List of people from Columbus, Georgia

The following list includes notable people who were born or have lived in Columbus, Georgia.

Arts and culture
Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Bo Bartlett Dec 29, 1955 Realist painter Born in Columbus [1]
Ricky Bartlett Sep 27, 1972 Actor, and radio personality Born in Columbus
Megan Blake Miss Georgia 1983 Born in Columbus
Wayne Brady Jun 2, 1972 Actor, singer, comedian, and television personality Born in Columbus
Juliette Compton May 3, 1899 Mar 19, 1989 Actress Born in Columbus
Donna D'Errico Mar 30, 1968 Actress and model; Playmate of the Month (September, 1995); Donna Marco on Baywatch (1996 to 1998) Graduate of Pacelli High School in Columbus (1986) [2]
Marina Savashynskaya Dunbar Jul 17, 1992 Painter Lived in Columbus
Justina Huff Sep 8, 1893 Jun 29, 1977 Silent film actress (The Diamond Crown, Tess of the d'Urbervilles) Born in Columbus [3]
Louise Huff Nov 14, 1895 Aug 22, 1973 Silent film actress (Great Expectations, Mile-A-Minute Kendall, Disraeli) Born in Columbus [4]
Nunnally Johnson Dec 5, 1897 Mar 25, 1977 Academy Award-nominated filmmaker (The Grapes of Wrath, The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit) Born in Columbus; graduated from Columbus High School (1915) [5]
Carson McCullers Feb 19, 1917 Sep 29, 1967 Writer (The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, The Member of the Wedding, and The Ballad of the Sad Café) Born in Columbus [6]
Robert Parrish Jan 4, 1916 Dec 4, 1995 Academy Award- winning editor for Body and Soul (1947), directed Casino Royale (1967) Born in Columbus [7]
George Foster Peabody Jul 27, 1852 Mar 4, 1938 Banker and philanthropist; namesake of the Peabody Award Born in Columbus [8]
James Rachels May 30, 1941 Sep 5, 2003 Philosopher, focusing on ethics and animal rights Born in Columbus [9]
Mary Ann Williams Aug 10, 1821 Apr 15, 1874 First to propose an annual holiday to decorate soldiers graves (Memorial Day) Lived in Columbus -
Amy Sherald Aug 30, 1973 Best known for her portrait of First Lady, Michelle Obama Born in Columbus [10]
Anne Henley Walker Feb 13, 1998 Acclaimed food blogger and founder of notable account, @ah_eats_. Known for her impeccable reviews and dramatic flair. Born in Columbus; graduated from Brookstone School.
James Ryan Haywood Dec 6, 1980 Voice Actor and Former Member of the Online Entertainment Group Achievement Hunter. Born in Columbus; graduated from Columbus High School.

Music
Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Robert M. Barr 1918 1988 Conductor of the Jordan High School Band in Columbus (1946–1963) Lived in Columbus; chorus director in Fort Benning [11]
Robert Cray Aug 1, 1953 Five-time Grammy Award-winning blues guitarist and singer Born in Columbus
Justin Guarini Oct 28, 1978 Singer, songwriter, and actor; runner-up on American Idol season 1 (2002) Born in Columbus [12]
Jake Hess Dec 24, 1927 Jan 4, 2004 Grammy Award-winning southern gospel singer Lived in Columbus [13]
Dmitri Matheny Dec 25, 1965 Jazz flugelhornist, composer, educator, producer and recording artist Grew up in Columbus [14]
Curley Money Mar 20, 1925 Dec 23, 2003 Rockabilly musician and songwriter Lived in Columbus [15]
Bebo Norman May 29, 1973 Contemporary Christian musician Lives in Columbus [16]
Ma Rainey Apr 26, 1886 Dec 22, 1939 Among the earliest known professional blues singers; billed as The Mother of the Blues Born in Columbus [17]
Herrman S. Saroni Feb 1824 Dec 29, 1900 Author, composer and inventor credited with starting the Columbus Symphony Orchestra Lived in Columbus [18]
Keni Thomas Country music singer and United States Army Ranger Lives in Columbus [19]
Rozonda Thomas

(a.k.a. Chilli)

 Feb 27, 1971 Singer, songwriter, actress and television personality; founding member of girl group TLC Lives in Columbus
Danny Whitten May 8, 1943 Nov 18, 1972 Musician and songwriter, known for his work with Neil Young's band Crazy Horse Born in Columbus [20]
Blind Tom Wiggins May 25, 1849 Jun 14, 1908 African-American musical prodigy on the piano Owned as a slave in Columbus [21]
Tim Wilson Aug 5, 1961 Feb 26, 2014 Stand-up comedian and country music artist Born and died in Columbus [22]

