In Memoriam: 50 Southerners We've Lost This Decade

The Kansas-born actor first found his way to the big screen alongside fellow Hollywood outlaw, James Dean, in both Rebel without a Cause and Giant. Despite building a reputation for being a troublemaker, his career flourished and spanned 5 decades. Other notable films include Easy Rider, True Grit, and Waterworld.

This was the year we had to say goodbye to one of the South's most beloved television legends. We've still never gotten over the loss of Julia Sugarbaker and her zingers have stood the test of time. Before she became a TV icon, Carter, was born in McLemoresville, Tennessee and earned an English degree from Memphis State University (Now the University of Memphis) and got her acting start on the stage right there in the Bluff City.

2010 also took the sassiest Southern Belles to ever grace our television sets, Blanche Devereaux. McClanahan was one fourth of our all-time favorite girl squad, The Golden Girls from 1985-1992, and the role earned her an Emmy in 1987. The Oklahoma born actress was first discovered by Norman Lear and also appeared in All in the Family and Mama's Family.

Bubba Smith's real name was Charles Aaron Smith and he was born in Orange, Texas. Smith first rose to fame on the football field, having played 9 seasons in the NFL with the Baltimore Colts, Oakland Raiders, and Houston Oilers. When he retired from football, Smith transitioned to acting and he is probably most well known in that arena as Moses Hightower in the Police Academy movie franchise.

Fans of Bruce Springsteen and the E. Street Band will know that Clarence Clemons was also referred to as "The Big Man." The Norfolk, Virginia born musician played saxophone alongside the Boss from 1972 until his untimely death in 2011 due to complications after a stroke.

The Kentucky born actor made a name for himself as the tough guy or the villain and perhaps is best known for his role opposite Sylvester Stallone in Rambo: First Blood Part II.

Smokin' Joe Frazer, born in Beaufort, South Carolina, reigned supreme as the world heavyweight-boxing champion from February 16, 1970, until January 22, 1973. He was finally defeated by George Foreman to lose the title. But he his most recognizable fight was a 14-rounder with Muhammad Ali in the Philippines, known as the "Thrilla in Manila." Frazier died of liver cancer in 2011.

North Carolina born Earl Scruggs was a musical pioneer. He developed the three-finger banjo picking style, that would later be called Scruggs Style, and it became the defining sound of bluegrass music. Scruggs was 88.

Born in Mount Airy, North Carolina as Andrew Samuel Griffith, Andy Griffith was one of the South's most beloved actors. Griffith was forever endeared to our hearts in not one, but two iconic TV shows. First as the lovable Sheriff Andy Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show and later as the lawyer in the signature seersucker on Matlock. He also appeared on Broadway in several productions, earning two Tony Award nominations.

Although he was born in North Carolina, musician Chuck Brown is commonly known as "The Godfather of Go-Go," a musical movement that came to life in Washington, D.C. in the 1970s. This sub-genre of funk music changed America's musical landscape forever. Brown died after a long health battle at the age of 75.

Helen Gurley Brown was born in the small town of Green Forest, Arkansas and went on to forge a path for women in the publishing world. Brown's iconic book, Sex and Single Girl was published in 1962, and she then went on to take over the helm as editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan Magazine in 1965, where she remained for 32 years.

"Who shot J.R. Ewing?" Just about anyone who lived during TV's Dallas era will recognize this epic TV cliffhanger. Larry Martin Hagman was born in Fort Worth, Texas and he became the actor to play the iconic Texas oil tycoon. Prior to donning that signature cowboy hat, Hagman began on the stage, spent some time in the Air Force, and was on several earlier TV shows, most notably, I Dream of Jeanie.  

Maryland's Tom Clancy was an insurance broker who dreamed of writing novels. When he finally gave writing a go, his first book, The Hunt for Red October, published in 1984, was a roaring success thanks to a very high-profile recommendation—President Ronald Reagan. Clancy then went on to become a staple in the suspense-thriller section of bookstores world-wide and gave us fictional heroes to root for like Jack Ryan and John Clark.

Although many of his stories are set in Detroit, Elmore Leonard was born in New Orleans and moved to several other Southern cities including Dallas, and Memphis, before his family settled in Michigan when Leonard was nine. At the time of his death, Leonard's body of work included over 40 novels, several short stories, and a television show, Justified. More than a dozen of his novels were adapted into film including The Big Bounce, Freaky Deaky, and Get Shorty.

