Lissa English-Benifield and Weston Spurling have been friends since eighth grade, when English-Benifield moved to rural Howell County from Hawaii.
She arrived toward the end of eighth grade year at Fairview School and felt a little lost and alone, trying to make connections with the other students right before she and her classmates graduated. But she found friends in Spurling and his twin brother Michael, and sparked friendships that have endured since. The twins were the first to reach out a hand for friendship, with no judgment and open arms, she added, describing Spurling as "special, very special."
She and Spurling then went to Dora High School and graduated together in 2005.
English-Benifield went on to attend Missouri State University, graduated in 2017, and currently works as a medical coder and an online instructor through the West Plains campus.
Spurling is a participant in the Honest Imagination Day Habilitation artist group, where he can work on the comic book and animation art he loves. Among his inspirations are Japanese animation, Star Trek, Power Rangers, Flintstones, The Jetsons and many more, he says.
He says English-Benifield is his "longest and best friend."
Spurling has developmental disabilities, but it's something that's never gotten in the way of their friendship. For English-Benifield, it's an aspect of their relationship she just doesn't think about much.
After high school graduation, the two hung out together from time to time, but English-Benifield moved to Clarksville, Tenn., a couple of years ago, and on April 4, she was married at Ft. Meyers in Florida. English-Benifield's mother still lives in West Plains, so she visits occasionally. On this trip, English-Benifield's husband Michael was in South Carolina helping his parents, who were affected by hurricane Helene. English-Benifield said they had been without power for about 12 days, but were okay and Michael was helping with cleanup.
Spurling wasn't able to make it to the wedding in April, but he did express his wish to have a dance with English-Benifield. That was arranged to take place recently at the West Plains Civic Center, and English-Benifield asked Spurling to make a playlist — but the surprise was that English-Benifield would walk into the room wearing her wedding gown to recreate the moment she took the dance floor last spring.
Beforehand, Spurling said the two hadn't danced together in high school, "but we're making up for it now."
Spurling arrived wearing a suit with a boutonniere, and presented English-Benifield with a corsage he'd made, and complimented on her wedding dress. As "Storybook Love" from The Princess Bride played, Spurling extended his arm, and walked English-Benifield to the dance floor.
