Hall of Fame
Maxine Cherry is a native of Byron, GA, whereas, she attended Peach County School in Fort Valley, GA. She was highly energetic and a fierce competitor during her basketball career at Peach County High School.
After graduating from high school, Maxine earned a scholarship to attend Fort Valley State College. Under the leadership of the legendary Jesse Brown, Maxine was known as “the clean-up woman”, grabbing every rebound that came off of the rim.
As a Wild Kitten, Maxine (Big Mac) served as captain of her team for four years. Her leadership abilities garnered her awards such as: Best Hustler, Most Outstanding Freshman, Female Athlete of the Year (1979), Most Valuable Player (1980), Best Rebounder, and several others. She was also selected as a member of the 1980 SIAC All-Conference Team. One of her most admirable moments occurred during her sophomore year when she was invited to a tryout with the Saint Louis Streakers, a professional women’s basketball team.
Maxine served as Head Coach of Peach County High School Lady Trojans from 1984 to 2016. She was an outstanding educator and coach for 32 years. Retiring in 2016, she leaves behind a legacy of 478 wins, 24 state appearances, 5 region championships, 5- time region AAA Coach of the Year. In her glorious honor, March 17, 2016 was proclaimed Coach Maxine Cherry Day in the city of Fort Valley, GA.
