A Father’s Day devoted to the Crown: David Blackledge’s enduring legacy of service – The Vicksburg Post

While most dads are enjoying a day relaxing in their BarcaLounger or playing a round of golf at the club, David Blackledge has spent his Father’s Day volunteering.

For decades the timing of the Miss Mississippi Pageant has coincided with the day set aside to honor fathers and because David has been serving as the executive director of the Miss Mississippi Corporation for more than three decades, this meant Father’s Day was not about him, but about the contestants competing for the crown.

Those who know David agree that the little detail of Father’s Day has never deterred him from his deep commitment to the program.

“David is selfless, devoted, loves big and during the pageant everyone comes first,” Diane Huff said. Huff, along with her husband Andre, are in charge of lighting for the pageant.

“He works endlessly. He shares his holidays with pageant week,” she said. “Andre and I have been celebrating with him for 23 years. We love him, and he is family in all aspects. This organization is blessed to have him. We sure are.”

Allen Ditto, who serves as the technical director for the Miss Mississippi Competition and is the tour and production manager for Martina McBride, described David as a “good person.”

“I met David and his wonderful family in 1993, my first year working the Miss Mississippi pageant. You know how when you meet someone you just know that they are a good person. I felt that way in 1993 and I still feel that way 32 years later,” Ditto said. “David gives all of himself to the pageant, his family and most importantly to God. He is just one of the really good guys who I get the privilege to call a friend!”

Kandace Williams Peppers, now serving as the artistic director of the competition, said “David has been such an integral part of my Miss Mississippi journey. He was my business manager in 1992, and I was his first Miss Mississippi to work with in that capacity.

“I became very close with his family, and he helped make my year the best one possible,” Peppers continued. “And after we no longer served in those roles, we remained friends. Our families are still friends. And of all the things that I can say about David, the most prominent one is that he is always kind. And I think that’s one of the greatest attributes a person can have. A job like his requires the utmost patience and he shows that in amazing amounts.”

“Mr. David is such an incredible man and father,” 2024 Miss Mississippi Becky Williams said. “To have had the chance to work with him over the past year has been such a privilege. He is dedicated to his family, he is hard working, and he is an incredible role model for any and everyone.”

Pat Hopson recalled her relationship with David and how he has always been an integral part of the pageant when she and her husband the late Dr. Briggs Hopson Jr. were executive producer and CEO and chairman of the board, respectively, of the Miss Mississippi Pageant.

“David has been a good father and grandfather,” Hopson said. “And he was a special son to Doc. They both shared a love of the pageant,” Hopson said.

Jan Blackledge, David’s wife, echoed Hopson’s sentiments when it came to her husband’s relationship with “Doc.”

“David had an amazing mentor through Dr. Briggs Hopson and his wife, Pat,” she said. “David has carried on Dr. Hopson’s legacy and I hope that he would be proud of him, and I hope that Pat is. David truly learned from the best.”

Jan went on to say how David has always enjoyed his life volunteering with the pageant while also being an attentive father.

“David and I have been involved with the Miss Mississippi pageant for 43 years and most of those years the pageant fell on Father’s Day. So not only did he spend that day with his two beautiful girls, but also with 30 to 40 other beautiful young ladies.”

Thankfully, Jan said, her girls didn’t mind sharing their father with others since they enjoyed the pageant just as much as he did.

David and Jan’s youngest daughter, Lindsey, said her family’s involvement with the pageant has given her lots of fond memories.

“My whole life I have been involved with the Miss Mississippi Pageant,” she said. “I have so many memories from Miss Mississippi in Vicksburg to Miss America in Atlantic City. Everyone involved with the pageant is like family to us. It’s definitely something we look forward to every summer.

“The contestants are just like daughters to my dad, he loves them like his own,” she continued. “There have been years we have celebrated Father’s Day as well as his birthday with pageant, but he wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Jan said David’s heart has always been big enough to love his daughters and the young ladies who compete for the crown.

“He has always treated each contestant just like a daughter,” Jan said. “He wants each girl to feel a part of our family and know how much he loves and cares about them. He has always had their best interests at heart and wants the best for their future. Helping with the pageant is a volunteer job that David loves,” Jan said.

About Terri Cowart Frazier

Terri Frazier was born in Cleveland. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Vicksburg. She is a part-time reporter at The Vicksburg Post and is the editor of the Vicksburg Living Magazine, which has been awarded First Place by the Mississippi Press Association. She has also been the recipient of a First Place award in the MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest’s editorial division for the “Best Feature Story.”

Terri graduated from Warren Central High School and Mississippi State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations.

Prior to coming to work at The Post a little more than 10 years ago, she did some freelancing at the Jackson Free Press. But for most of her life, she enjoyed being a full-time stay at home mom.

Terri is a member of the Crawford Street United Methodist Church. She is a lifetime member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary and is a past member of the Sampler Antique Club and Town and Country Garden Club. She is married to Dr. Walter Frazier.

“From staying informed with local governmental issues to hearing the stories of its people, a hometown newspaper is vital to a community. I have felt privileged to be part of a dedicated team at The Post throughout my tenure and hope that with theirs and with local support, I will be able to continue to grow and hone in on my skills as I help share the stories in Vicksburg. When asked what I like most about my job, my answer is always ‘the people.’

More by Terri Cowart