Clara Ann Fowler, born in Claremore, Oklahoma, was better known by her stage name, Patti Page. She was a pop and country music superstar, selling over 100 million records in her six-decade-long career. Page's signature song was "Tennessee Waltz," and it is now one of the state of Tennessee's official songs.

Decatur Georgia's Jan Hooks was a fixture of our Saturday night TV lineup in the late 80s. Janet Vivian Hooks was a brilliant comedian who joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in 1986 where she remained until 1991. She then appeared in one of our favorite shows, Designing Women for the last two seasons, and several other TV shows and films. Hooks died at just 57 from throat cancer.

Dr. Maya Angelou remains one of the most celebrated voices in American literature, well beyond her death. The writer and activist left us with a collective body of remarkable work that include collections of poetry, memoirs, and even cookbooks. Her first book, I Know Why the Cage Bird Sings was an autobiography deemed so powerful that landed both on the Best Seller's List and the Banned Book List.

Jimmy Wayne Jamison was born in Durant, Mississippi and grew up to be the front man of 80s rock band, Survivor. He voiced many of the 80's most iconic songs and movie themes including, "The Moment of Truth," from Karate Kid, "Is this Love," and "Burning Heart," from Rocky IV. And after going solo, he recorded "I'm Always Here," which later became the theme song to mega hit TV show, Baywatch.

Born as Nellie Burgin, this Knoxville born actress began her career in radio as a teenager. She held on for a productive six-decade career in all areas of entertainment from Broadway to films such as Escape from Fort Bravo, Cape Fear, Move Over Darling, and television, including her very own variety show, The Polly Bergen Show.

When Riley B. King died, the thrill was indeed gone. Born in Mississippi, King came to Memphis and worked as a DJ at WDIA where he acquired his now world-famous moniker, B.B. (Blues Boy) King. He will remain immortal as the father of modern blues music.

The larger than life chef from Louisiana was the first to really introduce the rest of the country to his region's native cuisine. Prudhomme sparked the Cajun food movement and people traveled far and wide to get to dine on his blackened redfish and jambalaya.

The Tennessee senator turned actor successfully transitioned out of Washington and into Hollywood in many film roles but perhaps he will be most remembered (thanks to re-runs) as District Attorney Arthur Branch on Law & Order.

Jewel Franklin Guy was born in Powderly, Kentucky. He became a renowned character actor, appearing in over 80 films but he is remembered first as Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane from the iconic TV show, Dukes of Hazzard.

Louisiana native Donna Douglas was an actress and singer who starred as Elly May Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies TV show in the 60s and 70s. Later in life she became an author.

The Alabama born R&B icon gave us one of the greatest love songs of all time, "When a man loves a woman," along with many more hits. Sledge was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2005.

Hailing from that musical Mecca of Memphis, Maurice White was a pioneer for soul and R&B music. He was a founding member of Earth, Wind, and Fire and a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer.

Edgar Mitchell was an astronaut aboard Apollo 14 and became the sixth man to walk on the moon.

Daughter of Alabama, Harper Lee went on to become one of the most prolific voices in American literature. Her novel, To Kill a Mockingbird became a classic with a message that will stand the test of time for eternity.

Our hearts collectively broke as the country music singer-songwriter lost her hard-fought battle with cancer. She was one half of the duo Joey+Rory with her husband Rory Feek.

This year saw the death of author Pat Conroy, known for telling stories of the low country. He was inspired by the marshlands of his coastal South Carolina home and gave us hits like The Prince of Tides, The Great Santini, and The Lords of Discipline.

"Float like a butterfly. Sting like a bee." Born Cassius Clay in Louisville, Kentucky, the boxer turn activist was nicknamed "The Greatest," and he truly was.

Pat Summit served as head coach for the University of Tennessee's women's basketball team for 38 years. During her tenure leading the Lady Vols, not only did she guide her team to eight NCAA championships, she became the winningest coach in Division I college basketball history—men or women.  She was a true leader on and off the court and was taken far too soon from early-onset Alzheimer's disease.

Pierre Dewey LaFontaine Jr., also known as Pete Fountain, entertained us all as a jazz musician with a unique style of clarinet that made him an icon in his hometown of New Orleans. But his music spread beyond the Bayou State as a featured soloist on The Lawrence Welk Show and later was a frequent guest on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

2017 saw the sudden death of rock icon and Gainesville, Florida native, Tom Petty at the age of just 66. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers had recently completed a tour marking their 40^th anniversary. The legendary singer-songwriter and record producer gave us hits that have provided the soundtrack to our lives for decades like "I Won't Back Down," "Mary Jane's Last Dance," and "Free Fallin'."

