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| * ] (born 1935), journalist, (]) | * ] (born 1935), journalist, (]) | ||
| * ] (1920–2000), food writer, (]) | * ] (1920–2000), food writer, (]) | ||
| * Anthony Colom (born 1968), writer, editor of The New Power Magazine, (]) | |||
| * ] (born 1935), playwright, (]) | * ] (born 1935), playwright, (]) | ||
| * ] (1922–1985), novelist and short story writer, (]) | * ] (1922–1985), novelist and short story writer, (]) | ||
Revision as of 06:13, 22 March 2010
People who were born or lived in the U.S. state of Mississippi.
Activists and advocates
- Knol Aust, LGBT civil rights activist, founding member and chairman of Unity Mississippi (statewide LGBT rights organization) and Outoberfest (annual state LGBT pride celebration), (Jackson)
- James Bevel (1936-2008), leader in the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, (Itta Bena)
- Ruby Bridges (born 1954), first African-American child to attend an all-white school in the South, (Tylertown)
- Curtis Conway "C.C." Bryant (1917–2007), African-American civil rights leader, (Tylertown)
- Will D. Campbell (born 1924), Baptist minister and activist, (Amite County)
- James Chaney (1943–1964), African-American civil rights worker, (Meridian)
- Vernon Dahmer (1908–1966), African-American civil rights leader, (Hattiesburg)
- Charles Evers (born 1922), African-American civil rights leader, (Decatur)
- Medgar Evers (1925–1963), African-American civil rights leader, (Decatur)
- Myrlie Evers-Williams (born 1933), African-American civil rights leader, (Vicksburg)
- Dianna Freelon-Foster, African-American civil rights activist, Member of the Mississippi Civil Rights Education Commission, first female and first African-American mayor of her hometown (Grenada)
- C. L. Franklin (1915–1984), Baptist minister and father of Aretha Franklin, (Shelby)
- Duncan M. Gray, Jr. (born 1926), Episcopal clergyman, civil rights activist, (Canton)
- Percy Greene (1897–1977), journalist, activist, (Jackson)
- Lawrence Guyot (born 1939), civil rights activist, (Pass Christian)
- Fannie Lou Hamer (1917–1977), American voting rights activist, Civil rights leader, (Ruleville)
- Winson Hudson (1916–2004), civil rights activist, (Harmony)
- Clyde Kennard (1927–1963), civil rights activist, (Hattiesburg)
- Ed King, civil rights activist, Tougaloo chaplain, (Jackson)
- James Meredith (born 1933), first African-American student at the University of Mississippi, (Kosciusko)
- Anne Moody (born 1940), civil rights activist, (Centreville)
- Ida B. Wells-Barnett (1862–1931), civil rights activist, Women's rights activist, (Holly Springs)
- Donald Wildmon (born 1938), founder and chairman of the American Family Association, (Dumas)
Actors/Actresses
- Joey Lauren Adams (born 1968), (Oxford)
- Joshua Alba (born 1982), (Biloxi)
- Mary Alice (born 1941), (Indianola)
- Dana Andrews (1909–1992), (Covington County)
- Roscoe Ates (1895–1962), (Grange)
- Katherine Bailess (born 1980), film and television actress (Vicksburg)
- Laura Bailey (born 1981), voice actress
- Earl W. Bascom (1906-1995), film and television (Columbia)
- Willie Best (1916–1962), (Sunflower)
- Jimmy Boyd (1939–2009), (McComb)
- Don Briscoe (1940–2004), soap opera actor, (Yalobusha County)
- Geneva Carr (born 1971), television and stage actress, (Jackson)
- Finn Carter (born 1960), (Greenville)
- Wally Cassell (born 1915), film and television actor
- Lacey Chabert (born 1982), (Purvis)
- Wyatt Emory Cooper (1927–1978), Broadway actor, (Quitman)
- Cassi Davis (born 1964), (Holly Springs)
- Michelle DeFraites (born 1993), actress/singer, (Pass Christian)
- Jason Dottley (born 1980), actor in Sordid Lives stage production and Logo television series, (Florence)
- John Dye (born 1963), (Amory)
- Mary Elizabeth Ellis, television and film actress, (Laurel)
- Ruth Ford (born 1915), stage and film actress, (Hazlehurst)
- Morgan Freeman (born 1937), (Greenwood)
- M. C. Gainey (born 1948), film and television actor, (Jackson)
- Cynthia Geary (born 1965), (Jackson)
- Allie Grant (born 1994), (Tupelo)
- Gary Grubbs (born 1949), (Amory)
- Lynn Hamilton (born 1930), (Yazoo City)
- Temeceka Harris (born 1975), one-time actress, (Mound Bayou)
- Beth Henley (born 1952), dramatist and actress, (Jackson)
- Jim Henson (1936–1990), creator of The Muppets, (Leland)
- Anthony Herrera (born 1944), (Wiggins)
- Wilbur Higby (1867–1934), silent film actor, (Meridian)
- Eddie Hodges (born 1947), former child actor, (Hattiesburg)
- Thelma Houston (born 1943), actress, (Leland)
- Don Jeffcoat (born 1975), (Gulfport)
- James Earl Jones (born 1931), (Arkabutla)
- Robert Earl Jones (1910–2006), (Senatobia)
- Simbi Khali (born 1971), (Jackson)
- Diane Ladd (born 1935), (Meridian)
- Daniel Curtis Lee (born 1991), (Clinton)
- Tom Lester (born 1938), (Jackson)
- Martha Mattox (1879–1933), silent film actor, (Natchez)
- Shane McRae (born 1977), (Starkville)
- Gerald McRaney (born 1947), (Collins)
- Mary Ann Mobley (born 1939), (Brandon)
- Parker Posey (born 1968), (Laurel)
- Evelyn Preer (1896–1932), (Vicksburg)
- Thalmus Rasulala (1939–1991), (Arkabutla)
- Beah Richards (1920–2000), stage/screen/tv actress, (Vicksburg)
- Eric Roberts (born 1956), (Biloxi)
- Toni Seawright (born 1964), international actress, (Pascagoula)
- Larry Semon (1889–1928), silent film actor/director/producer, (West Point)
- Jamie Lynn Spears (born 1991), acress and singer, (McComb)
- Stella Stevens (born 1938), (Yazoo City)
- Tonea Stewart (born 1947), (Greenwood)
- Ashley Thompson (born 1980), actress, (Booneville)
- James Michael Tyler (born 1962), (Winona)
- Brenda Venus (born 1957), actress, (Biloxi)
- Ray Walston (1914–2001), (Laurel)
- Sela Ward (born 1956), (Meridian)
- James Wheaton (1924–2002), (Meridian)
- Kit Williamson (born 1985), actor, (Jackson)
- Oprah Winfrey (born 1954), (Kosciusko)
- Hattie Winston (born 1945), (Greenville)
Artists
- Jere Allen, painter, (Oxford)
- James McConnell Anderson (1907–1998), potter and painter, (Ocean Springs)
- Peter Anderson (1901–1984), potter, (Ocean Springs)
- Rick Anderson, painter and children's book illustrator, (Clinton)
- Walter Inglis Anderson (1903–1965), painter, (Ocean Springs)
- Earl W. Bascom (1906-1995), painter, bronze sculptor, "King of the Cowboy Artists," (Columbia)
- Bill Beckwith, sculptor (Taylor)
- Howard Bingham (born 1939), photographer, (Jackson)
- Bruce Brady, nationally acclaimed sculptor, Sculpted Conerly Trophy, (Brookhaven)
- Andrew Bucci (born 1922), painter, (Vicksburg)
- Jane Rule Burdine, photographer, (Taylor)
- William Dunlap, painter, (Webster County)
- Sam Gilliam (born 1933), color field painter, (Tupelo)
- Theora Hamblett (1895–1977), painter, (Oxford)
- Ted Jackson (born 1955), photographer, (McComb)
- Chris LeDoux (1948–2005), bronze sculptor, (Biloxi)
- Ed McGowin, sculptor/painter, (Hattiesburg)
- Fred Mitchell (born 1923), abstract expressionist painter, (Meridian)
- Ethel Wright Mohamed (1906–1992), stitchery artist, (Belzoni)
- George E. Ohr (1857–1918), potter, (Biloxi)
- J. Kim Sessums, bronze sculptor and painter, (Brookhaven)
- Floyd Shaman (died 2005), sculptor, (Cleveland)
- Jack Spencer (born 1951), photographer, (Kosciusko)
- Glennray Tutor (born 1950), painter, (Oxford)
- James W. Washington, Jr. (1908–2000), painter and sculptor, (Gloster)
- Dick Waterman (born 1935), photographer and blues promoter, (Oxford)
Athletes and sports-related people
Baseball
- Frank Baker (born 1946), shortstop, (Meridian)
- Howard Battle (born 1972), third baseman, (Biloxi)
- Cool Papa Bell (1903–1991), center fielder, (Starkville)
- Martin Beno (born 1986), pitcher, (Horn Lake)
- Don Blasingame (1932–2005), second baseman, (Corinth)
- Milt Bolling (born 1930), shortstop, (Mississippi City)
- Josh Booty (born 1975), third baseman, (Starkville)
- Julio Borbon (born 1986), minor league outfielder, (Starkville)
- Dennis Ray "Oil Can" Boyd (born 1959), pitcher, (Meridian)
- Jeff Branson (born 1967), infielder, (Waynesboro)
- Jeff Brantley (born 1963), pitcher and ESPN analyst, (Starkville)
