GEORGETOWN, S.C. —  It was a special night for dozens of  girls and their fathers who made memories at the 3rd annual Georgetown Presbyterian Church Father Daughter Dance Saturday evening.

But for one little girl and her mother, the night was bittersweet.

Anna Grace Fletcher, a 9-year-old from the Waccamaw  Neck, had a blast last year when she was escorted to the dance by her father Harris Fletcher III, owner of Fletcher Refrigeration Service.

Mr. Fletcher died a few weeks after last year’s dance, a devastating blow to the girl who was the apple of her daddy’s eye.

Coping with her father’s unexpected death at the age of 57 has been tough for Anna Grace but her family and friends have been helping her one day at a time.

One of the friends of her family, George Chastain, knew how much Anna Grace enjoyed last year’s Father Daughter Dance. But, would she enjoy going this year without her father?

He asked her mother, Jill Fletcher, if he could stand in the place of the little girl’s father at the dance.

“I sat and cried,” Ms. Fletcher said when asked what she thought when Chastain made the offer.

They approached Anna Grace about the idea.

“She said ‘no problem’,” Jill Fletcher said.

The 2009 Father Daughter Dance was a very special event for Harris Fletcher. It was one he did not want to miss.

“He told us he hoped he got to attend (the dance) before he died,” Ms. Fletcher recalled, adding the statement was unusual because her husband was not suffering a life-threatening illness at the time. “He loved that girl. She was his buddy.”

She said her husband and daughter had “their song” which was very special to them. My Kind of Girl by Billy Scott.

Chastain — whose family has been friends with the Fletchers for many years — said he knew he had to step in and help as much as possible after Mr. Fletcher death in April.

“We want to keep her involved and excited about the community,” he said of Anna Grace.

It helps that his 9-year-old daughter, Elizabeth Ann, is best friends with Anna Grace.

During the dance Saturday night, it was always a trio as Mr. Chastain had 9-year-old girls on each side.

Jill Fletcher said she knows her husband was proud as he looked down from Heaven Saturday night and saw his daughter dancing.

“I know he has tears of joy,” she said.

A tradition in the making

Debbie Barron, organizer of the dance, said she was excited about the turnout this year.

“It has grown every year,” she said.

She said members of the church and some of the parents provided the refreshments for the evening.

Barron said the main purpose of the dance is bonding.

“I thought this is a great opportunity for dads to make memories with their daughters,” she said.

By Scott Harper

sharper@gtowntimes.com