Mississippi

Contrary to popular belief Mississippi is by far the best state to live in. Leaving home and living in several other states has afforded me the opportunity to come to admire and respect the life style in Mississippi. Others around the country have come to know Mississippi as a backwoods, ignorant, racist, and illiterate state through movies such as Mississippi Burning by Allan Parker based on a book by William Bradford Huie and A Time to Kill by Mississippi’s own John Gresham. Gresham, although born in Arkansas, has become one of Mississippi’s favorite sons. There is no denying that many tragic, ugly events have marred Mississippi and its reputation; however, there are far more people and places in Mississippi than what is depicted in the movies about the ugly side of Mississippi's past. Many of whom are creative, intelligent, and famous.

Look at just a few examples of intelligence and intelligent people that have come from Mississippi. The world's first lung transplant performed at University of Mississippi Medical Center 1963 by Dr. James D. Hardy, who also performed the world’s first heart transplant on January 23, 1964. Dr. Emmette F. Izard of Hazelhurst developed the first real synthetic fiber, rayon. Nationally known entrepreneurs and business leaders; Jim Barksdale, founder of Netscape; Toxey Haas, founder of Mossy Oak; Hartley Peavey, founder of Peavey Electronics; Robert Pittman, founder of MTV and former CEO of AOL, Fred Smith founder of FedEx are but just a few. They say that necessity is the mother of invention; much of the modern day farm equipment used in the world today was invented and patented by Mississippians. The module cotton bailer by Wayne Reed of Glen Allan, Mississippi is but one example and Harry A. Cole of Jackson inventor of Pine-Sol. Root Beer was invented in Biloxi, Mississippi, in 1898 by Edward Adolf Barq, Sr. Every aircraft flown in the world has a component designed and manufactured by Vickers Aerospace of Jackson, Mississippi.

If necessity is the mother of invention then what are the parents of much of this country’s music? From the father of country music, the singing brakeman and first inductee to the Country Music Hall of Fame, Jimmy Rodgers to the birth place of the Blues, Muddy Waters, B. B. King, Sam Chatman, Bo Diddley, Son House, Little Milton and the list goes on, and the King of Rock in Roll, Elvis. Mississippi also produced the first African-American composer John Alexander, with the New York Metropolitan Opera, and the first African-American opera star to achieve international stardom, also with the New York Metropolitan Opera, Ms Leontyne Price. These are but a few of Mississippi’s favorite sons and daughters.
Of all of the creative people from Mississippi some of the most widely know are the activist, authors, actors and sports figures. Mississippi has contributed much more to this country than what most Americans ever realize, but most of all it is one of the friendliest states I have ever lived in. A person can not walk down the street or drive down the road without being greeted with a smile and wave. Neighbors learn who you are and look out for one another. Many of us leave, but most all of us come home eventually. You can’t get the Mud Out of the Blood.

Mississippi takes great pride in her people, the many beautiful places, accomplishments, and growth that is changing her future. Many Mississippians have researched and documented list after list of people, places, and accomplishments that have come from this state. Mississippi Public Television has long since spotlighted much of what makes this state proud and beautiful with its thousands of informative and educational pieces broadcast ever year, many other stations have also started airing similar shows. In the other states I have lived, I have never seen the same kinds of state, local, and people oriented broadcasts spotlighting their state; although, I feel sure that there probably are similar shows. Along with Public Televisions, people from all over the state have web pages dedicated to the people and accomplishment of the sons and daughters of Mississippi.

Mississippians have long been a very proud people but not prideful just listen to Faith Hill's song "Mississippi Girl". In it she reminds folks that although the whole world may know her name she is still just a Mississippi girl. Although Mississippi has ranked close to the bottom at forty-ninth and fiftieth in many of the nations long standing list of lists with education and gross income, being at the bottom of a couple of those lists. Mississippians have managed to contribute much to the state and the nation in the way of science, art, industry, athletics, and entertainment, but also in heart. One list that Mississippi is near the top, for many years, is "The Philanthropy's Generosity Index", this index is created from Federal Tax Returns from each state examining the ratio of income to charitable contributions. This says a lot about the people for a state that ranks dead last in income. Southern hospitality is alive and well in the Great State of Mississippi.


Listed below are a portion of the favorite sons and daughters of Mississippi that are famous. These lists are a compilation of names of people that are associated with or born in Mississippi. This list is in no way all encompassing. If you have any one that need to be added please let me know. I would love to add more people and know about them.