- Ellis Burks (born 1964), outfielder and designated hitter, (Vicksburg)
- Adrian Brown (born 1974), center fielder, (McComb)
- Jamie Brown (born 1977), pitcher, (Meridian)
- Guy Bush (1901–1985), pitcher, (Aberdeen)
- Dewon Day (born 1980), relief pitcher, (Jackson)
- Dizzy Dean (1910–1974), Hall of Fame pitcher, (Bond)
- Tommy Dean (born 1945), shortstop, (Iuka)
- Bob Didier (born 1949), catcher, (Hattiesburg)
- David "Boo" Ferriss (born 1921), pitcher, (Shaw)
- Curt Ford (born 1960), outfielder, (Jackson)
- Joey Gathright (born 1981), minor league outfielder, (Hattiesburg)
- Jake Gibbs (born 1938), catcher, (Grenada)
- Rod Gilbreath (born 1954), second baseman, (Laurel)
- Luther Hackman (born 1974), pitcher, (Columbus)
- Bill Hall (born 1979), third baseman, (Nettleton)
- Mickey Harrington (born 1934), pinch-runner, (Hattiesburg)
- Charlie Hayes (born 1965), third baseman, (Hattiesburg)
- Larry Herndon (born 1953), outfielder, (Sunflower)
- Jarrett Hoffpauir (born 1983), second baseman, (Natchez)
- Cleo James (born 1940), outfielder, (Clarksdale)
- Matt Lawton (born 1971), right fielder, (Gulfport)
- Brent Leach (born 1982), relief pitcher, (Flowood)
- Ronnie Lester (born 1959), player and Assistant General Manager, (Canton)
- John Lindsey (born 1977), minor league first baseman, (Hattiesburg)
- Nook Logan (born 1979), center fielder, (Natchez)
- Paul Maholm (born 1982), starting pitcher, (Greenwood)
- Chris Maloney (born 1961), minor league first baseman/outfielder/manager, (Jackson)
- Brian Maxcy (born 1971), pitcher, (Amory)
- Allen McDill (born 1971), left-handed specialist pitcher, (Greenville)
- Bill Melton (born 1945), third baseman, (Gulfport)
- Dustan Mohr (born 1976), outfielder, (Hattiesburg)
- Ryan Nye (born 1973), pitcher, (Biloxi)
- Roy Oswalt (born 1977), starting pitcher, (Weir)
- Dave Parker (born 1951), right fielder and designated hitter, (Calhoun)
- Claude Passeau (1909–2003), pitcher, (Lucedale)
- Van Pope (born 1984), minor league third baseman, (Jackson)
- Gary Rath (born 1973), starting pitcher, (Gulfport)
- Kevin Rogers (born 1968), pitcher, (Cleveland)
- Nate Rolison (born 1977), first baseman, (Petal)
- George Scott (born 1944), first baseman, (Greenville)
- Tony Sipp (born 1983), relief pitcher, (Pascagoula)
- Matt Skrmetta (born 1972), pitcher, (Biloxi)
- Jason Smith (born 1977), infielder, (Meridian)
- Seth Smith (born 1982), outfielder, (Jackson)
- Blake Stein (born 1973), pitcher, (McComb)
- Marcus Thames (born 1977), outfielder and first baseman, (Louisville)
- John Thomson (born 1973), starting pitcher, (Vicksburg)
- Matt Tolbert (born 1982), infielder, (born in McComb, raised in Woodville)
- Eddie "Scooter" Tucker (born 1966), catcher, (Greenville)
- Jermaine Van Buren (born 1980), relief pitcher, (Laurel)
- Chico Walker (born 1957), second base, (Jackson)
- Harry Walker (1916–1999), outfielder and manager, (Pascagoula)
- Skeeter Webb (1909–1986), infielder, (Meridian)
- Barry Wesson (born 1977), outfielder, (Tupelo)
- Frank White (born 1950), second baseman and coach, (Greenville)
- Dmitri Young (born 1973), first baseman, (Vicksburg)
- Terrell Young (born 1985), minor league pitcher, (Grenada)
- Tim Young (born 1973), relief pitcher, (Gulfport)
- Walter Young (born 1980), first baseman, (Hattiesburg)
Basketball
- Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf (born 1969), point guard, (Gulfport)
- Coolidge Ball, forward, (Indianola)
- Earl Barron (born 1981), center, (Clarksdale)
- Billy Ray Bates (born 1956), shooting guard, (Kosciusko)
- Jonathan Bender (born 1981), power forward, (Picayune)
- Travarus Bennett (born 1979), minor leagues, (Rosedale)
- Ruthie Bolton (born 1967), shooting guard, head coach (Lucedale)
- Melvin Booker (born 1972), point guard, (Pascagoula)
- Tom Bowens (born 1940), forward-center, (Okolona)
- Alonzo Bradley (born 1953), forward, (Utica)
- Rickey Brown (born 1958), forward-center, (Madison County)
- Cleveland Buckner (born 1938), forward-center, (Yazoo City)
- Jackie Butler (born 1985), center, (McComb)
- Maurice Carter (born 1976), guard, (Jackson)
- Cornelius Cash (born 1952), forward, (Macon)
- Harvey Catchings (born 1951), center, (Jackson)
- Terry Catledge (born 1963), forward, (Houston)
- Van Chancellor (born 1943), women's coach, (Louisville)
- E.C. Coleman (born 1950), forward, (Flora)
- Joe Courtney (born 1969), power forward, (Jackson)
- Erick Dampier (born 1975), center, (New Hebron)
- Ollie Darden (born 1944), forward-center, (Aberdeen)
- Archie Dees (born 1936), forward-center, (Ethel)
- Ronald Dupree (born 1981), small forward, (Biloxi)
- Keith Edmonson (born 1960), guard, (Gulfport)
- Monta Ellis (born 1985), point guard and shooting guard, (Jackson)
- Tim Floyd (born 1954), men's head coach, (Hattiesburg)
- Nell Fortner (born 1959), women's head coach, (Jackson)
- Jennifer Gillom (born 1964), WMBA player/Olympic gold medalist and coach, (Abbeville)
- Gerald Glass (born 1967), guard-forward, (Greenwood)
- Lancaster Gordon (born 1962), guard-forward, (Jackson)
- Litterial Green (born 1970), point guard, (Pascagoula)
- Kevin Griffin (born 1975), shooting guard/small forward
- Tang Hamilton (born 1978), forward, (Jackson)
- Ira Harge (born 1941), center, (Anguilla)
- Othella Harrington (born 1974), power forward, (Jackson)
- Lusia Harris (born 1955), first female player inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, (Minter City)
- Antonio Harvey (born 1970), radio broadcaster/retired player, (Pascagoula)
- Spencer Haywood (born 1949), power forward/center, (Silver City)
- Jeanne Ruark Hoff, Stanford University player
- Eddie Hughes (born 1960), point guard, (Greenville)
- Lindsey Hunter (born 1970), point guard, (Utica)
- Leroy Hurd (born 1980), forward, (Pascagoula)
- Al Jefferson (born 1985), center/power forward, (Monticello)
- Clay Johnson (born 1956), guard, (Yazoo City)
- John Johnson (born 1947), small forward, (Carthage)
- Trey Johnson (born 1984), shooting guard, (Jackson)
- Carolyn Jones-Young (born 1969), guard and Olympic bronze medalist, (Bay Springs)
- Randolph Keys (born 1966), guard-forward, (Collins)
- Danny Manning (born 1966), forward, (Hattiesburg)
- Ed Manning (born 1944), forward, (Summit)
- Antonio McDyess (born 1974), power forward, (Quitman)
- Derrick McKey (born 1966), small forward and power forward, (Meridian)
- Leland Mitchell (born 1941), guard, (Kiln)
- Matthew Mitchell (born 1970), women's head coach, (Louisville)
- Steve Newsome, Chicago Bulls draft (1973), (Columbia)
- Dyron Nix (born 1967), forward, (Meridian)
- Audie Norris (born 1960), center, (Jackson)
- Willie Norwood (born 1947), forward, (Carrollton)
- Travis Outlaw (born 1984), small forward amd power forward, (Starkville)
- Murriel Page (born 1975), WNBA player, (Louin)
- Marckell Patterson (born 1979), shooting guard, (Eupora)
- Kenny Payne (born 1966), small forward, (Laurel)
- Armintie Price (born 1985), shooting guard, (Myrtle)
- Dolph Pulliam, center, sports broadcaster, (West Point)
- Bob Quick (born 1946), guard-forward, (Thornton)
- Justin Reed (born 1982), forward, (Jackson)
- James Robinson (born 1970), shooting guard, (Jackson)
- Eugene Short (born 1953), small forward, (Hattiesburg)
- Purvis Short (born 1957), small forward and shooting guard, (Hattiesburg)
- Larry Smith (born 1958), center-forward, (Rolling Fork)
- Sedric Toney (born 1962), guard, (Columbus)
- Jarvis Varnado (born 1988), forward-center
- Margaret Wade (1912–1995), former player and coach, (Cleveland)
- Cornell Warner (born 1948), forward-center, (Jackson)
- Eric Washington (born 1974), guard-forward, (Pearl)
- Clarence Weatherspoon (born 1970), power forward, (Crawford)
- Dwayne Whitfield (born 1972), power forward, (Aberdeen)
- Tamika Whitmore (born 1977), forward, (Tupelo)
- Maurice "Mo" Williams (born 1982), point guard, (Jackson)
- George Wilson (born 1942), center, (Meridian)
American football
- Brian Alford (born 1975), wide receiver, (Crawford)
- Jake Allen (born 1985), wide receiver, (Laurel)