Business
Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
John Pemberton Jul 8, 1831 Aug 16, 1888 Pharmacist; inventor of Coca-Cola Lived in Columbus [23]
Claud A. Hatcher Aug 20, 1876 Dec 31, 1933 Pharmacist; inventor of RC Cola beverages Lived in Columbus [24]
Randolph Mott Aug 9, 1799 Jul 20, 1881 Businessman, Unionist Lived in Columbus [25]
Robert W. Woodruff Dec 6, 1889 Mar 7, 1985 President of The Coca-Cola Company (1923–1954) Born in Columbus[26]

Military
Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Henry L. Benning Apr 2, 1814 Jul 10, 1875 Judge on the Georgia Supreme Court; Confederate Army general; namesake of Fort Benning Born and died in Columbus [27]
Eugene Bullard Oct 9, 1895 Oct 12, 1961 First African-American military pilot Born in Columbus [28]
William Calley Jun 8, 1943 United States Army officer convicted of ordering the My Lai Massacre Lived in Columbus

Politics
Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Newt Gingrich Jun 17, 1943 58th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Graduated from Baker High School in Columbus (1961) [29]
Petra Kelly Nov 29, 1947 Oct 1, 1992 Founder of German Green Party Graduated from Baker High School in Columbus (1966) [30]
Mirabeau B. Lamar Aug 16, 1798 Dec 19, 1859 2nd President of the Republic of Texas Lived in Columbus and founded the Columbus Enquirer newspaper [31]
Ted J. Land Aug 22, 1936 Mar 31, 2018 Member of the Georgia State Senate 1979-1991 Represented Marion, Talbot, and portions of Muscogee counties
Bobby G. Peters Feb 21, 1949 Mayor of Columbus, Georgia 1995-2002 Lived in Columbus, graduated from Hardaway High School (1967). Also a Superior Court judge [32]

Sports

Baseball
Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Reggie Abercrombie Jul 15, 1981 Center fielder for Florida Marlins and Houston Astros Born in Columbus [33]
Glenn Davis Mar 28, 1961 Two-time All-Star first baseman for the Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles, and Hanshin Tigers Lives in Columbus; Columbus City Council member [34]
Tim Hudson Jul 14, 1975 Four-time All-Star pitcher for the Oakland Athletics, Atlanta Braves, and San Francisco Giants Born in Columbus [35]
Garey Ingram Jul 25, 1970 Second baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers Born in Columbus [36]
Edwin Jackson Sep 9, 1983 All-Star pitcher for MLB teams; World Series champion (2011) Attended Shaw High School in Columbus [37]
Brian Mallette Jan 19, 1975 Relief pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers and Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes Attended Columbus State University [38]
Tony Pierce Jan 29, 1946 Jan 31, 2013 Pitcher for the Kansas City/Oakland Athletics Lived and died in Columbus; Attended Jordan High School in Columbus [39]
Colby Rasmus Aug 11, 1986 Center fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals and Toronto Blue Jays Born in Columbus [40]
Cory Rasmus Nov 6, 1987 Pitcher for the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Born in Columbus [41]
Steven Register May 16, 1983 Relief pitcher for the Colorado Rockies and Philadelphia Phillies Born in Columbus [42]
Frank Thomas May 27, 1968 2014 Hall of Fame Inductee – Five-time All-Star first baseman for the Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, and Toronto Blue Jays; Two-time AL MVP (1993, 1994) Born in Columbus [43]

Basketball
Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Sam Mitchell Sep 2, 1963 NBA Coach of the Year Award (2007) for the Toronto Raptors; assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks, New Jersey Nets and Minnesota Timberwolves Born in Columbus [44]

Bodybuilding
Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Lenda Murray Feb 22, 1962 Bodybuilding champion

Football
Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Derrius Brooks May 29, 1988 Defensive back for multiple teams Born in Columbus [45]
Brentson Buckner Sep 30, 1971 Defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals, San Francisco 49ers, and Carolina Panthers Born in Columbus, graduated from G.W. Carver High School [46]
Isaiah Crowell Jan 8, 1993 Running back for the Cleveland Browns Born in Columbus, graduated from G.W. Carver High School
Rod Hood Oct 3, 1981 Cornerback for six NFL teams Born in Columbus, graduated from G.W. Carver High School [47]
Chris Hubbard Apr 23, 1991 Offensive guard for the Pittsburgh Steelers Born in Columbus. Graduated from G.W. Carver High School
Chuck Hurston Nov 9, 1942 Nov 3, 2015 Defensive end for the Super Bowl IV champion Kansas City Chiefs Born in Columbus
Jarvis Jones Oct 13, 1989 Outside linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers Graduated from G.W. Carver High School in Columbus
Mark LeGree Jul 8, 1989 Safety for seven NFL teams Attended Pacelli High School in Columbus
Kelcie McCray Sep 21, 1988 Free safety for the Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Kansas City Chiefs Born in Columbus
DeQuan Menzie Jan 11, 1990 Cornerback for the Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions, and Carolina Panthers Born in Columbus, graduated from G.W. Carver High School [48]
Nate Odomes Aug 25, 1965 Cornerback for the Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks, and Atlanta Falcons; 2× Pro Bowl (1992, 1993) Born in Columbus, graduated from G.W. Carver High School [49]
Rayshun Reed Apr 10, 1981 Defensive back for the San Francisco 49ers Born in Columbus
Steve Reese Jan 7, 1952 Linebacker for the New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Born in Columbus
Otis Sistrunk Sep 18, 1946 Defensive end for the Oakland Raiders; Pro Bowl Born in Columbus [50]
Mack Strong Sep 11, 1971 Fullback for the Seattle Seahawks; 2× Pro Bowl (2005, 2006) Attended Brookstone School in Columbus [51]
Cleo Walker Feb 7, 1948 Linebacker for the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons Born in Columbus [52]