2017 also took another music icon, Chuck Berry died at the age of 90. This Missouri-born music pioneer helped define what rock music became. As Rod Stewart said in a statement following Berry's death, "It started with Chuck Berry." Not only did he teach the world how to rock on the guitar, he gave us timeless songs like "Johnny G. Goode," "Back in the U.S.A," and "Memphis, Tennessee."

Allman Brothers front man, Greg Allman also died in 2017. Gregg and his brother Duane created their own genre of music fusing rhythm and blues with jazz, rock, and country music. Their efforts resulted in hits like "Melissa," and "Midnight Rider," and decades of live jams.

New Orleans born rock legend Fats Domino made history in 1949, when his first record, "The Fat Man," became the first Rock and Roll record to ever sell over one million copies. He wasn't a one-hit wonder though. He then gave us "Blueberry Hill," "I'm Walking," and "Ain't that a Shame." Antoine, "Fats" Domino was 89.

This Sylacauga, Alabama native won America's hearts as the lovable Gomer Pyle on the Andy Griffith Show and was so popular that the actor was awarded his very own spin-off show, Gomer Pyle. Nabors was 87.

Actor Bill Paxton was born in Fort Worth, Texas and he gave brilliant performances in countless film and television roles. Some of his most memorable roles were in major blockbuster hits like Titanic, and Twister, and Apollo 13. Paxton was 61.

Glenn Campbell, "The Rhinestone Cowboy" is touted with blending country and pop music together. He boasted many talents and could wear many hats including chart-topping singer, guitarist, and he was also a hit as a television host. He even filled in for Brian Wilson with the Beach Boys. Campbell gave us songs like "Wichita Lineman," "Galveston," and "By the Time I get to Phoenix."  

Troy Gentry, one half of the country music duo Montgomery Gentry died tragically in September of 2017 after a helicopter crash. He was en route to meet Eddie Montgomery in New Jersey and Montgomery was waiting for him at the airport. Gentry was 50 years old.

Aretha Franklin made history as the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. While she spent much of her life in Detroit, the Queen of Soul was actually born in Memphis, Tennessee and her powerhouse voice was first developed by singing in her daddy's church. She may no longer be with us but her timeless hits like "Respect," and "Think," have made their mark on music history forever.

Although neither Former First Lady Barbara Bush nor her husband were born in the South, they adopted Texas as their home long ago and the Lone Star state now serves as their final resting place. Barbara Bush left behind a legacy is as matriarch to the Bush family but also as a lifelong literacy advocate.

Just over six months after he lost his beloved wife of 73 years, President George Herbert Walker Bush died just after Thanksgiving. While much of his public service is on record, after he died, we learned so much more about how he helped people on a personal level. We learned so much more about the letters he took time to write by hand to so many and the advice he offered freely.

Guitarist and country music singer Roy Clark died in 2018 at the age of 85. Clark served as cohost on Hee Haw for almost a quarter-century, beginning in 1969.

Robert Glenn Johnson Jr., more commonly known as Junior Johnson was both a NASCAR hero and legend. His racing days can be traced all the way back to the sport's bootlegging beginnings. He was caught and convicted of moonshining in 1956, and later pardoned by President Reagan. In his NASCAR career, he won 50 races and he won the Daytona 500 both as a driver and a team owner.

Born in Temple, Texas as Elmore Rual Torn Jr., his parents have been credited with popularizing the tradition of eating black eyed peas on New Years Day. Rip Torn lwent to Texas A&M and then headed to Hollywood where he eventually became a highly acclaimed character actor. He is best known for The Larry Sanders Show, Men in Black, and 30 Rock.

New Orleans jazz musician, Dave Bartholomew was a talented trumpeter and composer. He's best known for his work producing for Fats Domino. Bartholomew and Domino co-wrote many of Domino's biggest hits including "Ain't That a Shame," and "Witchcraft."

Sybil Anne Rivers of Fairburn, Georgia attended Auburn University and then became a best-selling author, publishing 19 books and a collection of essays. Her work was often set in Atlanta and portrayed strong, Southern women. Siddons was 83.

Born Mary Martha Corinne Morrison Claiborne Boggs in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1943, got her nickname, Cokie, from her brother because he couldn't say "Corinne." Roberts was a fixture behind a TV news anchor desk for nearly half a century and one of America's most trusted political voices. Not only was she an inspiration to many, she was a pioneer for women in journalism.