- Lance Alworth (born 1940), wide receiver, (Brookhaven)
- Jesse Anderson (born 1966), tight end, (West Point)
- Rashard Anderson (born 1977), cornerback, (Forest)
- Houston Antwine (born 1939), defensive tackle, (Louise)
- Jason Armstead (born 1979), wide receiver (Canadian Football League), (Moss Point)
- Hank Autry (born 1947), center, (Hattiesburg)
- Chris Avery (born 1975), fullback and linebacker (arena football), (Grenada)
- Jerome Barkum (born 1950), wide receiver/tight end, (Gulfport)
- Fred Barnett (born 1966), wide receiver, (Gunnison)
- Lem Barney (born 1945), cornerback, (Gulfport)
- Steve Baylark (born 1983), running back, (Aberdeen)
- Tony Bennett (born 1967), linebacker, (Alligator)
- Kenneth Bernich (born 1951), guard, (Biloxi)
- Damarius Bilbo (born 1982), football, (Moss Point)
- Harold Bishop, Jr. (born 1970), tight end, (Booneville)
- Earl Blair (1934–2004), halfback, (Pascagoula)
- George Blair (born 1938), AFL halfback, (Pascagoula)
- Josh Booty (born 1975), quarterback, (Starkville)
- Tim Bowens (born 1973), defensive tackle, (Okolona)
- Johnny Brewer (born 1937), tight end/linebacker, (Vicksburg)
- Allen Brown (born 1943), tight end, (Natchez)
- C. C. Brown (born 1983), safety, (Greenwood)
- Nathan Brown (born 1986), quarterback, (Hattiesburg)
- Willie Brown (born 1940), cornerback, (Yazoo City)
- Terrell Buckley (born 1971), cornerback, (Pascagoula)
- Derrick Burgess (born 1978), defensive end/linebacker, (Oxford)
- Chris Burkett (born 1962), wide receiver, (Laurel)
- Jason Campbell (born 1981), quarterback, (Laurel)
- Steve Campbell (born 1966), head coach
- Cooper Carlisle (born 1977), offensive guard, (Greenville)
- Alex Carrington (born 1987), defensive lineman, (Tupelo)
- Perry Carter (born 1971), defensive back, (McComb)
- Kory Chapman (born 1980), running back, (Batesville)
- Don Churchwell (born 1936), offensive tackle, (Leakesville)
- Billy Clay (born 1944), cornerback, (Oxford)
- Roderick (Rod) Coleman (born 1976), defensive tackle, (Vicksburg)
- Reggie Collier (born 1961), quarterback and wide receiver, (D'Iberville)
- Charlie Conerly (1921–1996), (Clarksdale)
- Darion Conner (born 1967), NFL linebacker and Arena Football League player, (Macon)
- Fred Cook (born 1952), defensive end, (Pascagoula)
- Johnie Cooks (born 1958), linebacker, (Leland)
- Russell Copeland (born 1971), wide receiver, (Tupelo)
- Bobby Crespino (born 1938), tight end, (Duncan)
- Quinton Culberson (born 1985), linebacker, (Jackson)
- Doug Cunningham (born 1945), running back, (Louisville)
- Roland Dale (born 1927), end, (Magee)
- Willie Daniel (born 1937), defensive back, (New Albany)
- Rod Davis (born 1981), linebacker, (Gulfport)
- Mike Dennis (born 1944), running back, (Philadelphia)
- Anthony Dixon (born 1987), running back, (Jackson)
- Kevin Dockery (born 1984), cornerback, (Hernando)
- Larry Dorsey (born 1953), wide receiver and high school coach, (Corinth)
- Jim Dunaway (born 1941), defensive tackle, (Columbia)
- Marcus Dupree (born 1964), running back, (Philadelphia)
- Antuan Edwards (born 1977), safety, (Starkville)
- Mario Edwards (born 1975), cornerback, (Gautier)
- Carlos Emmons (born 1973), linebacker, (Greenwood)
- Mike Espy (born 1982), wide receiver, (Jackson)
- Don "Red" Estes (born 1938), offensive lineman, (Brookhaven)
- Major Everett (born 1960), running back, (New Hebron)
- Brett Favre (born 1969), quarterback, (Kiln)
- Jason Ferguson (born 1974), defensive tackle, (Nettleton)
- Damion Fletcher (born 1987), running back, (Biloxi)
- Leslie Frazier (born 1959), cornerback and safety/Defensive Coordinator, (Columbus)
- Steve Freeman (born 1953), defensive back, game official, (Oxford)
- C. J. Gaddis (born 1985), safety, (Hattiesburg)
- William Gaines (born 1971), defensive lineman, (Jackson)
- Charles E. Gavin (born 1933), defensive end for the Denver Broncos, (Lake)
- Jimmie Giles (born 1954), tight end, (Natchez)
- Robert Gillespie (born 1979), running back, (Hattiesburg)
- Tom Goode (born 1938), offensive lineman, (West Point)
- Larry Grantham (born 1938), linebacker, (Crystal Springs)
- Hugh Green (born 1959), linebacker, (Natchez)
- Louis Green (born 1979), linebacker, (Vicksburg)
- L. C. Greenwood (born 1946), defensive end, (Canton)
- Jack Gregory (born 1944), defensive end, (Okolona)
- Cedric Griffin (born 1982), cornerback, (Natchez)
- Glynn Griffing (born 1940), quarterback, (Bentonia)
- Justin Griffith (born 1980), fullback, (Magee)
- Quentin Groves (born 1984), defensive end, (Greenville)
- Michael Haddix (born 1961), running back, (Tippah County)
- Bobby Hamilton (born 1971), defensive end, (Columbia)
- Parys Haralson (born 1984), linebacker, (Flora)
- Larry Hardy (born 1956), tight end, (Mendenhall)
- Clarence Harmon (born 1955), running back, (Kosciusko)
- Anthony Harris (born 1981), defensive tackle
- James Harvey (born 1965), guard, (Columbia)
- Kevin Henry (born 1968), defensive lineman, (Mound Bayou)
- Mack Herron (born 1948), running back, (Biloxi)
- Roy Hilton (born 1943), defensive end, (Hazlehurst)
- Stephen Hobbs (born 1965), wide receiver, (Mendenhall)
- Corey Holmes (born 1976), running back (Canadian football), (Greenville)
- Jaret Holmes (born 1976), placekicker, (Clinton)
- Lester Holmes (born 1969), offensive lineman, (Tylertown)
- Walter Holman (born 1959), running back, (Vaiden)
- Estus Hood (born 1955), cornerback, (Hattiesburg)
- Houston Hoover (born 1965), offensive lineman, (Yazoo City)
- Joe Horn (born 1972), wide receiver, (Tupelo)
- Derrick Hoskins (born 1970), cornerback, (Meridian)
- Gary Huff (born 1951), quarterback, (Natchez)
- Kent Hull (born 1960), offensive lineman, (Pontotoc)
- Don Hultz (born 1940), defensive lineman, (Moss Point)
- Terry Irvin (born 1954), defensive back (Canadian Football League), (Columbia)
- Brandon Jackson (born 1985), running back, (Horn Lake)
- Harold Jackson (born 1946), wide receiver, (Hattiesburg)
- Jarious Jackson (born 1977), quarterback/free safety (American and Canadian Football Leagues), (Tupelo)
- Kirby Jackson (born 1965), defensive back, (Sturgis)
- Tristan Jackson (born 1986), defensive back (Canadian football), (Beaumont)
- Sean James (born 1969), running back, (Meridian)
- Melvin Jenkins (born 1962), cornerback, (Jackson)
- Antonio Johnson (born 1984), defensive tackle, (Greenville)
- Dennis Johnson (born 1956), fullback, (Weir)
- Rory Johnson (born 1986), linebacker (American and Canadian Football Leagues), (Vicksburg)
- Spencer Johnson (born 1981), defensive tackle, (Waynesboro)
- Chris Jones (born 1982), wide receiver, (Macon)
- Ronald Jones (born 1981), defensive lineman (Canadian Football League), (Gulfport)
- Reggie Kelly (born 1977), tight end, (Aberdeen)
- Tommy Kelly (born 1980), defensive tackle, (Jackson)
- Tyrone Keys (born 1960), defensive lineman, (Jackson)
- Ed Khayat (born 1935), defensive end, (Moss Point)
- Curt Knight (born 1943), placekicker, (Gulfport)
- Roland Lakes (born 1939), defensive lineman/defensive tackle, (Vicksburg)
- Donald Lee (born 1980), tight end, (Maben)
- Brad Leggett (born 1966), center, (Vicksburg)
- Alex Lincoln (born 1977), linebacker, (Meridian)
- Ken Lucas (born 1979), cornerback, (Cleveland)
- Milton Mack (born 1963), cornerback, (Jackson)
- Earsell Mackbee (born 1941), cornerback, (Brookhaven)
- John Mangum (born 1967), cornerback, (Magee)
- Kris Mangum (born 1973), tight end, (Magee)
- Archie Manning (born 1949), quarterback, (Drew)
- Eli Manning (born 1981), quarterback, (Oxford)
- Mike Markuson (born 1961), offensive line coach and running game coordinator
- Aubrey Matthews (born 1962), wide receiver, (Pascagoula)
- Shane Matthews (born 1970), quarterback, (Pascagoula)
- Fred McAfee (born 1968), running back, (Philadelphia)
- Deuce McAllister (born 1978), running back, (Morton)
- Trumaine McBride (born 1985), cornerback, (Clarksdale)
- Dee McCann (born 1983), cornerback (American and Canadian Football Leagues), (Lucedale)
- Dexter McCleon (born 1973), safety, (Meridian)
- Sam McCullum (born 1952), wide receiver, (McComb)
- Ben McGee (born 1939), defensive end, (Starkville)
