High school junior takes his 93-year-old grandmother to prom

“I had a wrist corsage with pink roses. He had a pink rose boutonniere."

ByABC News
April 4, 2017, 4:18 PM

— -- They might just be the most precious prom dates ever.

Connor Campbell, a junior at Pinewood Prep in Summerville, South Carolina, took his 93-year-old grandma, Betty Jane Keene, to his school dance.

“It was wonderful. It was really great,” Keene told ABC News of her fabulous evening at Middleton Place Plantation on April 1. “He had told all his friends. Every boy and girl. It was about 100 children at that dance and it was so lovely and they all came up and shook my hand and then I got Connor to dance with me. He’s not a dancer, but I am.”

PHOTO: Connor Campbell, a junior from Summerville, South Carolina, took his grandmother, Betty Jane Keene, as his prom date.
Connor Campbell, a junior from Summerville, South Carolina, took his grandmother, Betty Jane Keene, as his prom date.

Connor was insistent all year that his grandma would be his prom date.

“Connor had asked her last year to go with him this year,” his mom, Jacqueline Campbell, recalled. “He promised her a year ago. He said, ‘April 2017 I’ll take you.’ For the whole year he kept saying it.”

When the time finally came, Keene picked out a lovely long, pale pink gown from her favorite catalog.

“I’ve always shopped at Draper’s and Damon’s and so I had a catalog and I flipped and I saw this pale pink long dress with a light jacket, and I thought I looked good in pink,” said Keene. “I was a blonde in my day and I always wore soft colors. I said to Jackie, ‘I think this will be great but tell Connor to look at it.’ And he screamed, ‘Tell her to get it.’”

PHOTO: Connor Campbell, a junior from Summerville, South Carolina, took his grandmother, Betty Jane Keene, as his prom date.
Connor Campbell, a junior from Summerville, South Carolina, took his grandmother, Betty Jane Keene, as his prom date.

She treated herself to the fancy gown and Connor got matching pale pink duds.

“I had a wrist corsage with pink roses. He had a pink rose boutonniere,” Keene said. “He had a pink tie and vest with his tuxedo. He’s such a handsome boy.”

Keene was over the moon to also get her makeup, nails and hair done for the special occasion.

PHOTO: Connor Campbell, a junior from Summerville, South Carolina, took his grandmother, Betty Jane Keene, as his prom date.
Connor Campbell, a junior from Summerville, South Carolina, took his grandmother, Betty Jane Keene, as his prom date.

“My daughter found the best shoes at Belk, with these pretty, pretty stars on the toes,” the proud prom date recalled. “Jackie did my face and made me up. And I had my hair done Saturday and my nails done. I was really dressed up for a 93 year old.”

But her favorite part of the whole evening?

“Dancing with Connor,” she said. “I thought that was great.”

PHOTO: Connor Campbell, a junior from Summerville, South Carolina, took his grandmother, Betty Jane Keene, as his prom date.
Connor Campbell, a junior from Summerville, South Carolina, took his grandmother, Betty Jane Keene, as his prom date.

“It just warmed my heart,” said Connor’s mom. “They both had a good time. It wasn’t like anyone’s arm was twisted to go. Both of them had a wonderful time and they both said it was the best thing ever.”

Will Keene be Connor's date next year too?

“I won’t go next year,” she said with a laugh. “I want him to find a girlfriend.”