ROCK HILL, S.C. — Marlie Sullivan loved dressing up and all things sparkly; when her friends remember her, they think of her twirling on stage and dancing through life.
“We were just always goofing around and acting funny, it was really fun to be around her and she was a great friend,” said Mary-Elex Lang.
Marlie died in a golf cart accident last year at the age of 15. Rock Hill police say the driver of an SUV hit the golf cart she was riding.
While Marlie will never get to dance at prom with her friends, those close to her have started a new mission in her memory to help other girls.
“She loved costumes, she loved beads and fun colors and ruffles,” said Ashley Lang with the Marlie Dru Sullivan Foundation.
“It really means a lot to me to have the opportunity to honor her in this way. I know she would really love what we’re doing here,” said Mary-Elex.
A room in the old cotton factory in Rock Hill is now “Marlie’s Closet.” It holds more than 300 new and gently used prom dresses donated by community members and partners.
Each dress is a flat $100, which funds dance scholarships and other events. The money goes to a good cause and helps students save money, since prom dresses in shops can cost hundreds of dollars
“There’s no doubt in my mind that she’s smiling down on us. She would be tickled pink,” Ashley said.
When these dresses hit the dance floor, Mary-Elex thinks it will carry on Marlie’s legacy.
“Just to be able to still connect with her in a way is really important to me because that’s really helped the grief process as well,” Mary-Elex said.
The next shopping day for Marlie’s Closet will be on Feb. 8 at The Old Cotton Factory on Chatham Avenue in Rock Hill. You can find more details at this link.
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