- Buford McGee (born 1960), running back, (Durant)
- Herb McMath (born 1954), defensive tackle and defensive end, (Coahoma)
- Greg McMurtry (born 1967), wide receiver, (Jackson)
- Fred McNair (born 1968), quarterback, (Mount Olive)
- Steve McNair (1973–2009), quarterback, (Mount Olive)
- Freeman McNeil (born 1959), running back, (Jackson)
- Quinton Meaders (born 1983), defensive back (Canadian Football League), (Tupelo)
- Jim Miller (born 1957), punter, (Ripley)
- Romaro Miller (born 1978), quarterback, (Shannon)
- Freddie Milons (born 1980), wide receiver, (Starkville)
- Frank Molden (born 1942), defensive tackle, (Moss Point)
- Cleo Montgomery (born 1956), wide receiver, (Greenville)
- Wilbert Montgomery (born 1954), running back, (Greenville)
- Stevon Moore (born 1967), safety, (Wiggins)
- Melvin Morgan (born 1953), defensive back, (Gulfport)
- Eric Moulds (born 1973), wide receiver, (Lucedale)
- Michael Myers (born 1976), defensive tackle, (Vicksburg)
- John Nix (born 1976), defensive lineman (arena football), (Lucedale)
- Jerious Norwood (born 1983), running back, (Jackson)
- Freddie Joe Nunn (born 1962), defensive end/linebacker, (Noxubee County)
- Michael Oher (born 1986), offensive tackle, (Oxford)
- Will Overstreet (born 1979), linebacker, (Jackson)
- Joe Owens (born 1946), defensive end, (Columbia)
- Eddie Payton (born 1951), running back, (Columbia)
- Walter Payton (1954–1999), half back, (Columbia)
- Derek Pegues (born 1986), safety, (Batesville)
- Marlo Perry (born 1972), linebacker, (Forest)
- Vernon Perry (born 1953), cornerback, (Jackson)
- Stephen Peterman (born 1982), offensive guard, (Gulfport)
- Danny Pierce (born 1948), running back, (Laurel)
- Lawrence Pillers (born 1952), defensive end, (Hazelhurst)
- Todd Pinkston (born 1977), wide receiver, (Forest)
- Clinton Portis (born 1981), running back, (Laurel)
- Jeff Posey (born 1975), linebacker, (Bassfield)
- Glover Quin (born 1986), safety, (McComb)
- Eddie Ray (born 1947), running back, (Vicksburg)
- Oscar Reed (born 1944), running back, (Jonestown)
- Johnny Rembert (born 1961), linebacker, (Hollandale)
- Will Renfro (born 1932), offensive tackle, (Batesville)
- Jerry Rice (born 1962), wide receiver, (Starkville)
- Bobby Richards (born 1938), defensive linemen, (Columbus)
- Gloster Richardson (born 1942), wide receiver, (Greenville)
- Willie Richardson (born 1939), wide receiver, (Clarksdale)
- Dwayne Rudd (born 1976), linebacker, (Batesville)
- Tyrone Rush (born 1971), running back, (Meridian)
- Jamarca Sanford (born 1985), safety, (Batesville)
- John Sawyer (born 1953), tight end, (Brookhaven)
- Cedric Scott (born 1977), defensive tackle (Canadian Football League), (Gulfport)
- Billy Shaw (born 1938), offensive guard, (Natchez)
- Harold Shaw (born 1974), fullback and occasional linebacker, (Magee)
- Billy Shields (born 1953), tackle, (Vicksburg)
- Kendall Simmons (born 1979), guard, (Ripley)
- Terrance Simmons (born 1976), defensive tackle, (Moss Point)
- Jackie Slater (born 1954), offensive tackle, (Jackson)
- Jackie Smith (born 1940), tight end, (Columbia)
- Jimmy Smith (born 1969), wide receiver, (Jackson)
- Noland Smith (born 1943), wide receiver/return specialist, (Jackson)
- Armegis Spearman (born 1978), linebacker, (Oxford)
- Chris Spencer (born 1982), center, (Madison)
- Irving Spikes (born 1970), running back, (Ocean Springs)
- Billy Stacy (born 1936), safety, (Drew)
- Thomas Strauthers (born 1961), defensive lineman, (Wesson)
- Diron Talbert (born 1944), defensive tackle, (Pascagoula)
- Don Talbert (born 1939), offensive tackle, (Louisville)
- Malcolm Taylor (born 1960), defensive end, (Crystal Springs)
- Daryl Terrell (born 1975), offensive lineman, (Vossburg)
- Fred Thomas (born 1973), cornerback, (Bruce)
- Norris Thomas (born 1954), cornerback, (Inverness)
- Eric Tillman (born c.1957), general manager of the Canadian Football League, (Jackson)
- Lewis Tillman (born 1966), running back, (Hazlehurst)
- Billy Tohill (born c.1939), head coach, (Batesville)
- Willie Totten (born 1962), head coach, (Leflore County)
- Bill Triplett (born 1940), running back, (Shaw)
- Billy Truax (born 1943), tight end, (Gulfport)
- Jim Urbanek (born 1945), defensive tackle, (Oxford)
- Gerald Vaughn (born 1970), defensive back (Canadian Football League), (Abbeville)
- Jim Walden (born c.1938), head coach, (Aberdeen)
- Kenyatta Walker (born 1979), offensive tackle, (Meridian)
- Gavin Walls (born 1980), defensive end (Canadian Football League), (Ripley)
- Wesley Walls (born 1966), tight end, (Batesville)
- Tom Walters (born 1942), safety, (Petal)
- Swayze Waters (born 1987), kicker, (Jackson)
- Kendell Watkins (born 1973), tight end, (Jackson)
- Willie West (born 1938), defensive back, (Lexington)
- Larry Whigham (born 1972), cornerback, (Hattiesburg)
- Ben Williams (born 1954), defensive lineman, (Yazoo City)
- Grant Williams (born 1974), offensive tackle, (Hattiesburg)
- Greg Williams (born 1959), safety, (Greenville)
- John Williams (born 1947), offensive lineman, (Jackson)
- Sammy Williams (born 1974), offensive tackle, (Magnolia)
- Odell Willis (born 1984), defensive lineman (American and Canadian Football Leagues), (Meridian)
- Sammy Winder (born 1959), running back, (Madison)
- Mike Withycombe (born 1964), guard, (Meridian)
- Otis Wonsley (born 1957), running back, (Pascagoula)
- Lee Woodruff (1909–unknown), running back, (Batesville)
- Keith Woodside (born 1964), running back, (Natchez)
- Abe Woodson (born 1934), cornerback/kick returner, (Jackson)
- Marv Woodson (born 1941), defensive back, (Hattiesburg)
- Floyd Womack (born 1978), offensive tackle, (Cleveland)
- Cornelius Wortham (born 1982), linebacker, (Calhoun City)
Other sports
- Fletcher Abram (born 1950), Olympic handball player, (Cary)
- Trey Alexander (born 1983), professional soccer midfielder, (Meridian)
- Earl W. Bascom (1906-1995), rodeo, Hall of Fame, "Father of Mississippi Rodeo," (Columbia)
- Ralph Boston (born 1939), Olympic long jumper, (Laurel)
- Devin Britton (born 1991), tennis player, (Jackson)
- Lee Calhoun (1933–1989), Olympic track athlete and college track coach, (Laurel)
- Shelby Cannon (born 1966), professional tennis player, (Hattiesburg)
- Floyd Cummings (born 1949), heavyweight boxer
- Tony Dees (born 1963), Olympic hurdler, (Pascagoula)
- Craig Demmin (born 1971), soccer defender
- Ted DiBiase (born 1954), professional wrestler, (Clinton)
- Ted DiBiase Jr (born 1982), professional wrestler, (Clinton)
- Barbara Ferrell (born 1947), Olympic track athlete, (Hattiesburg)
- Jim Gallagher, Jr. (born 1961), professional golfer, (Greenwood)
- Bobby Hamilton (1957–2007), NASCAR driver, (Columbia)
- Otis Harris (born 1982), Olympic track and field athlete, (Edwards)
- Jimmy Hart (born 1944), professional wrestling manager, (Jackson)
- Josh Hayes (born 1975), professional motorcycle roadracer, (Gulfport)
- Floyd Heard (born 1966), track and field sprinter, (West Point)
- Leroy Jones (born 1950), professional boxer, (Meridian)
- Justin Mapp (born 1984), professional soccer player, (Brandon)
- Kennedy McKinney (born 1966), professional boxer, (Hernando)
- Coby Miller (born 1976), track and field athlete, (Ackerman)
- Mary Mills (born 1940), professional golfer, (Laurel)
- Larry Myricks (born 1956), Olympic long jumper, (Clinton)
- Terri O'Connell, motorsports racer, (Corinth)
- Reed Pierce (born 1963), professional pool player, (Jackson)
- Brittney Reese (born 1986), Olympic long jumper, (Gulfport)
- Kevin Robertson (born 1959), Olympic water polo player, (Biloxi)
- Chris Shivers (born 1978), professional bull rider, (Natchez)
- Calvin Smith (born 1961), Olympic sprinter, (Bolton)
- Lake Speed (born 1948), NASCAR driver, (Jackson)
- Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. (born 1987), stock car driver, (Olive Branch)
- Dallas Stewart (born 1959), thoroughbred horse trainer, (McComb)
- Ernie Terrell (born 1939), former WBA heavyweight boxing champion, (Belzoni)
- Charles Walker (born 1934), checkers champion and minister, (Petal)
