List of people from Fayetteville, North Carolina facts for kids

Fayetteville, North Carolina, is a vibrant city with a rich history, and it's also the hometown or a significant place for many amazing people! From famous athletes and talented actors to brave astronauts and inspiring leaders, lots of notable individuals have connections to Fayetteville. Let's explore some of the incredible people who have lived here and made a difference in the world.

Sports Stars and Athletes

Fayetteville has produced many talented athletes who have shined in various sports, from football to boxing.

Football Players and Coaches

• Dwayne Allen was a skilled tight end in the National Football League (NFL). He played for teams like the New England Patriots.
• Charlie Baggett is known for his work as an assistant coach in the NFL, helping many teams succeed.
• Chris Armstrong was a wide receiver in the Canadian Football League (CFL), showing his skills on the field.
• Brad Edwards played as a safety in the NFL, known for his strong defensive plays.
• Cortland Finnegan was an NFL Pro Bowl cornerback, recognized as one of the best in his position.
• Blenda Gay was an NFL player, contributing to his team's efforts.
• Joe Harris played as a linebacker in the NFL, known for his defensive strength.
• Joe Horn was a fantastic NFL wide receiver and was selected for the Pro Bowl four times because of his amazing catches.
• Aaron Curry also played as a linebacker in the NFL.
• Calvin Lowry played as a safety in the United Football League (UFL).
• Doug McDougald was an NFL defensive end.
• Everett McIver played as an offensive guard in the NFL.
• Marques Murrell was an NFL linebacker.
• Xavier Nixon played as an offensive tackle for the Washington Redskins.
• Marvin Powell was an outstanding NFL offensive tackle, earning All-Pro honors three times and Pro Bowl selections five times.
• Jimmy Raye was an NFL wide receiver and later became a coach.
• Antwoine Sanders played as a safety in the NFL.
• Harry Sydney was an NFL running back.
• Kinnon Tatum was an NFL player.
• Tank Tyler played as a defensive tackle in the NFL.
• Oli Udoh is an NFL offensive guard.
• Doug Wilkerson was an NFL guard for the San Diego Chargers, earning All-Pro and three Pro Bowl selections.
• Donnell Woolford was an NFL cornerback and a Pro Bowl selection.
• Jordan Williams is a CFL linebacker and was the first overall pick in the 2020 CFL Draft.
• Seth Williams played as a defensive back in the CFL.

Basketball Players and Coaches

• Jeff Capel III is a well-known college basketball coach and was also a player.
• Todd Fuller played in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
• Michael Joiner is a professional basketball player.
• Eric Maynor played in the NBA.
• Moon Tae-jong is a professional basketball player.
• Dennis Smith Jr. is an NBA player.
• C. J. Williams is a professional basketball player, including in the Israeli Basketball Premier League.
• Shea Ralph is a head coach for the Vanderbilt Commodores women's basketball team.

Baseball Players

• Moonlight Graham was a Major League Baseball (MLB) outfielder for the New York Giants.
• Sterling Hitchcock was an MLB pitcher and was named the NLCS MVP in 1998 with the San Diego Padres.
• Cal Koonce was an MLB pitcher and won the 1969 World Series with the New York Mets in 1969.
• Terrmel Sledge is a professional baseball player.
• Gavin Williams is a baseball player.

Other Sports Stars

• Chip Beck is a professional golfer who was born in Fayetteville.
• Bunkie Blackburn was a NASCAR driver.
• Crystal Cox is a track and field Olympian who won a gold medal at the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics.
• Raymond Floyd is a famous golfer who won the Masters and U.S. Open championships.
• Gary Hall Sr. is a swimmer who won three Olympic medals.
• Quanera Hayes is an Olympic sprinter.
• Naomi Graham is a middleweight boxer and was the first female active duty service member to compete for the U.S. at the Olympics.
• Jason "Mayhem" Miller is a professional mixed martial arts fighter who also hosted MTV's Bully Beatdown.
• Jerry Richardson was the first owner of the NFL's Carolina Panthers team.

