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This story originally appeared in the Jackson Free Press. It was added to the Mississippi Free Press website in 2025.
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Saturday, Oct.5, 2002, 8 a.m. Race will start and finish at St. James Episcopal Church This year’ s event will benefit St. James’ Habitat for Humanity projects.
(Checks should be made out to ST. JAMES EPISCOPAL CHURCH)

REGISTRATION and more about Davidson…

Pre-register in person at Peak Athletics or pick up an entry form at any of the following locations: Peak Athletics, Russell’s or any BancorpSouth branch. Packets can be picked up Friday, Oct. 4 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Peak Athletics in Highland Village. Packet pickup and late registration will begin at 6:30 a.m. race day.

CONTACT For more information contact Peak Athletics, 601-366-0002 or Amy Davidson, 601-956-7099.

This race is being organized and run in memory of Ernest Davidson, a good husband, a good son, a good brother and a good friend to everyone who knew him. Just after his 31st birthday, and after being married for only five months, a driver who had been drinking cut Ernest’s life short. Many athletes in the area will remember Ernest from his participation in road races and triathlons throughout the region. Ernest’s family and friends could think of no better tribute to a man who loved participating in these events than to put one on in his memory.

Founding Editor Donna Ladd is a writer, journalist and editor from Philadelphia, Miss., a graduate of Mississippi State University and later the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, where she was an alumni award recipient in 2021. She writes about racism/whiteness, poverty, gender, violence, journalism and the criminal justice system. She contributes long-form features and essays to The Guardian when she has time, and was the co-founder and editor-in-chief of the Jackson Free Press. She co-founded the statewide nonprofit Mississippi Free Press with Kimberly Griffin in March 2020, and the Mississippi Business Journal named her one of the state's top CEOs in 2024. Read more at donnaladd.com, follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @donnerkay and email her at donna@mississippifreepress.org.