- Herb Washington (born 1951), sprinter/pinch runner, (Belzoni)
Broadcast media personalities
- Red Barber (1908–1992), sportscaster, (Columbus)
- Alex Bonner (1926–2003), broadcast media executive, (Marks)
- Campbell Brown (born 1968), CNN anchor, (Natchez)
- Ron Franklin (born 1942), ESPN sportscaster, (Jackson)
- Chris McDaniel (born 1971), talk radio host, (Laurel)
- Angela McGlowan, Fox News political commentator, (Oxford)
- Robin Roberts (born 1960), newscaster, (Pass Christian)
- Norman Robinson (born 1951), news anchor, (Toomsuba)
- Doug Russell (born 1972), sportscaster, (Jackson)
- Tavis Smiley (born 1964), talk show host, (Gulfport)
- Shepard Smith (born 1964), Fox News anchor, (Holly Springs)
- Oprah Winfrey (born 1954), talk show host, (Kosciusko)
Comedians
- Jerry Clower (1926–1998), (Liberty)
- David L. Cook (born 1968), (Pascagoula)
- Mack Dryden (born 1949), (Moss Point)
- Tig Notaro, stand-up comedy, (Jackson)
Educators
- James Madison Carpenter (1888–1983), folklorist, (Prentiss County)
- Jesse Dukeminier (1925–2003), professor of law, (West Point)
- William R. Ferris (born 1942), folklorist, chairman of National Endowment for the Humanities, (Vicksburg)
- George W. Grace (born 1921), linguist, (Corinth)
- Robert Khayat (born 1938), chancellor of the University of Mississippi, (Moss Point)
- Mamie Locke (born 1954), political scientist, dean at Hampton University, (Brandon)
- John A. Lomax (1867-1948), folklorist, (Goodman)
- Frances Lucas (born 1957), president of Millsaps College, (Jackson)
- Walter E. Massey (born 1938), physicist, University of Chicago, (Hattiesburg)
- William H. Miller (born 1941), theoretical chemist, (Kosciusko)
- William Muse, chancellor at East Carolina University
- Rod Paige (born 1933), U.S. secretary of education, (Monticello)
- Louis Westerfield (born 1949), law professor, first African-American Dean of the University of Mississippi School of Law, (De Kalb)
- Fannie C. Williams (1882–1980), normal school educator (Biloxi)
Entrepreneurs/Business leaders
- Jim Barksdale (born 1943), president and CEO of Netscape, (Jackson)
- James Breckenridge Speed (1844–1912), industrial pioneer
- Fred Carl, Jr., founder of Viking Range Corporation, (Greenwood)
- Bernard "Bernie" Ebbers (born 1941), founder and CEO of WorldCom, convicted of fraud and conspiracy, (Brookhaven)
- Dale Graham (born 1964), GEO of ClearStreaming, Inc., (Hattiesburg)
- Joshua Green (1869–1975), shipping magnate, banker, (Jackson)
- Toxey Haas, founder Mossy Oak Brand camouflage, (West Point)
- Sam Haskell (born 1955), former worldwide head of television for the William Morris Agency, (Amory)
- Robert L. Johnson (born 1946), founder of Black Entertainment Television, (Hickory)
- Ken Lewis (born 1947), Chairman, CEO, and President of Bank of America Corporation, (Meridian)
- Walter E. Massey (born 1938), corporate executive and board member of several oganizations, (Hattiesburg)
- Glenn McCullough (born 1954), chairman and CEO of GLM Associates, LLC, (Tupelo)
- Hu Meena, founder of Cellular South, (Clarksdale)
- Charles Moorman (born 1953), CEO of Norfolk Southern, (Hattiesburg)
- Clarence Otis, Jr. (born 1956), CEO of Darden Restaurants, (Vicksburg)
- Hartley Peavey (born 1941), founder of Peavey Electronics, (Starkville)
- Pig Foot Mary (1870–1929), culinary entrepreneur, (Mississippi Delta)
- Robert "Bob" Pittman, founder MTV, former CEO and COO AOL, (Jackson)
- J. H. Rush (1868–1931), founder of Rush's Infirmary, the first private hospital in Meridian, Mississippi, (De Kalb)
- Fred Smith (born 1944), founder of FedEx, (Marks)
- Antonio Maceo Walker (1909–1994), president of the Universal Life Insurance Company of Memphis, Tennessee, (Indianola)
Filmmakers
- Charles Burnett (born 1944), (Vicksburg)
- Jamaa Fanaka (born 1942), (Jackson)
- John Fortenberry, film and television director, (Jackson)
- Lawrence Gordon (born 1936), producer of Die Hard and other films, (Yazoo City)
- Patrik-Ian Polk (born 1973), (Hattiesburg)
- Larry A. Thompson (born 1944), television and film producer, (Clarksdale)
Inventors
- Earl W. Bascom (1906-1995), inventor of rodeo equipment, (Columbia)
- Harry A. Cole, inventor of Pine-Sol, (Jackson)
- Joseph Newman, inventor of the Newman motor, (Lucedale)
- Henry Sampson (born 1934), inventor, (Jackson)
Jurists and lawyers
- Rhesa H. Barksdale (born 1944), federal judge (Jackson)
- Neal Brooks Biggers Jr. (born 1935), federal judge (Corinth)
- William Joel Blass (born 1917), attorney, (Wiggins/Gulfport)
- Gerald Chatham (1906–1956), lawyer, lead prosecutor in the Emmett Till case, (Hernando)
- Bobby DeLaughter (born 1954), prosecutor, judge (Jackson)
- Jess H. Dickinson (born 1947), associate justice, Supreme Court of Mississippi, (Charleston)
- Boyce Holleman (1924-2003), attorney, (Wiggins/Gulfport)
- Frank Hunger (born 1936), assistant U.S. attorney general, (Greenville)
- E. Grady Jolly (born 1937), judge of the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, (Louisville)
- Charles W. Pickering (born 1937), federal judge, (Jones County)
- Thomas Rodney (1744–1811), federal judge, (Natchez)
- Richard "Dickie" Scruggs (born 1946), attorney, (Pascagoula)
- Michael B. Thornton (born 1954), judge, U.S. Tax Court
- Michael Wallace (born 1951), lawyer, (Biloxi)
- James R. Williams (born 1936), lawyer and jurist, (Columbus)
Military figures
- William Wirt Adams (1819–1888), brigadier general, CSA (Jackson)
- Van T. Barfoot (born 1919), World War II colonel and Medal of Honor recipient, (Edinburg)
- William Barksdale (1821–1863), brigadier general, CSA, died at Gettysburg, (Jackson)
- William Billingsley (1887–1913), ensign, first Navy aviator killed in an airplane crash, (Winona)
- Alvin C. Cockrell (1918–1942), second lieutenant, USMC, killed in WW2 (Hazelhurst)
- Nathan Bedford Forrest (1821–1877), general, CSA, (Hernando)
- Walter "Smokey" Gordon (1920-1997), World War II veteran, portrayed in the HBO mini-series Band Of Brothers
- Jeffery Hammond (born 1978), major general, (Hattiesburg)
- Randolph M. Holder (1918–1942), USN lieutenant (junior grade), (Jackson)
- Felix Huston (1800–1857), general, Texas army, (Natchez)
- Samuel Reeves Keesler (1896–1918), airman, WWI, (Greenwood)
- Newton Knight (1837–1922), Unionist guerrilla leader, (Jones County)
- Roy Joseph Marchand (1920–1942), World War II fireman first class, (Crandall)
- Henry Pinckney McCain (1861–1941), adjutant general, US Army, (Carroll County)
- John S. McCain, Sr. (1884–1945), USN admiral, (Teoc)
- Donald H. Peterson (born 1933), USAF colonel and NASA astronaut, (Winona)
- Charles Read (1840–1890), naval officer, (Meridian)
- Viola B. Sanders (born 1921), USN captain, director of women, U.S. Navy, (Sidon)
- Daniel Isom Sultan (1885–1947), inspector general, U.S. Army, (Oxford)
- James Monroe Trotter (1842–1892), first man of color to achieve rank of 2nd Lieutenant, U.S. Army, music historian (Gulfport)
- Richard H. Truly (born 1937), retired United States Navy, former astronaut, and NASA administrator (Fayette)
Models
- Jennifer Adcock (born 1980), Miss Mississippi 2002 and Miss Mississippi USA 2005, (Hattiesburg)
- Kristi Addis (born 1971), Miss Teen USA 1987, (Holcomb)
- Susan Akin (born 1965), Miss Mississippi 1985 and Miss America 1986, (Meridian)
- Jenna Edwards (born 1981), former Miss Florida and Miss Florida USA, (Brandon)
- Ruth Ford (born 1915), model, (Hazlehurst)
- Taryn Foshee, Miss Mississippi 2006, (Clinton)
- June Juanico (born 1938), beauty queen known for dating Elvis Presley in 1955 and 1956, (Biloxi)
- Nan Kelley, Miss Mississippi 1985 and GAC's Top 20 Country Countdown hostess, (Hattiesburg)
- Kendra King, Miss Mississippi USA 2006, (Monticello)
- Christine Kozlowski, Miss Mississippi 2008, (D'Iberville)
- Leah Laviano (born 1988), Miss Mississippi USA 2008, and 1st runner up in Miss USA 2008, (Ellisville)
- Monica Louwerens (born 1973), Miss Mississippi 1995, (Greenville)
- Lypsinka (born 1955), drag performer and model, (Hazlehurst)
- Lynda Lee Mead (born c.1939), Miss America 1960, (Natchez)
