Fort Valley, Georgia

Natalie White was one of those early bloomers who discovered her purpose in high school. Her vision to be in sports management became clearer after college, when Nike offered her a position where she could grow and fine-tune her skills. This decision ultimately led her to the L.A. Sparks. As senior vice president, she now leads a team that helps dozens of youths realize their dreams. And through her personal nonprofit, she is preparing to cultivate the next generation of young leaders in her hometown in Georgia.

Henry Alexander Hunt (October 10, 1866[2] – October 1, 1938) was an American educator who led efforts to reach blacks in rural areas of Georgia. He was awarded the Spingarn Medal by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), as well as the Harmon Prize. In addition, he was recruited in the 1930s by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to join the president’s Black Cabinet, an informal group of more than 40 prominent African Americans appointed to positions in the executive agencies.

Dollie Horton, the Fort Valley, GA native, began her career at FVSU in 1967, serving as the first Administrative Assistant. She was the first Black Female to co-own and operate a radio station in the State of Georgia (WKXO-AM 1150 Radio Station) and at that time the fourth in the United States as recorded in the Congressional Record, Washington, DC. Later on in her career, she served as the FVSU Evans Building Public Service Center Director, overseeing a multi-million dollars U.S. funded program that provided funds to entrepreneurs and small businesses. She is also the first black female elected to serve on the Peach County Utility Board.

Alvin Holsey grew up in Fort Valley, Ga. and graduated in 1983 from Peach County High School, where he was a starting defensive back on the football team for three years. He earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Morehouse College and then a master’s degree in management from Troy State University. And to become a Navy pilot before rising to the rank of rear admiral. Holsey joined the Navy to fulfill his dream. He was 21 the first time he ever flew on a plane, taking a ride on a C-9 as an orientation flight for college Navy ROTC midshipmen. Two years later, he made his first solo flight as a pilot, flying a T-34 trainer.

He became a helicopter pilot, and had fulfilled his dream, but never imagined how far he would go beyond that. He has risen to the rank of rear admiral, and he was put in command of the Carl Vinson Strike Group. It’s a massive fighting force that includes the U.S.S. Carl Vinson aircraft carrier, plus six other warships, over 7,000 sailors and 75 aircraft.

The flagship of the group Holsey commands holds a familiar name. Carl Vinson was a U.S. representative from Georgia who is credited with helping persuade the War Department to establish Robins, as well as significant expansion of the Navy. Carl Vinson Parkway in Warner Robins is named in his honor. “We think he would be proud of the fact that a local boy from Fort Valley is commanding the Carl Vinson Strike Group.”

Karan Kendrick, Born and raised in Fort Valley, GA, Karan graduated from Spelman College in Atlanta, GA (BA, Drama and Dance) and earned her graduate degree (MBA, Management) at Wesleyan College in Macon, GA. As a speaker, Karan has appeared at the following: NASA (Ames) Speaker, Women’s History Month; Stanford University Featured Panelist for “Hidden Figures” sponsored by Boeing and NSBE; Fort Valley State University Commencement Speaker 2018; Additional acting credits include: Grey’s Anatomy, Goddess (O’Neill Musical Theatre Conference), *Breath and Imagination (The Colony Theatre), Drop Dead Diva, Army Wives, The Wronged Man, Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleading Scandal (Lifetime Television), Tyler Perry’s House of Payne and Madea Goes to Jail, (Tyler Perry Studios) and the feature films: The Odd Life of Timothy Green, Parental Guidance, Merry Friggin’ Christmas, and more.

Hailed for her powerfully nuanced portrayal of “Minnie McMillian” in the blockbuster Just Mercy, Karan Kendrick is among the artistic elite.

Additional credits range from- The Hunger Games (LionsGate), Hidden Figures (20th Century Fox)- and dramas like the October 2018 20th Century Fox feature The Hate U Give (20th Century Fox), to Television – Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) and Regional Theatre (Arena Stage, Hartford Stage, Goodman Theatre, Alliance Theatre). Recent credits include Laura Steinel’s 2019 Feature Comedy Fam-i-ly (Angela Ink), season four of CW’s The Originals, and Greenleaf on OWN.

In addition to her work as an actor, Karan has served tirelessly for the past decade to provide students with an opportunity to build character, discipline, and an eternal passion for the arts through Karan Kendrick Academy.

Marvin Andrew Crafter, Sr. March 14, 1950 – March 18, 2021
From Fort Valley, Georgia, his formal education was received from the Peach County Elementary and H.A. Hunt High School graduating in 1967. Marvin also attended Carver Bible College where he was an ordained CME Methodist Minister. Marvin also attended the Fort Valley State College.

Marvin Crafter, Sr. was a 25-year political icon in the City of Fort Valley. City Councilman Crafter was a relentless activist for the citizens of Fort Valley. He was instrumental in the building of the only overpass in the city of Fort Valley, the $11M settlement for the Canadyne chemical environmental case.

Gregory Lenard Lloyd Sr. (born May 26, 1965) is a former American football outside linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was named to five Pro Bowls and three All-Pro teams.

Lloyd was born in Miami, Florida, and was raised by his mother there until the age of two. In 1967, Lloyd’s mother drove him and five of his eight siblings to Fort Valley, Georgia, and left them with his Aunt Bertha Mae. He has never met his father and was raised in a two bedroom apartment along with nine other children. Lloyd grew up in poverty and had two outfits to wear throughout the week. He began playing football at the age of six and played fullback and linebacker in high school. Lloyd has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, which he currently teaches. He is also well known for using an expletive in a nationally televised interview with NBC’s Jim Gray after Pittsburgh defeated the Indianapolis Colts in the 1995 AFC Championship.

Nigel Dajuan Talton A former 2009 Peach County Trojan graduate and track, football player. Nigel is also better known as the Atlanta Braves “The Freeze,” the Atlanta Braves first Africa American mascot for an in game promotion.

The Freeze is actually an eight-year Atlanta Braves member of the grounds crew named Nigel Talton. Talton, with an extensive track & field background, paints the baselines before the game and then heads off to race fans in the outfield during the game.

Talton has been with the Braves grounds crew since the 2012 season. He was a sprinter at Kennesaw State in Georgia and he notched a 4.28-second 40 at a football camp in 2011, a time just six one-hundredths of a second slower than a John Ross’s all-time NFL combine record.

Nigel is a five-time NAIA All American in track. During his year with the Iowa Wesleyan Tigers, Talton made his way into the IW all-time record books in both indoor and outdoor seasons. He sits in fourth and fifth in the 55 meter dash and 200 meter dash respectively. Talton broke the school 100 meter dash record in the outdoor season, which stood for 23 years before he clocked a 10.54 second run.

His career also afforded him to meet people like Usain Bolt and Nigel was also recruited for the USA Bobsled Team tryout in 2016.

What started out as an untested promotion for a gas station has turned into a successful marketing skit, while making Talton a national celebrity.