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Relay ribbons in Davis' honor She loved children, and she took a genuine interest in their lives and their achievements. She was quick with praise and never failed to give credit to others for their contributions. She could also be quick to point out one's faults, with a candor that could make one uncomfortable because of its painful truth. And without her nudging, there might never have been a Relay for Life in Thomasville. Because of her ability to love so expansively, her offbeat- and sometimes irreverent- sense of humor, and her love for this city and its people, this year's Relay for Life committee wanted to honor the late Ann West Davis. She will be the honoree for the Purple Ribbon Campaign. What is Relay? Relay for Life is the American Cancer Society's signature fundraising event. It's a fun-filled overnight experience designed to bring together those who have been touched by cancer. At Relay, people from within the community gather to celebrate survivors, remember those lost to cancer, and to fight back against this disease. Relay participants help raise money and awareness to support the American Cancer Society in its lifesaving mission to eliminate cancer as a major health issue. At the Relay for Life of Thomasville, teams of people gather at Gates Drive Park on the last weekend of April each year and take turns walking or running laps. The events are held overnight to represent the fact that cancer never sleeps. But, Relay isn't about taking laps - it's about coming together in the fight against cancer. It's a time to remember those lost to this disease and celebrate those who have survived. It's a place where people connect with others, share the cancer experience, and find comfort and solace. And it's an opportunity to build hope for a future where cancer no longer threatens the lives of the people we love. What's the history of Relay in Thomasville? The Relay for Life of Thomasville began with a simple request from Debra Wood, who was the Thomasville School System's student volunteer coordinator. Ann Davis was her supervisor, and Debra asked for her permission to attend a seminar in Brewton. It was at that seminar that she first heard of an exciting event with a mission- fighting cancer- the Relay for Life. "I came back and told Ann about this neat and exciting community event I had heard about called Relay for Life," Wood recalls. "I had some misgivings about whether or not I could coordinate it, and whether or not we could pull it off," Debra remembers. "Ann simply said, "Yes, you can do it, and yes, this is Thomasville- we can make it happen here." With that encouragement, Wood went in to get the Relay for Life event started in Thomasville. While Davis never took a lead role in its promotion, she nonetheless was a great supporter of Relay. "She would always send me a card encouraging me at the start of Relay and a note of congratulations to all the teams at the end," Wood remembers. Her own battle Ann Davis was a well known figure in Thomasville. She often advocated for different causes, sometimes behind the scenes and other times publicly. She was the community education coordinator for the city school system, and in that capacity she wrote and obtained several grants for programs including the student volunteer program. She later took on the challenge of gifted education, and she taught the gifted students in the city school system, providing them with projects and work to challenge their intellects and creativity. In many ways, despite her very vocal and public persona, Ann was very private. Many people- even those close to her- were unaware when she was diagnosed with cancer in 2001. She sidestepped any "serious" talk about her illness with a shrug and an irreverent comment. Therefore, many people didn't know of the difficult and painful struggles she made in fighting this disease. When Ann died of complications from the disease last December at the age of 62, the community mourned her passing. She had an impact on so many lives, and her love for others made many people feel valued and capable of achievement. In an article for The Times published on the 13th of that month, Linda Vice said Davis was "passionate about education for herself, her family and her community." She also took her love of learning to Africa, spending a year in Benin as part of a teacher exchange program. Ann was the wife of Charles Davis of Thomasville. Her children are Earlando "Cookie" Courtney and Charleton (Nereida) Davis of Thomasville; one daughter, Jessica (James) West-Jackson of Montgomery. She has three grandsons- Dylan Davis, Ahmad Courtney, and Alexander Courtney- and other close relatives, many of whom she helped raise. Purple Ribbon Campaign Honoree Because of their love and respect for this many-faceted woman, the Relay for Life Committee chose her to be the "face" behind the purple ribbon campaign this year. Many fundraisers are undertaken by different teams participating in the Relay, but one they all have in common is the purple ribbon campaign. An individual is chosen for the honor, and the teams sell large purple bows to adorn the doors of businesses, churches, and homes around the area. The bows are $25, and they will be delivered to the purchaser by a Relay team member. The proceeds go toward the American Cancer Society's mission of finding a cure for this disease and educating people about its symptoms and prevention. The dollars raised by this fundraiser will also count toward the total amount raised in the Relay for Life of Thomasville.
To purchase a bow in honor of Ann West Davis, contact a member of any Relay for Life team.
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