Activist: C. C. Bryant, (McComb), James Chaney, (Meridian), Vernon Dahmer, (Hattiesburg) Charles Evers, (Decatur) Medgar Evers, (Decatur) Myrlie Evers, (Vicksburg) Dianna Freelon-Foster, (Grenada) Fannie Lou Hamer, (Ruleville) T.R.M. Howard, (Mound Bayou) James Meredith, (Kosciusko) Ida B. Wells, (Holly Springs) Zig Ziglar, (Yazoo City)

Authors: Nevada Barr, mystery fiction author; Earl W. Bascom, (Columbia); Lerone Bennett, Jr., editor of Ebony magazine, (Clarksdale), Larry Brown, (Oxford); R. Scott Brunner, Hodding Carter, II, editor, journalist, (Greenville); Craig Claiborne, (Sunflower); William Faulkner, (New Albany); Vic Fleming, (Jackson); Shelby Foote, historian, novelist, (Greenville); Richard Ford, (Jackson); John Grisham, (Southaven); Carolyn Haines, (Lucedale); Barry Hannah, (Clinton); Thomas Harris, (Rich); Martin Hegwood, (Canton); Beth Henley, (Hattiesburg); Greg Iles, (Natchez); Greg Keyes, (Meridian); Muna Lee, (Raymond); Justin Mapp, (Brandon); Willie Morris, (Jackson); Lewis Nordan, (Forest); Walker Percy, (Greenville); William Alexander Percy, (Greenville); William Raspberry, (Okolona); Eudora Welty, (Jackson); Tennessee Williams, (Columbus); Richard Nathaniel Wright, (Roxie); Al Young, (Ocean Springs); Stark Young, (Como); McCormicks Book Inn in Greenville, MS stock a list of 50 published authors just from the surrounding area of Greenville.

Actors/Actress: Dana Andrews, (Covington County); Earl W. Bascom, (Columbia); Texas Rose Bascom, (Columbia); Weldon Bascom, (Columbia); James Best, Roscoe P. Coltrane on The Dukes of Hazzard, (Oxford); Jimmy Boyd, (McComb)l Charlie Braxton, (McComb); Lacey Chabert, (Purvis); Michael Clarke Duncan; John Dye, (Amory); Morgan Freeman, (Greenwood); Gary Grubbs, (Amory)l Lynn Hamilton, (Yazoo City); Beth Henley, (Jackson); Jim Henson, creator of The Muppets, (Greenville); Anthony Herrera, (Wiggins); Eddie Hodges, (Hattiesburg); Don Jeffcoat, (Gulfport); Ryan Jensen, (Petal); James Earl Jones, (Arkabutla); Simbi Khali, (Jackson); Diane Ladd, Charlie’s Angles (Meridian); Daniel Curtis Lee, (Jackson); Tom Lester, Eb from Green Acres, (Jackson); Shane McRae, (Starkville); Gerald McRaney, star of Major Dad TV series, (Collins); Mary Ann Mobley, Miss America 1959, (Brandon); Parker Posey, (Laurel); Evelyn Preer, (Vicksburg); Beah Richards, (Vicksburg); Eric Roberts, (Biloxi); Stella Stevens, (Yazoo City); James Michael Tyler, best-known as "Gunther" on Friends, (Winona); Ray Walston, (Laurel); Sela Ward, (Meridian); Oprah Winfrey, (Kosciusko, Mississippi); William Nakia Yelland, (Pascagoula)

Athletes: just a few: Earl W. Bascom, rodeo pioneer and champion; Texas Rose Bascom, rodeo trick rider and trick roper, toured world with Bob Hope as "World's Greatest Female Trick Roper", (Columbia); Weldon Bascom; Erick Dampier, (Jackson); Dizzy Dean, (Wiggins); Ted DiBiase, former professional wrestler, (Clinton); Jim Dunaway, (Columbia); Marcus Dupree, (Philadelphia); Ronald Dupree, (Biloxi); Brett Favre, quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, (Kiln); David "Boo" Ferriss, pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, (Shaw); Jim Gallagher, Jr., professional golfer, (Greenwood); Archie Manning, (Drew); Payton Manning, Eli Manning; Matt Miller, Leland, Cleveland Indians; Deuce McAllister, (Morton); Steve McNair, quarterback for the Tennessee Titans, (Mount Olive); Eddie Payton, (Columbia); Walter Payton, (Columbia); Jerry Rice, (Starkville); Fred Thomas, cornerback for the New Orleans Saints, (Bruce); Herb Washington, sprinter and a successful owner of McDonald's franchises, (Belzoni);