Soccer
Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Marshall Leonard Dec 29, 1980 Defender for the New England Revolution Attended both Shaw High School and Brookstone School in Columbus [53]

Wrestling
Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Marty Jannetty Feb 3, 1960 World Wrestling Federation wrestler; member of The Rockers tag team Born in Columbus
Xavier Woods Sep 4, 1986 WWE wrestler

References
  1. "Bo Bartlett". Newswise, Inc. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  2. "Donna D'Errico". Notable Names Data Base. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  3. Bellware, Daniel (Fall 2016). "Those Huff Girls". Muscogiana. Columbus State University.
  4. Bellware, Daniel (Fall 2016). "Those Huff Girls". Muscogiana. Columbus State University.
  5. Stempel, Tom (1980). Screenwriter, The Life and Times of Nunnally Johnson. A. S. Barnes. pp. 20. ISBN 978-0-498-02362-0.
  6. "Carson McCullers". Notable Names Data Base. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  7. Parrish, Robert (1976). Growing Up in Hollywood. Harcourt Brace Jovanivich. p. 3. ISBN 0-15-137473-2.
  8. "George Foster Peabody". rjohara.net. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  9. "Alma Thomas". National Museum of women in the Arts. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  10. Amy Sherald
  11. "Robert M. Barr". High School Band Directors National Association. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  12. "Justin Guarini". Notable Names Data Base. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  13. "Jake Hess". Southern Gospel History. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  14. "Dmitri Matheny". azcentral.com. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  15. "Curley Money". AlabamaMusicOffice.Com. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  16. "Bebo Norman". Starpulse.com. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  17. "Ma Rainey". Notable Names Data Base. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  18. "Columbus Symphony Orchestra History". Columbus Symphony Orchestra. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  19. "Keni Thomas". Gainesville.com. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  20. "Danny Whitten". Rovi Corp. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  21. "Blind Tom Wiggins". BlackPast.org. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  22. Fernandez, Maria Elena (Feb 27, 2014). "Comedic country singer Tim Wilson dies at 52". NBC News. Today. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  23. "John Stith Pemberton". University of Georgia Press. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  24. "About RC Cola International: Our History". Retrieved 11 Sep 2014.
  25. Bellware, Daniel (April 2003). "The Last Battle. Period. Really". Civil War Times Illustrated. 42: 48–56.
  26. "Robert W. Woodruff". University of Georgia Press. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  27. "Henry L. Benning". Benning-Cobb-Russell Family of Georgia. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  28. "Eugene Bullard". University of Georgia Press. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  29. "Newt Gingrich". Notable Names Data Base. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  30. https://peopleinaction.com/petrakelly/
  31. President Mirabeau B. Lamar, tsl.state.tx.us; retrieved March 2008
  32. "Superior Court Judges". Columbus Georgia Government. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
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  34. "Glenn Davis". Jacksonville.com. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  35. "Tim Hudson". Notable Names Data Base. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  36. "Garey Ingram". Baseball Reference.com. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  37. "Edwin Jackson". Baseball Reference.com. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  38. "Brian Mallette". Baseball Reference.com. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  39. "Tony Pierce". Baseball Reference.com. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  40. "Colby Rasmus". Baseball Reference.com. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  41. "Cory Rasmus". Baseball Reference.com. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  42. "Steven Register". Baseball Reference.com. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  43. "Frank Thomas". Baseball Reference.com. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  44. "Sam Mitchell". Basketball Reference.com. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  45. "Derrius Brooks". nfl.com. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
  46. "Brentson Buckner". Pro-Football Reference. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  47. "Roderick Hood". NFL Enterprises LLc. Retrieved March 25, 2013.
  48. "DeQuan Menzie". Alabama Crimson Tide. Archived from the original on 10 March 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  49. "Nate Odomes". NFL Enterprises LLC. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  50. "Otis Sistrunk". Pro-Football Reference. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  51. "Mack Strong". Pro-Football Reference. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  52. "Cleo Walker". Pro-Football Reference. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  53. "Marshall Leonard". Virginia Cavaliers Men's Soccer. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
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