- Mary Ann Mobley (born 1939), Miss America 1959, (Brandon)
- Kimberly Morgan (born 1983), Miss Mississippi 2007, (Taylor)
- Cheryl Prewitt (born 1957), Miss America 1980, (Ackerman)
- Toni Seawright (born 1964), Miss Mississippi 1987 (first African-American winner), (Pascagoula)
- Naomi Sims (1948–2009), fashion model and author (Oxford)
- Ellen Stratton (born 1939), model and Playboy Playmate, (Marietta)
- Amy Wesson (born 1977), fashion model, (Tupelo)
- Cindy Williams (born 1964), journalist and Miss Mississippi USA 1986
- Jalin Wood (born 1981), Miss Mississippi 2004 and Miss Mississippi USA 2007, (Waynesboro)
Musicians and performers
- 3 Doors Down, band, (Escatawpa)
- John Luther Adams (born 1953), composer of music inspired by nature, (Meridian)
- Afroman (born 1974), comedy rapper, (Hattiesburg)
- Tommy Aldridge (born 1950), drummer for Ozzy Osbourne and Whitesnake. (Pearl)
- Mose Allison (born 1927), jazz musician, (Tallahatchie County)
- Robert Anderson (1919–1995), gospel singer-composer and pianist, (Anguilla)
- Steve Azar (born 1964), country singer, (Greenville)
- Glen Ballard (born 1953), songwriter and record producer, (Natchez)
- David Banner (born 1973), rapper/producer, (Jackson)
- Matt Barlow (born 1970), lead singer of the metal band Iced Earth, (Biloxi)
- Prentiss Barnes (1925–2006), rhythm and blues singer, (Magnolia)
- Lance Bass (born 1979), member of pop group 'N Sync, (Laurel)
- Jeff Bates (born 1963), country music singer-songwriter, (Bunker Hill)
- Beanland, jam band, (Oxford)
- Robert Belfour (born 1940), blues musician, (Holly Springs)
- Carey Bell (1936–2007), Chicago blues harmonica player, (Macon)
- Big Time Sarah (born 1953), blues singer, (Coldwater)
- The Blackwood Brothers, gospel singers, (Choctaw County)
- James Blackwood (1919–2002), one of The Blackwood Brothers, (Choctaw County)
- Blind Melon, Alternative rock and jam band, (Starkville)
- Blind Mississippi Morris (born 1955), blues artist, (Clarksdale)
- Blue Mountain, alternative country band, (Oxford)
- Lucille Bogan (1897–1948), blues singer, (Amory)
- Charley Booker (1925–1989), blues singer and guitarist, (Moorhead)
- Eddie Boyd (1914–1994), blues musician, (Clarksdale)
- Bobby Bradford (born 1934), jazz musician and composer, (Cleveland)
- Jan Bradley (born 1943), soul singer, (Byhalia)
- Cory Branan (born 1975), singer-songwriter, (Southhaven)
- Jackie Brenston (1930–1979), American R&B singer and saxophonist, (Clarksdale)
- Big Bill Broonzy (1898–1958), blues singer-songwriter and guitarist, (Scott County)
- Eddie "Bongo" Brown (1932–1984), percussionist, (Clarksdale)
- Jimmy Buffett (born 1946), multi-genre singer-songwriter, (Pascagoula)
- R. L. Burnside (1926–2005), blues singer-songwriter, (Harmontown)
- Jerry Butler (born 1939), soul singer-songwriter, (Sunflower)
- Cadillac Don & J-Money, rap duo, (Crawford)
- G. C. Cameron (born 1945), soul and R&B singer, (Jackson)
- Ace Cannon (born 1934), tenor and alto saxophonist, (Grenada)
- Gus Cannon (1883–1979), jug band musician, (Red Banks)
- Bo Carter (1893–1964), blues singer, (Bolton)
- Johnny Carver (born 1940), country singer, (Jackson)
- The Chambers Brothers, soul music group, (Lee County)
- Sam Chatmon (1897–1983), blues singer, brother of Bo Carter, (Bolton)
- Otis Clay (born 1942), R&B and soul musician, (Waxhaw)
- Chalmers Clifton (1889–1966), conductor and composer, (Jackson)
- Odia Coates (1942–1991), singer, (Vicksburg)
- Hank Cochran (born 1935), country music singer-songwriter, (Isola)
- Bill Coday (1942–2008), singer, (Coldwater)
- Phil Cohran (born 1927), jazz musician, (Oxford)
- Colour Revolt, indie rock band, (Oxford)
- Mike Compton (born 1956), bluegrass mandolin player, (Meridian)
- David L. Cook (born 1968), Christian country music singer-songwriter, (Pascagoula)
- Sam Cooke (1931–1964), (Clarksdale)
- The Cook Family Singers, Christian country music group, (Pascagoula)
- The Cooters, punk metal band, (Oxford)
- James Cotton (born 1935), blues harmonica player and singer-songwriter, (Tunica)
- Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup (1905–1974), Delta blues singer and guitarist, (Forest)
- George Cummings (born 1938), guitarist and songwriter, (Meridian)
- Olu Dara (born 1941), jazz musician, (Natchez)
- Lester Davenport (1932–2009), American blues harmonica player and singer, (Tchula)
- Paul Davis (1948–2008), singer-songwriter, (Meridian)
- Jimmy Dawkins (born 1936), blues guitarist and singer, (Tchula)
- Al Denson (born 1960), contemporary Christian artist, (Starkville)
- Bo Diddley (1928–2008), rock & roll/R&B singer-songwriter, (McComb)
- Willie Dixon (1915–1992), blues bassist/singer-ongwriter/record producer, (Vicksburg)
- Nate Dogg (born 1969), West Coast Hip Hop and R&B artist, (Clarksdale)
- Kevin Dukes (born 1956), guitarist, (Brookhaven)
- Omar Kent Dykes (born 1950), blues guitarist and singer, (McComb)
- Judy Dunaway (born 1964), avant-garde composer/free improvisor/conceptual sound artist
- Meredith Edwards (born 1984), country singer, (Clinton)
- Lehman Engel (1910–1982), composer and conductor, (Jackson)
- Shelly Fairchild (born 1977), country music artist, (Clinton)
- Charlie Feathers (1932–1998), (Holly Springs)
- Five Blind Boys of Mississippi, gospel singers, (Piney Woods)
- Steve Forbert (born 1955), pop music singer-songwriter, (Meridian)
- Barbara Siggers Franklin (1917–1952), gospel singer and mother of Aretha Franklin, (Shelby)
- Lee Garrett, R&B singer-songwriter
- Eric "Red Mouth" Gebhardt, multi-genre singer-songwriter, (Biloxi)
- Bobbie Gentry (born 1944), singer-songwriter, (Greenwood)
- Mickey Gilley (born 1936), country singer and musician, (Natchez)
- Mark Gray (born 1952), country music singer and keyboardist, (Vicksburg
- Garland Green (born 1942), soul singer and pianist, (Dunleith)
- Lloyd Green (born 1937), country music steel guitarist, (Leaf)
- Ted Hawkins (born 1936), singer and songwriter, (Biloxi)
- Kenneth Haxton (1919–2002), composer, (Greenville)
- Jessie Mae Hemphill (1923–2006), blues musician, (Como)
- Caroline Herring, bluegrass musician, (Canton)
- Michael Henderson (born 1951), bass guitarist, R&B singer (Yazoo City)
- Faith Hill (born 1967), country/pop singer, (Jackson)
- Kim Hill (born 1963), Christian singer-songwriter, (Starkville)
- Ernie Hines (born 1938), soul musician
- Milt Hinton (1910–2000), jazz double bassist, (Vicksburg)
- John Lee Hooker (1917–2001), singer-songwriter and blues guitarist, (Clarksdale)
- Big Walter Horton (1917–1981), blues harmonica player, (Horn Lake)
- Son House (1902–1988), blues singer and guitarist, (Riverton)
- Randy Houser (born 1975), country music artist, (Lake)
- Thelma Houston (born 1943), R&B singer-songwriter, (Leland)
- Guy Hovis (born 1941), big band singer, (Tupelo)
- Cary Hudson, lead singer and guitarist for alternative country band Blue Mountain, (Sumrall)
- Mississippi John Hurt (c.1893–1966), country blues singer and guitarist, (Teoc)
- Clifton Hyde (born 1976), multi-instrumentalist and producer, (Hattiesburg)
- Carl Jackson (born 1953), country and bluegrass musician, (Louisville)
- Elmore James (1918–1963), blues guitarist and singer-songwriter, (Richland)
- Skip James (1902–1969), Delta blues guitarist/pianist/singer-songwriter, (Bentonia)
- Roosevelt Jamison (born 1936), songwriter/publicist, (Olive Branch)
- Jai Johanny "Jaimoe" Johanson (born 1944), drummer in The Allman Brothers Band, (Ocean Springs)
- Big Jack Johnson (born 1940), blues musician, (Clarksdale)
- Jimmy Johnson (born 1928), blues guitarist and singer, (Holly Springs)
- Robert Johnson (1911–1938), blues and Delta blues musician, (Hazlehurst)
- Syl Johnson (born 1936), blues and soul singer, (Holly Springs)
- Margie Joseph (born 1950), R&B and soul singer, (Pascagoula)
- Junior Kimbrough (1930–1998), blues artist, (Hudsonville)
- Albert King (1923–1992), blues guitarist and singer, (Indianola)
- B. B. King (born 1925), blues guitarist and singer-songwriter, (Itta Bena)
- Fern Kinney, rhythm & blues and disco music entertainer, (Jackson)
