Alonzo Herndon

1858–1927 (age 69)

Entrepreneur

Biography

Born into slavery in 1858, Alonzo Herndon turned each obstacle into a stepping stone, mastering his craft as a barber and parlaying those skills into a business empire that became a beacon of Black entrepreneurship in the South.

He poured his success back into the community through Atlanta Life Insurance Company, civic engagement, and mentorship, and his legacy rests with dignity at South-View Cemetery.