Georgia

Henry "Hank" Aaron

(1934-2021)

Baseball Player

Fame-O-Meter-10/10

Resting Place-South-View Cemetery, Atlanta

GPS Coordinates-

33°42'05.7"N, 84°22'25.5"W

Hank Aaron's name is synonymous with the sport of baseball. Hank Aaron famously broke Babe Ruth's all-time career home run record in 1974, when he hit his 715th. Aaron played for 23 seasons, recording ridiculous statistics as a hitter. They include 755 home runs (second all-time), 2,297 RBIs (first all-time), 6,856 total bases (first all-time), 3,771 hits  (third all-time), 3,298 games played (third all-time), 2,714 runs scored (fourth all-time). Aaron also was an MVP and a World Series champion in 1957 with the Milwaukee Braves. He was named the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982 and also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002. He was, without a doubt, one of the best to ever play the game.

Henry Lewis Benning

(1814-1875)

General, Lawyer

Fame-O-Meter-2/10

Resting Place-Linwood Cemetery, Columbus

GPS Coordinates-

32°28'38.8"N, 84°58'58.2"W

Fort Benning, Georgia, where many soldiers are still trained today is named after Henry Lewis Benning. Benning was like so many others during the Civil War--he answered the call and served in roles he hadn't previously. A lawyer and judge by trade, Benning volunteered to serve his home state of Georgia in the Civil War. Unfortunately, Benning used the racial prejudices of the South to rationalize why the state should secede from the Union. Instead of serving in Jefferson Davis's cabinet, Benning gathered recruits from Georgia. The troops elected him colonel immediately. He rose to the position of brigadier general after his actions at The Second Battle of Bull Run and Antietam. He earned the nickname "Old Rock" for his resolve against the Union army.

Due to some political changes, Fort Benning was renamed Fort Moore from 2023-2025 after Hal Moore, an army lieutenant general. It was then renamed Fort Benning again in 2025, but oddly after Fred Benning, a Distinguished Service Cross recipient during World War I. One has to wonder if the goal was to rename the fort "Benning" without the ties to slavery and the South.

President Jimmy Carter

(1924-2024)

President

Fame-O-Meter-7/10

Resting Place-Jimmy Carter National Historic Park

GPS Coordinates-

32°02'07.2"N, 84°24'02.6"W

Carter was not the best president in American history, but he may well have been the best man to serve in that role. Jimmy Carter was elected in 1976 and served as the 39th president in American history from 1977-1981. Carter's administration was plagued by the failure to bring home the Americans during Iranian Hostage Crisis. However, he had many successes during his time in office, including the Camp David Accords bringing peace between Israel and Egypt, the creation of the Department of Education, recognized the People's Republic of China, and agreed to the SALT II Treaty with the Soviet Union. He focused on the future of the planet by creating the Department of Energy, expanding national parks, and enacting many civil rights appointments. After his time as president, Carter gave speeches, worked to eradicate diseases, and built houses for Habitat for Humanity. Carter often made the news for building houses into his late 90s.

Rosalynn Carter

(1927-2023)

First Lady

Fame-O-Meter-8/10

Resting Place-Jimmy Carter National Historic Park

GPS Coordinates-

32°02'07.1"N, 84°24'02.6"W

Rosalynn Carter expanded the duties of the First Lady in many ways. During her husband's term from 1977-1981, she led the President's Commission on Mental Health, which lead to the Mental Health Systems Act of 1980. Carter also served as a presidential emissary to Latin America. Rosalynn Carter also often sat in on presidential cabinet meetings. After her time in office with her husband, Rosalynn Carter helped cofound The Carter Center in 1982 to advance global health and human rights. Carter was also a leading proponent of childhood vaccinations. Jimmy and Rosalynn were married for 77 years, a presidential record.

Ty Cobb

(1886-1961)

Baseball Player

Fame-O-Meter-9/10

Resting Place-Rose Hill Cemetery, Royston

GPS Coordinates-

34°16'41.0"N, 83°06'23.8"W

There are only a few players believed to be on the level of Ty Cobb in the history of baseball. Ty Cobb was voted the first player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. "The Georgia Peach" was commonly called the fiercest competitor in baseball history. Cobb finished his lengthy baseball career with a batting average of .367, 4,189 hits, and 892 stolen bases, just to name some of his accomplishments. He is widely regarded as one of, if not the, best hitters to ever play the game.

Jan Hooks

(1957-2014)

Actress, Comedienne

Fame-O-Meter-2/10

Resting Place-Northview Cemetery, Cedartown

GPS Coordinates-

34°00'51.7"N, 85°13'30.0"W

Jan Hooks was primarily known for her time on the television show "Saturday Night Live" where she was a cast member alongside people such as Dana Carvey, Nora Dunn, Phil Hartman, Chris Farley, Mike Myers, Dennis Miller, and more. It was an acclaimed period of the show. She also was featured in "3rd Rock From the Sun" and "Designing Women" during his television career. She also made minor appearances in movies.

Alberta King

(1904-1974)

Teacher

Fame-O-Meter-1/10

Resting Place-South-View Cemetery, Atlanta

GPS Coordinates-

33°42'05.6"N, 84°22'25.4"W

"The Best Mother in the World" as described by her son Martin Luther King Jr., Alberta King was a mother, wife, educator, organist, and choir director. Marrying Martin Luther King Sr. on Thanksgiving Day 1926, she would go on to have a life of servitude in the name of her religion. She was tragically shot while playing the organ at her church by an assassin who burst in an declared, "All Christians are my enemies." She will be remembered for the strength she provided both her son and husband and her lifetime of service.

