Hall of Fame
Sharkley Buford is a native of Bainbridge, Ga and a 1969 graduate of Fort Valley State College with a degree in Business Administration. His love for Fort Valley State University and sports put him in an elite class of Contributors. Mr. Buford has not been selfish with his giving. He has supported programs such as cross country, basketball, football, track and field, tennis, as well as giving countless dollars to support Wildcat athletic endeavors.
Sharkley Buford is a pioneer of Clayton County. Buford served as the first African American Sheriff’s officer in Clayton County, and then was the first African American police in Jonesboro, GA; followed by another first, as the Clayton County police department’s original African American officer. Finally, he served as Clayton County’s first African American Department head, running the Health and Safety Department until his retirement in 2005.
Upon retirement, Buford started the HOPE Shelter Inc., a non-profit organization that today helps women and children move from poverty and homelessness to affordable housing and permanent employment. He started out just trying to feed some hungry folk at Thanksgiving. HOPE stands for Helping Other People Eat.
