Georgia 104-5 and Mitchell EMC congratulate this month’s Home Town Hero, Sam X White. Known affectionately as “The Gourdmaster Sam X,” Sam X is a celebrated artist specializing in gourd art, and his home in Sylvester doubles as a folk-art landmark.
Beyond his artistry, Sam X is deeply rooted in his community as an art educator, community activist, and ardent supporter of the 4-H program .
Sam X co-founded the Village Community Garden around 2016 with his co-founder and wife Eda Garcia, transforming a former junk-filled lot—including spaces used for dirt biking and junk storage—into a thriving five-acre urban garden and community space.
He served as the project coordinator, leading the initiative in collaboration with his wife, the city of Sylvester, Fort Valley State University’s Cooperative Extension, and local schools and volunteers.
Sam X organized and led free produce giveaways—distributing thousands of pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables weekly—including staples like potatoes, okra, eggplant, blueberries, lemons, and muscadines, with some donations sourced from local farms. The garden provides fresh produce to more than 1,000 Sylvester households at no cost.
