Zebedee B. Armstrong, also recognized as Z.B. Armstrong, gained fame as an outsider artist renowned for his doomsday calendars. He was born on October 11, 1911, and passed away in 1993.

Armstrong's origins can be traced to McDuffie County, Georgia, near Thomson, Georgia. He received formal education only until the eighth grade, after which he left school and entered the workforce in the local cotton fields. In 1929, he entered into matrimony with Ulamay Demmons, and together, they had two daughters.

For a substantial part of his life, Armstrong was employed as a cotton picker on the Mack McCormick farm in the vicinity. To supplement his income, he applied his skills to craft furniture for members of his community. Among his noteworthy abilities, Armstrong demonstrated exceptional proficiency in constructing wooden and concrete vaults. This craft gained popularity in rural communities, primarily due to a prevailing lack of trust in banks during the aftermath of the Great Depression. These vaults often incorporated various types of locks, handles, and wheels.

After the passing of his wife in 1969, Armstrong made a career transition and began working at the Thomson Box Factory, where he remained until 1982.[2]: 210 

Religion played a prominent role in Armstrong's life, as he actively participated in The Solomon Hodges Burial Society, an organization committed to aiding less fortunate individuals in affording proper burials for their deceased family members.