Slain Fort Valley State student Donnell Phelps’ services set

Friends and family will pay their respects to a young man hailed as a hero by Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal.

A public viewing of 19-year-old Donnell Phelps will be held from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Tuesday at Bentley Montford Mortuary at 133 Railroad Street in Butler.

Phelps, a Fort Valley State University freshman was stabbed to death last week while coming to the aid of three women after a 24-year-old man allegedly tried to grope them near the campus cafeteria.

Joseph Anthony Scott, 24, a former FVSU student who lives near campus, is charged with murder and shouted he was not a killer in his first court appearance.

Phelps’ body will be escorted from Taylor County to Peach County where a public viewing will be held at the Pettigrew Center Auditorium of FVSU beginning at noon Wednesday.

A celebration of Phelps’ life will begin at 2 p .m. in the auditorium.

The Marshallville teen graduated from Macon County High School last year and began his college career as an agriculture technology major at Fort Valley State

As Deal ordered state flags flown at half-staff Friday, he stated: "Mr. Phelps will be remembered for the heroic actions he displayed through aiding and preventing the assault and possible deaths of three women, of which resulted in a senseless and tragic loss of his own life," the governor's order stated.

This story was originally published May 10, 2016 at 8:43 AM with the headline "Slain Fort Valley State student Donnell Phelps’ services set."