Ernesia DeAnna (Wideman) Wright
Team Market Owner
Ernesia DeAnna (Wideman) Wright, a widely recognized sports entrepreneur and motivational speaker, was born in Augusta, Georgia, and she serves as the Deputy Director of Operations for the City of Augusta’s Parks and Recreation Department. In addition, she recently retired from the United States Army as a Major and Human Resources Officer.
Wright earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology from Augusta University, a master’s degree in Human Resources Management from Webster University, and she was commissioned into the U.S. Army as a Second Lieutenant at Alabama A& M University.
Furthermore, Wright’s military educational training includes an Adjutant Officer Basic Course and BDE S-1 Course, a Postal Supervisor Course, a Master Resilience Course, and an Advance Adjutant General Officer Course.
Her military assignments include Brigade S1, 6th Brigade ROTC, Hunter Army Airfield, Battalion S1, Fort Jackson, South Carolina, Operations and Plans Officer, Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Her past assignment includes Brigade S1, 165th Infantry Brigade, Fort Jackson, Sc, Battalion S1, 110th Chemical Battalion JBLM, WA.
As a result of her work in the military, Wright received several accolades including the Meritorious Service Medal(with oak leaf 2), the Army Commendation Medal (with oak leaf 2), the Army Achievement Medal (with oak leaf 3), the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Armed Forces Service Ribbon.
She is also the founder of The Georgia Soul Women’s and Men’s Basketball Organization, a an organization that gives men and women an opportunity to continue their basketball careers on a professional level. The athletes not only focus on winning on the court, but their team spirit is seen in their community projects, basketball clinics, and mentorships.
With her leadership, the Georgia Soul won the Women’s Blue Chip Basketball League (WBCBL) Atlantic Region Championship two years in a row. The team went on to win the WBCBL National Championship making them the first women’s basketball professional team in the Augusta area to win a national title. The Georgia Soul Men in their first season(2021-2022) were the American Basketball Association (ABA) Georgia State Champions.
Wright’s personal basketball career spans over two decades, and includes her leading Augusta University women’s basketball team to their first South Atlantic Region Championship and her finishing 12th in Women’s Basketball All Time scoring at Augusta University. She went on to play professionally signing her first contract with CST Alexandria, in which she played two seasons in Alexandria, Romania.
In her spare time, Wright enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband Rocardo and their daughters Zoey and Zia. She also gives back to the community in many capacities, including being a mentor to teenagers and young adults. She is a 2022 Graduate of Leadership of Augusta and a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
