MIAMI – Eighty-one year old celebrates as the king of the Annual Seniors Prom.
Melvin Lewis (81) was among seniors from across Miami-Dade County who came to Signature Gardens in Southwest Miami for the Annual Senior Prom held each year by the Community Action Agency’s (CAA) Elderly Programs.
The event which provides an opportunity for many of these seniors to visit with friends involved in the program as well as with family and loved ones. This year over 600 seniors gathered at the Signature Gardens for an afternoon of “Elegance and Grace”, which was the theme of this year’s prom.
“I always look forward to this event every year, it is an opportunity for many of us to get out and have a good time, just because we are old, does not mean we don’t know how to still have a good time”, explains Liz Gant (72) who has been involved in the program since 1985 and is a participant in the Meals for the Elderly program operated by CAA at the Opa-Locka center.
No prom would be complete without a king and queen, this year the honor went to Gladys Marron (76), and Melvin Lewis (81) who were crowned king and queen and led the seniors in dancing the afternoon away.
Melvin Lewis
Mr. Lewis who has been involved in the program for over 5 years, is originally from Trinidad and is a retired Security Guard who migrated to South Florida from New York. The couple was greeted by applause from the crowd as they took to the dance floor for their dance joined by other eager seniors who showed that you are never too old to have a good time. “We are not senior citizens, I hate that term, we are recycled teenagers”, says Alma Humphrey (63) who says this was her first prom, but she is already looking forward to next year.
Ms. Marron is a retired housewife who emigrated from Cuba 18 years ago and says for her, the program has been a god send. “I have only been involved in the program for one year, but it has helped me to live better”, she explains.