Music: 3 Doors Down, band, (Escatawpa); Afroman, (Hattiesburg);Steve Azar, (Greenville); Glen Ballard, (Natchez); David Banner, rapper/producer, (Jackson); Lance Bass, member of boy band *NSYNC, (Laurel); Bobby Bradford, (Cleveland); Cory Branan, (Southhaven); Big Bill Broonzy, (Scott County); Jimmy Buffett, (Pascagoula); R. L. Burnside, (Harmontown); G. C. Cameron, (Jackson); Odia Coates, (Vicksburg); Hank Cochran, (Isola); David L. Cook, (Pascagoula); Sam Cooke, (Clarksdale); James Cotton, (Tunica); Arthur Crudup, (Forest); George Cummings, (Meridian); Paul Davis, singer, (Meridian); Al Denson, (Starkville); Bo Diddley, (McComb); Willie Dixon, (Vicksburg); Nate Dogg, (Clarksdale); Shelly Fairchild, (Clinton); Joe Fisher, blues musician, (Yazoo City); Steve Forbert, (Meridian); Bobbie Gentry, (Greenwood); Mickey Gilley, (Natchez); Glen Graham, (Columbus); W. C. Handy, composer; Faith Hill, country/pop singer, (Jackson); John Lee Hooker, (Clarksdale); Big Walter Horton, (Horn Lake); Son House, (Riverton); Guy Hovis, (Tupelo); John Joe Humphreys, blues musician, (Yazoo City); Mississippi John Hurt, (Teoc); Vasti Jackson, (McComb); Elmore James, (Richland); Skip James, (Bentonia); Big Jack Johnson, blues musician, (Clarksdale); Robert Johnson; Albert King, (Indianola); B. B. King, (Itta Bena); Fern Kinney, rhythm & blues and disco music entertainer, (Jackson); Sonny Landreth, (Canton); Chris LeDoux, (Biloxi); Magic Sam, (Grenada); Tommy McClennan, (Yazoo City); Kansas Joe McCoy, (Raymond); Papa Charlie McCoy, (Jackson); C. H. "Tally" McGraw, (Yazoo City); Little Milton, (Inverness); Patrice Moncell, (Meridian); Dorothy Moore, gospel singer, (Jackson); Charlie Musselwhite, (Kosciusko); North Mississippi Allstars, band, (Hernando); Brandy Norwood, (McComb); Alexander O'Neal, (Natchez); Junior Parker, (Clarksdale); Charley Patton, (Edwards); Elvis Presley, (Tupelo); Leontyne Price, opera singer, (Laurel); John Alexander; Charley Pride, (Sledge); Newt Rayburn, (Oxford); Jimmy Reed, (Dunleith); Del Rendon, Starkville); LeAnn Rimes, (Jackson); Jimmie Rodgers, (Meridian); David Ruffin, former lead singer of The Temptations, (Whynot); Jimmy Ruffin, singer, (Collinsville); Billy Smiley, blues singer, songwriter, musician and band director; Brad Smith, bass player for Blind Melon, (West Point); Otis Spann, blues musician, (Jackson); Britney Spears, (McComb); Rogers Stevens, (West Point); Lisa Stewart, (Louisville); William Grant Still, (Woodville); Word Strickland, (Gulfport); Marty Stuart, (Philadelphia); Eddie Taylor, (Benoit); Hound Dog Taylor, (Natchez); Jean Terrell, (Belzoni); Ike Turner, (Clarksdale); Conway Twitty, (Friars Point); Muddy Waters, (Rolling Fork); Bukka White, (Houston); Big Joe Williams, (Crawford); Sonny Boy Williamson II, (Glendora); Al Wilson, singer and drummer, (Meridian); Cassandra Wilson, jazz singer and songwriter, (Jackson); Mary Wilson, (Greenville); Howlin' Wolf, (West Point); Tammy Wynette, (Tupelo); Lester Young, (Woodville);

I would like to thank all the people that have, over the years, compiled and spotlighted Famous Mississippians and places. Below I have listed some of the many pages I have read to research this essay. More will be added as I come across them and time allows.


Credits:
http://www2.nemcc.edu/mspeople/ A web site dedicated to spotlight the contributions and accomplishments of Mississippi people to the state and the nation, people that have changed America contributions to science, art, industry, athletics, and entertainment. This page has been produced by Northeast Mississippi Community College, Booneville, MS 38829 from contributions from the research and writing of students.

http://www.oceansprings.org/famous_mississippians.htm
http://www.visitmississippi.org/resources/famous_miss.asp See Mississippi, Conventions and Visitors Bureau.
http://www.visitmississippi.org/secrets/facts_1.asp 130 Mississippi Facts
http://www.mississippibelieveit.com/
http://dig.lib.niu.edu/twain/ Twain's Mississippi