Actors, Musicians, and Entertainers

Fayetteville has been a home for many creative people who bring joy through acting, music, and performance.

• Joey Arias is a talented singer and performance artist.
• Doug Brochu is an actor, comedian, and producer.
• David "Bubba" Brooks was a jazz tenor saxophonist.
• Harold Floyd "Tina" Brooks was a jazz musician, tenor saxophonist, and composer.
• J. Cole is a very popular rapper and producer.
• Felisha Cooper is an actress.
• Affion Crockett is an actor, comedian, dancer, rapper, and writer.
• Christopher Daniels is a professional wrestler.
• Sandra Diaz-Twine is known for being a reality TV contestant.
• Ryan Dunson is a rock musician from the band Rookie of the Year.
• J. Harrison Ghee is an actor, singer, and dancer, especially known for their work in musical theater.
• Brian Tyree Henry is a well-known actor.
• Jimmy Herring is a talented guitarist.
• Kristina Holland is an actress.
• Lilliana Ketchman is a dancer and a popular YouTuber.
• Aja Kim is a singer and songwriter.
• Elizabeth MacRae is an actress.
• Bernie Mangiboyat is a rock musician from the band The Fifth.
• Troy McLawhorn is a musician and the guitarist for the band Evanescence.
• Dave Moody is a Grammy-nominated artist, producer, songwriter, and filmmaker.
• Julianne Moore is an Oscar-winning actress who was born at Fort Bragg.
• Kathryn Morgan is a ballet dancer who performed with the New York City Ballet and was also born at Fort Bragg.
• Morray is a rapper and singer.
• Kelvin Underwood is a drum set and taiko musician.
• Dennis L. A. White is an actor.

Leaders and Thinkers

Fayetteville has also been home to people who have served in government, military, and education.

• Dominic A. Antonelli is a former NASA astronaut who traveled to space.
• Ellen S. Baker is a physician and also a former NASA astronaut.
• Terry M. Brown Jr. is an attorney and politician.
• Xavier Brunson is a United States Army lieutenant general.
• John Benton Callis was a politician and military officer.
• Lanhee Chen is a policy advisor, attorney, and academic.
• Clement Coward was a United States Army major general.
• James C. Dobbin served as the United States Secretary of the Navy from 1853 to 1857.
• Beth Finch made history as the first female mayor of Fayetteville, serving from 1975 to 1981.
• Luis Fonseca is a United States Navy Hospital Corpsman and a veteran of the Iraq War.
• Frank P. Graham was the president of the University of North Carolina and also served as a U.S. senator.
• Chris Hondros was a war photographer and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2004.
• Walter B. Jones Sr. served in the U.S. House of Representatives.
• Mary Sampson Patterson Leary Langston was an important figure in the abolitionist movement, working to end slavery.
• Roxie Collie Laybourne was an ornithologist, a scientist who studies birds.
• David R. Lewis was a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives.
• Robert Martin Patterson was a United States Army soldier and received the Medal of Honor for his bravery.
• Marshall Pitts Jr. was the first African-American Mayor of Fayetteville.
• Mark Quander is a United States Army brigadier general.
• Hiram Rhodes Revels was a very important figure, as he was the first African-American senator and member of Congress.
• Terry Sanford was a notable politician and educator.
• Charles Manly Stedman was a U.S. congressman and the Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina.
• Robert Strange served as a United States senator.
• John Louis Taylor was a jurist and the first Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court.
• Holden Thorp served as the tenth chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
• Robert Wilkie was a former Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
• Duvall Williams was a former rear admiral in the United States Navy.
• David Williston was the first professionally trained African American landscape architect in the U.S.

Other Notable People

• Dottie Alexander was a keyboardist for the band of Montreal.
• Jonathan Byrd is a folk singer-songwriter.
• Judy Clay was a soul and gospel singer.
• Elliott Daingerfield was a talented artist.
• Jane Evans Elliot (1820–1886) wrote memoirs about the Civil War.
• Martin Jarmond is a college athletic director.
• Shanaelle Petty was crowned Miss Universe Croatia in 2017.