While researching Mississippi I found many notable people from this state. There is an extensive list of famous people born in Mississippi, including many writers, inventors, historians, educators, advocates, comedians, artists, broadcast media personalities, filmmakers, actors, actresses, activists, bands, military figures, performers, athletes, lawyers, physicians, poloticians, and jurists. There are even Miss American winners and fashion models, all exclusively from Mississippi.
Famous Mississippi actor and actresses include Morgan Freeman (Greenwood), Oprah Winfrey (Kosciusko), Sela Ward (Meridian), Lasey Chabert (Purvis), Parker Posey (Laurel), Diane Ladd (Meridian), James Earl Jones (Arkabutla), Eric Roberts (Biloxi), James Wheaton (Meridian), and Jim Henson (Leland). These are just a few of the famous people from the state, there are so many in this category.
Musicians and Performers
3 Doors Down (Escatawpa), Elvis Presley (Tupelo), Charley Pride (Sledge), Tommy Aldridge (White Snake and Ozzy), Conway Twitty (Friars Point), Chris LeDoux (Biloxi), B.B. King (Itta Bena), Jimmy Buffett (Pascagoula), Bo Diddley (McComb), Faith Hill (Jackson), Tammy Wynette (Tupelo), John Lee Hooker (Clarksdale), LeeAnn Rimes (Pearl), Big Jack Johnson (Clarksdale), Bobbie Gentry (Greenwood), Willie Dixon (Vicksburg), Jimmy Reed (Dunleith), Lance Bass (N’Sync), Blind Melon (Starkville), Brandy Norwood(McComb), George Cummings (Meridian), Olu Dara (Natchez), Sam Cooke (Clarksdale), and Robert Johnson are just a few of the extensive list.
Audrey Faith Perry “Faith Hill” was born on September 21, 1967, in Ridgeland, Mississippi. She has been active in the entertainment industry since 1993. There was a couple from the nearby town of Star that adopted Faith. Her adoptive parents also had two sons and raised the family in a Christian environment. It wasn’t until she turned 19 that she moved to Nashville with hopes of becoming a country singer. As we all known she is very talented and has since become famous for her many top hits, albums, and persona.
B.B. King is another example of a superbly famous person from Mississippi. He was born in Itta Bena in 1925. He has been active in the music industry since 1947 as a musician, guiarist, and piano player. Saying he is a star is such an understatement!
Authors from Mississippi include, but are not limited to:
William Faulkner is another fine example of the many achievements that Mississippi folks have achieved. He was born in New Albany in 1897. He is considered to be one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. He was also a published poet and a Noble Prize winning author. He is largely considered to be one of the most important Southern writers. It was 1949 when he won the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Tennessee Williams (Columbus), William Faulkner (New Albany), Charlie Braxton (McComb), Vic Fleming (Jackson), Anne Moody (Centreville), Eudora Welty (Jackson), Mildred Taylor (Jackson), Natsha Trethewey (Gulfport), and many others. Many of the famous authors from this state were successful poets, writers and Pulitzer Prize winners.
Militart Figures:
John S. McCain, Sr. was an admiral in the US Navy, he was from Teoc. There is also Feliz Huston from Natchez, Samuel Reeves Keesler from Greenwood, and many others.
Activists and Advocates
Curtis Conway, the African American civil rights leader, who was from Tylertown. James Chaney, a civil rights worker, from Meridian. Vernon Dahmer, the civil rights leader. Other civil rights leaders from this state include Charles Evers, Medgar Evers, Myrlie Evers, Dianna Freelon-Foster, Anne Moody, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Jody Renaldo, Fannie Luo Hamer, and Clarence LaVaughn “C.L.” Franklin (who is Aretha Franklon’s father, the Baptist minister and civil rights leader).
This state truly has an extensive list of people born in Mississippi who were very successful, especially in sports, entertainment, and musicians. Mississippi, also has more famous athletes than any other state I have researched at this point. Not to mention the important activists and advocates, many of who rallied for the civil rights movement.
Mississippi folks have certainly made a difference in various career paths! We would have as many musicians, authors, and sports star if not for this state!
Sources Cited:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_from_Mississippi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faith_Hill
Wikipedia for all additional information.
