Published 12:15 pm Wednesday, November 4, 2026 VALDOSTA — The 100 Black Men of Valdosta hosted its 32nd Annual Black-Tie Gala on Thursday, Oct. 29, at the Magnolia Room on the campus of Valdosta State University. The guest speaker for this well-attended event was the Honorable John J. Ellington, Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court. Also, in attendance for the Gala and a meet-and-greet were Justice Verda M. Colvin of the Georgia Supreme Court and Christopher “Chris” Robinson, a world-class 400-meter hurdler and 400-meter dash runner. As more than 250 people gathered for this event, they had an opportunity to meet the guests and to participate in the 100’s Silent Auction — a welcomed addition to this fundraising event. The auction included helmets, caps and jerseys from Valdosta and Lowndes High Schools, a Walmart grill and gift certificates to Mom and Dad’s Italian Restaurant and the Fairway Tavern. Earlier in the day, Robinson attended the pep rally at Valdosta High School where he briefly spoke to a gymnasium filled with students, shared his humble beginnings, and encouraged students to follow their dreams and never give up. Having broken several records at his alma mater, the University of Alabama, Robinson closed with letting those in attendance know that anything is possible if you put in the work. After dinner, Justice Colvin introduced her colleague and as he settled into his “talk and not a speech” as he described it, Justice Ellington reminded the audience that…
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