Memorial march set for Aug. 11

Published 4:48 pm Friday, July 31, 2009

A memorial march will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 11, in remembrance of a local woman killed as a result of a suspected gang violence.

Ebony Clark, 21, was rushed to the hospital on Aug. 12, 2008, after being struck by a stray bullet from an altercation that was believed to be gang related that occurred on Sims and East Broughton streets. She was carrying her young son in her arms when she was shot, and was later pronounced dead as a result of the wound.

Nearly one year since the tragic death of Clark, her family will be holding a memorial march from the place where she was shot to downtown Bainbridge. The march will begin at 4 p.m. on Sims Street in front of the Bainbridge Housing Authority and will travel down Planter Street, ending downtown at Willis Park.

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Once arriving downtown, a “taking back our community from drugs and gangs” event will be held beginning at 6 p.m.

Clark’s mother and event coordinator, Barbara Williford, said the event will take place to help raise awareness of gang activity and drug use taking place in the area with a number of community leaders speaking out. She said she hopes to make the march an annual event and to use the “take back the community” event to help create an outreach program.

Speakers at the event including Bainbridge Public Safety Director Larry Funderburke; Joshua Paske, administrative director of the Friendship House of Jesus; the Rev. Adren Bivins Sr., founder of the Layman Brothers Second Chance Outreach Center; Redd Bradley, security officer for Bainbridge Housing Authority; and other leaders from local churches.

Several local business have already donated goods for participants.

If you or your business would like to donate goods or services for the event please contact Barbara Williford at 246-1202.