- Kudzu Kings, band, (Oxford)
- Fred Knoblock (born 1953), country singer-songwriter, (Jackson)
- Sonny Landreth (born 1951), blues musician and slide guitar player, (Canton)
- Denise LaSalle (born 1939), urban contemporary and contemporary R&B singer-songwriter/record producer, (Belzoni)
- Rick Lawson (born 1973), soul and R&B singer, (Raymond)
- Chris LeDoux (1948–2005), country music singer-songwriter, (Biloxi)
- Mylon LeFevre (born 1944), gospel and Christian rock singer, (Gulfport)
- J. B. Lenoir (1929–1967), guitarist and singer-songwriter, (Monticello)
- Robert "Squirrel" Lester (born 1942), second tenor of The Chi-Lites, (McComb)
- Bobby Lounge (born 1950), singer-songwriter, (McComb)
- Tommy McClennan (1908–c.1962), Delta blues singer and guitarist, (Yazoo City)
- George McConnell, guitarist, (Vicksburg)
- Kansas Joe McCoy (1905–1950), blues musician and songwriter, (Raymond)
- Papa Charlie McCoy (1909–1950), Delta blues musician and songwriter, (Jackson)
- Fred McDowell (1904–1972), blues singer and guitarist, (Como)
- Mulgrew Miller (born 1955), jazz pianist, (Greenwood)
- Little Milton (1934–2005), blues and soul vocalist and guitarist, (Inverness)
- Hoyt Ming, old-time fiddler, (Choctaw County)
- Mississippi Mass Choir, gospel choir, (Jackson)
- Mississippi Slim (born 1923), country singer and guitarist, (Smithville)
- Monkey Joe, blues musician, (Jackson)
- Dorothy Moore (born 1947), pop/R&B/gospel singer, (Jackson)
- Charlie Musselwhite (born 1944), blues-harp player and bandleader, (Kosciusko)
- Bill Myrick (born 1926), country singer/musician/writer/producer/disc jockey, (Simpson County)
- North Mississippi Allstars, blues-rock/jam band, (Hernando)
- Brandy Norwood (born 1979), R&B singer-songwriter/record producer, (McComb)
- Willie Norwood (born 1955), gospel singer, (McComb)
- Ray J (born 1981), contemporary R&B and hip hop singer/record producer, (McComb)
- Alexander O'Neal (born 1953), soul singer, (Natchez)
- Paul Overstreet (born 1955), country music singer-songwriter, (Newton)
- Ginny Owens, blind contemporary Christian music singer-songwriter, (Jackson)
- Junior Parker (1932–1971), Memphis blues singer and musician, (Clarksdale)
- Michael Passons (born 1965), founding member of the Christian band Avalon, (Yazoo City)
- Charley Patton (1891–1934), Delta-/Country-/Gospel blues musician, (Edwards)
- Dion Payton (born 1950), blues guitarist and singer, (Greenwood)
- Elvis Presley (1935–1977), multi-genre musician, (Tupelo)
- Leontyne Price (born 1927), opera singer, (Laurel)
- Charley Pride (born 1938), country music singer, (Sledge)
- John Primer (born 1945), blues singer and guitarist, (Camden)
- Stephen Purdy (born 1970), conductor/pianist and vocal coach for broadway musicals and broadway actors, (Hattiesburg)
- Jimmy Reed (1925–1976), blues singer and musician, (Dunleith)
- Del Rendon (1965–2005), country musician, (Starkville)
- Mack Rice (born 1933), songwriter, (Clarksdale)
- LeAnn Rimes (born 1982), country and pop singer, (Pearl)
- Fenton Robinson (born 1935), blues musician, (Greenwood)
- Jimmie Rodgers (1897–1933), country singer, (Meridian)
- Jimmy Rogers (1924–1997), blues signer and guitarist, (Ruleville)
- David Ruffin (1941–1991), former lead singer of The Temptations, (Whynot)
- Jimmy Ruffin (born 1939), soul and R&B singer, (Collinsville)
- Bobby Rush (born 1940), blues and R&B musician/composer/singer, (Jackson)
- Otis Rush (born 1935), blues musician, (Philadelphia)
- Oliver Sain (1932–2003), saxophonist/drummer/songwriter/record producer, (Dundee)
- Magic Sam (1937–1969), Chicago blues and soul blues musician, (Grenada)
- Jeff Savage, Grammy/Dove winning pop producer and songwriter/film composer, (Clinton)
- Scott Savage, drummer for Christian rock band Jars of Clay, (Clinton)
- Saving Abel, rock band, (Corinth)
- Johnny Sea (born 1940), country singer, (Gulfport)
- Toni Seawright (born 1964), singer-songwriter, (Pascagoula)
- Jumpin' Gene Simmons (1933–2006), rockabilly singer, (Tupelo)
- Byther Smith (born 1933), blues musician, (Monticello)
- Soulja Boy (born 1990), rapper/record producer, (Batesville, Mississippi)
- Otis Spann (1930–1970), blues musician, (Jackson)
- Britney Spears (born 1981), pop singer, (McComb)
- Judson Spence (born 1965), songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, (Pascagoula)
- Roebuck "Pop" Staples (1914–2000), founder of The Staple Singers, (Winona)
- Rogers Stevens (born 1970), guitarist for the band Blind Melon, (West Point)
- Lisa Stewart (born 1968), country musician, (Louisville)
- William Grant Still (1895–1978), classical composer, (Woodville)
- Barrett Strong (born 1941), singer and songwriter, (West Point)
- Marty Stuart (born 1958), country music singer, (Philadelphia)
- Hubert Sumlin (born 1931), blues musician, (Greenwood)
- Deanna Summers, songwriter
- Ty Tabor (born 1961), guitarist/songwriter/vocalist for rock band King's X, (Pearl)
- Eddie Taylor (1923–1985), blues guitarist and singer, (Benoit)
- Hound Dog Taylor (1915–1975), blues guitarist and singer, (Natchez)
- Melvin Taylor (born 1959), blues musician, (Jackson, Mississippi)
- Ernie Terrell (born 1939), singer and record producer, (Belzoni)
- Jean Terrell (born 1944), R&B and jazz singer, (Belzoni)
- James "Son" Thomas (1926–1993), blues musician, (Leland)
- Rufus Thomas (1917–2001), R&B/funk/soul singer, (Cayce)
- Ashley Thompson (born 1980), singer, (Booneville)
- Ike Turner (1931–2007), multi-genre musician/record producer, (Clarksdale)
- Conway Twitty (1933–1993), country singer-songwriter, (Friars Point)
- Freddie Waits (1943–1989), hard bop and post-bop drummer, (Jackson)
- Travis Wammack (born 1944), rock and roll guitarist, (Walnut)
- Walter Ward (born 1940), R&B singer and lead vocalist of The Olympics, (Jackson)
- Muddy Waters (1913–1983), Electric blues and Chicago blues musician, (Rolling Fork)
- Jim Weatherly (born 1943), country and pop singer-songwriter, (Pontotoc)
- Carl Weathersby (born 1953), blues vocalist/guitarist/songwriter, (Jackson)
- Bukka White (1909–1977), Delta blues guitarist and singer, (Houston)
- Carson Whitsett (1945–2007), keyboardist and songwriter, (Jackson)
- Tim Whitsett (born 1943), band leader/songwriter/producer, (Jackson)
- Webb Wilder (born 1954), country/surf music/rock & roll musician, (Hattiesburg)
- Big Joe Williams (1903–1982), Delta blues musician and songwriter, (Crawford)
- Hayley Williams (born 1988), pop punk and alternative rock singer-songwriter, (Meridian)
- Sonny Boy Williamson II (died 1965), blues harmonica player and singer-songwriter, (Glendora)
- Eddie Willis (born 1936), electric guitarist, (Grenada)
- Al Wilson (1939–2008), singer and drummer, (Meridian)
- Cassandra Wilson (born 1955), jazz singer-songwriter, (Jackson)
- Mary Wilson (born 1944), singer and founding member of The Supremes, (Greenville)
- Elder Roma Wilson (born 1910), harmonica player, (Blue Springs)
- Howlin' Wolf (1910–1976), blues singer/guitarist/harmonica player, (West Point)
- Tammy Wynette (1942–1998), country music singer-songwriter, (Tremont)
- Lester Young (1909–1959), jazz tenor saxophonist and clarinetist, (Woodville)
- Zora Young (born 1948), blues singer, (West Point)
Physicians
- Blair E. Batson, chairman of pediatrics at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and namesake of the Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children, (Jackson)
- Henry Cloud (born 1956), clinical psychologist, (Vicksburg)
- Arthur Guyton (1919–2003), wrote the Textbook of Medical Physiology, (Oxford)
- John Hall, continues to work on Textbook of Medical Physiology
- James Hardy (1918–2003), surgeon who performed the first successful cadaveric lung transplant, (Jackson)
- T. R. M. Howard (1908–1976), surgeon and activist, (Mound Bayou)
- Thomas Naum James (born 1925), cardiologist, (Amory)
Politicians
- Thomas Abernethy (1903–1998), U.S. representative, (Eupora)
- Robert H. Adams (1792–1830), U.S. senator, (Natchez)
- James L. Alcorn (1816–1894), governor and U.S. senator, (Friars Point)