Martin Luther King Sr.

(1899-1984)

Religious Figure, Civil Rights Leader

Fame-O-Meter-2/10

Resting Place-South-View Cemetery, Atlanta

GPS Coordinates-

33°42'09.8"N, 84°22'30.4"W

Martin Luther King Sr. is probably best known as the father of Martin Luther King Jr. The senior King lived through many eras of racism and discrimination in the American South. He was a minister for 44 years at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. King organized voter registration drives, refused to ride segregated buses, and led by example when it came to nonviolent protest--despite his wife and son both being killed by assassins. As a side note, I absolutely love the quote he has on his tombstone. Check out the picture.

John Lewis

(1940-2020)

Politician, Civil Rights Leader

Fame-O-Meter-5/10

Resting Place-South-View Cemetery, Atlanta

GPS Coordinates-

33°42'09.8"N, 84°22'30.4"W

John Lewis served as the leader of the SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) who helped organize the March on Washington in 1966. He later represented Georgia in the House of Representatives for 17 terms. He was awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom.

James Longstreet

(1821-1904)

General

Fame-O-Meter-3/10

Resting Place-Alta Vista Cemetery, Gainesville

GPS Coordinates-

34°17'27.6"N, 83°50'08.5"W

James Longstreet was, at one time, the second most powerful man in the Confederate Army under Robert E. Lee. He served in the Mexican-American War before later resigning his commission to serve the South during the Civil War. It is said that Longstreet disagreed with Lee's plan to charge at Gettysburg, a tactic that was disastrous for the Confederate Army and their chances to win not only the battle but also the war. Despite being on the opposite side during the war, he later joined the Republican army and held several posts in the United States government.

Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes

(1971-2002)

Singer

Fame-O-Meter-3/10

Resting Place-Hillandale Memorial Gardens, Lithonia

GPS Coordinates-

33°42'17.5"N, 84°08'17.0"W

Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes was a member of the rap/R&B trio TLC along with Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and Rozonda "Chili" Thomas. She was rapper of the group and died tragically young in a car accident. Lopes and the group hit fame with songs such as "Creep", "No Scrubs", "Waterfalls", and "Red Light Special".

Johnny Mize

(1913-1993)

Baseball Player

Fame-O-Meter-2/10

Resting Place-Yonah Memorial Gardens, Demorest

GPS Coordinates-

34°33'16.6"N, 83°32'50.7"W

Johnny Mize was a Major League Baseball player who spent 15 years in the league as a first basemen, only pausing to serve in World War II. His accolades include winning a batting title, four home run crowns,  and five consecutive World Series championships with the New York Yankees, though his best years were with the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Giants. He remains the only player to hit 50 home runs in a season while striking out less than 50 times. The "Big Cat" was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1981 by the Veterans' Committee.

Toni Morrison

(1931-2019)

Author

Fame-O-Meter-5/10

Resting Place-South-View Cemetery, Atlanta

GPS Coordinates-

33°42'08.5"N, 84°22'27.3"W

Toni Morrison was a Pulitzer Prize winning author and also a Nobel Prize and Presidential Medal of Freedom winner. She was known for her books Beloved and The Bluest Eyes. 

Interestingly the Toni Morrison Society has built benches such as this one across the United States. Supposedly she is buried beneath one of them, and, if rumors are to be believed, this is the location most likely to have been built over her remains.

John Pemberton

(1831-1888)

Inventor, Pharmacist

Fame-O-Meter-1/10

Resting Place-Linwood Cemetery, Columbus

GPS Coordinates-

32°28'42.5"N, 84°59'00.4"W

Often thought of as a trivia note, Dr. John Pemberton was the inventor of Coca-Cola. Early on, Pemberton's most popular product "Dr. Tuggle's Compound Syrup of Globe Flower".  That medicinal compound, which contained many strong substances used to nullify pain was replaced by "Pemberton's French Wine Cola". In 1886 when Atlanta enacted Temperance legislation outlawing alcohol, Pemberton created a non-alcoholic version by blending the base with carbonated water. Coca-Cola was picked as a good sounding name. As Pemberton battled sickness, his son sold Pemberton's shares in the company for $300. Today that portion of Coca-Cola would be worth 1 billion to 300 billion dollars, depending on when the rights were sold.

Rick "Ravishing Rick Rude" Rood

(1958-1999)

Pro Wrestler

Fame-O-Meter-2/10

Resting Place-Green Lawn Cemetery, Roswell

GPS Coordinates-

34°02'48.4"N, 84°20'07.9"W

One of more flamboyant wrestling stars of the 1980s/90s, Rick Rude was known for mocking the audience and flirting with the ladies in the crowd. He was successful in every promotion he wrestled in, including the AWA, the NWA, WCW, the WWE, and ECW. He will always be a trivia note for wrestling fans as he appeared on both WCW Monday Nitro and WWE (then WWF) Monday Night Raw at the same time on the same night, as the WWE program was taped and the WCW program was live.

Ray "Big Boss Man" Traylor

(1963-2004)

Pro Wrestler

Fame-O-Meter-2/10

Resting Place-Dallas Memory Gardens, Dallas

GPS Coordinates-

33°55'52.4"N, 84°50'40.6"W

Ray Traylor competed as a professional wrestler under the names The Big Boss Man, The Guardian Angel, The Boss, and more. He competed and won championships in the WWF, and also wrestled in WCW and other promotions.