during the senior prom: Bill O. Shaw and Mary Hill of Lakeview Assisted Living, Frances Degroat and Willie Donalds of Calera Senior Center, Dollie Riggins of Vincent Senior Center, Mr. and Mrs. Maximo Sanchez of Alabaster Senior Center and Lillie Jones of Heardmont Senior Center.

“We had one queen that was 93. We had a couple crowned king and queen from the Alabaster Senior Center,” Tierce said. “It was just sweet, so sweet.”