- William Allain (born 1928), governor, (Washington)
- John Mills Allen (1846–1917), U.S. representative, (Tishomingo County)
- Apuckshunubbee (c.1740–1824), Choctaw chief
- Haley Barbour (born 1947), governor, (Yazoo City)
- Ethelbert Barksdale (1824–1893), U.S. representative and member of the Confederate States Congress, (Jackson)
- William Barksdale (1821–1863), U.S. congressman, (Jackson)
- Ross Barnett (1898–1987), governor, (Standing Pine)
- Cheri Barry (born c.1955), mayor, (Meridian)
- Marion Barry (born 1936), Washington, D.C. mayor, (Itta Bena)
- Theodore G. Bilbo (1877–1947), governor and U.S. senator, (Poplarville)
- Marsha Blackburn (born 1952), U.S. representative from Tennessee, (Laurel)
- Hale Boggs (1914–1972), U.S. representative from Louisiana, House majority leader, (Long Beach)
- David R. Bowen (born 1932), U.S. representative, (Houston)
- Walker Brooke (1813–1869), U.S. senator, (Vicksburg)
- Blanche Bruce (1841–1898), U.S. senator
- Ezekiel S. Candler, Jr. (1862–1944), U.S. representative, (Corinth)
- Joseph W. Chalmers (1806–1853), U.S. senator, (Holly Springs)
- Travis Childers (born 1958), U.S. representative, (Booneville)
- John Claiborne (1809–1884), U.S. representative, (Natchez)
- Robert G. Clark, Jr. (born 1928), first African American state representative since Reconstruction
- Thad Cochran (born 1937), U.S. senator, (Pontotoc)
- James P. Coleman (1914–1991), governor, (Ackerman)
- Jacqueline Y. Collins (born 1949), Illinois state senator, (McComb)
- Ross A. Collins (1880–1968), U.S. representative, (Collinsville)
- William M. Colmer (1890–1980), U.S. representative, (Moss Point)
- Greg Davis (born 1966), mayor, (Southaven)
- Jefferson Davis (1808–1889), U.S. senator and president of the Confederate States of America, (Warren County)
- Wayne Dowdy (born 1943), chairman of the Mississippi Democratic Party, (Magnolia)
- Brad Dye (born 1933), lieutenant governor, (Charleston)
- James Eastland (1904–1986), U.S. senator, (Sunflower)
- Mike Espy (born 1953), U.S. secretary of agriculture, (Yazoo City)
- Robert C. Farrell (born 1936), Los Angeles city councilman, (Natchez)
- Erik R. Fleming (born 1965), state representative, (Clinton)
- Kirk Fordice (1934–2004), governor, (Vicksburg)
- Webb Franklin (born 1941), U.S. representative, (Greenwood)
- Evelyn Gandy (1920–2007), lieutenant governor, (Hattiesburg)
- James Z. George (1826–1897), U.S. senator, (Carrollton)
- Charles H. Griffin (1926–1989), U.S. representative, (Utica)
- Gregg Harper (born 1956), U.S. representative, (Jackson)
- Pat Harrison (1881–1941), U.S. representative, (Crystal Springs)
- Patrick Henry (1843–1930), U.S. representative, (Brandon)
- Thomas C. Hindman (1828–1868), U.S. representative from Arkansas, (Ripley)
- Jon Hinson (1942–1995), U.S. representative, (Tylertown)
- David Holmes (1769–1832), first Governor of Mississippi
- Jim Hood, Attorney General of Mississippi, (New Houlka)
- Delbert Hosemann (born 1947), Mississippi secretary of state, (Vicksburg)
- Benjamin G. Humphreys (1808–1882), governor, (Claiborne County)
- Benjamin G. Humphreys II (1865–1923), U.S. representative, (Claiborne County)
- William Y. Humphreys (1890–1933), U.S. representative, (Greenville)
- Paul B. Johnson, Sr. (1880–1943), judge/governor, (Hattiesburg)
- Paul B. Johnson, Jr. (1916–1985), governor, (Hattiesburg)
- Pete Johnson (born 1948), state auditor, co-chair of Delta Regional Authority, (Clarksdale)
- Daryl Jones (born 1955), (Jackson)
- Penne Percy Korth (born 1942), diplomat, (Hattiesburg)
- L.Q.C. Lamar (1825–1893), U.S. senator and supreme court justice, (Oxford)
- Greenwood LeFlore (1800–1865), Choctaw chief, state senator
- Clinton LeSueur (born 1969), (Holly Springs)
- Elmer Litchfield (1927–2008), sheriff of East Baton Rouge Parish in Louisiana, (Meridian)
- Mamie Locke (born 1954), Virginia state senator, (Brandon)
- Trent Lott (born 1941), U.S. senator, (Grenada)
- John R. Lynch (1847–1939), first African-American speaker of the Mississippi House, U.S. representative, (Natchez)
- Ray Mabus (born 1948), governor and Secretary of the Navy, (Starkville)
- Harlan Majure (born 1929), mayor of Philadelphia, Mississippi, (Meridian)
- Glenn McCullough (born 1954), mayor of Tupelo, (Tupelo)
- Chris McDaniel (born 1971), state senator, (Laurel)
- Hernando Money (1839–1912), U.S. senator, (Carrollton)
- "Sonny" Montgomery (1920–2006), U.S. representative, (Meridian)
- Mike Moore (born 1952), Mississippi attorney general, (Pascagoula)
- Ronnie Musgrove (born 1956), governor, (Tocowa)
- Spencer Myrick (1918–1991), Louisiana legislator, (Simpson County)
- Alan Nunnelee (born 1958), state senator, (Tupelo)
- Chip Pickering (born 1963), U.S. representative, (Laurel)
- John E. Rankin (1882–1960), U.S. representative, (Itawamba County)
- Red Shoes (died 1747), assassinated Choctaw leader
- Bill Renick (born 1954), mayor, governor's chief of staff (Ashland)
- Hiram Rhodes Revels (1827–1901), first African-American U.S. senator, (Claiborne County)
- Carol Schwartz (born 1944), District of Columbia politician, (Greenville)
- Abram M. Scott (1785–1833), governor, (Wilkinson County)
- Ronnie Shows (born 1947), U.S. representative, (Moselle)
- Jim Singleton (born 1931), New Orleans councilman (Hazlehurst)
- Larkin I. Smith (1944–1989), U.S. representative, (Poplarville)
- Larry Speakes (born 1939), presidential spokesman, (Cleveland)
- John C. Stennis (1901–1995), U.S. senator, (De Kalb)
- Bill Stone (born 1965), state senator, (Ashland)
- William V. Sullivan (1857–1918), U.S. representative and senator, (Winona)
- Gene Taylor (born 1953), U.S. representative, (Bay St. Louis)
- Bennie Thompson (born 1948), U.S. representative, (Bolton)
- Jacob Thompson (1810–1885), U.S. representative, secretary of the interior, (Oxford)
- Amy Tuck (born 1963), lieutenant governor, (Maben)
- James K. Vardaman (1861–1930), governor, U.S. Senator, (Yalobusha County)
- Jamie L. Whitten (1910–1995), U.S. representative, (Cascilla)
- Roger Wicker (born 1951), U.S. senator, (Pontotoc)
- Thomas Hickman Williams (1801–1851), U.S. senator, (Pontotoc County)
- William Arthur Winstead (1904–1995), U.S. representative, (Philadelphia)
- William Winter (born 1923), governor, (Grenada)
- Fielding L. Wright (1895–1956), governor, (Rolling Fork)
Supercentenarians
- Susie Gibson (1890–2006), lived 115 years & 108 days, (Corinth)
- Moses Hardy (1893/1894–2006), lived 112 to 113 years, (Aberdeen)
- Bettie Wilson (1890–2006), lived 115 years & 153 days
Writers
- Howard Bahr (born 1946), (Jackson)
- Frederick Barthelme (born 1943), novelist and professor, (Hattiesburg)
- Earl W. Bascom (1906–1995), (Columbia)
- Lerone Bennett, Jr. (born 1928), editor of Ebony magazine, (Clarksdale)
- Douglas A. Blackmon (born 1964), journalist and historian, (Leland)
- Maxwell Bodenheim (1892–1954), poet and novelist, (Hermanville)
- Bruce Brady (1934?–2000), writer, editor of Outdoor Life, (Brookhaven)
- Charlie Braxton, poet and author, (McComb)
- Larry Brown (1951–2004), (Oxford)
- Jill Conner Browne, author Sweet Potato Queen, (Tupelo)
- Jack Butler (born 1944), (Alligator)
- Mary Cain (1904–1984), journalist, (Pike County)
- Hodding Carter II (1907–1972), journalist, (Greenville)
- Hodding Carter III (born 1935), journalist, (Greenville)
- Craig Claiborne (1920–2000), food writer, (Sunflower)
- Mart Crowley (born 1935), playwright, (Vicksburg)
- Borden Deal (1922–1985), novelist and short story writer, (Pontotoc)
- Ben Domenech (born 1981), conservative writer and blogger, (Jackson)
- David Herbert Donald (1920–2009), historian, (Goodman)
- Ellen Douglas (Josephine Haxton) (born 1921), novelist, (Greenville)
- John T. Edge, food writer, (Oxford)
- John Faulkner (1901–1963), plain-style writer, (Ripley)
- William Faulkner (1897–1962), Nobel laureate, (New Albany)
- Bill Fitzhugh (born 1957), (Jackson)
- Vic Fleming (born 1951), (Jackson)
- Shelby Foote (1916–2005), historian and novelist, (Greenville)
- Charles Henri Ford (1913–2002), poet, novelist, editor (Brookhaven)
- Richard Ford (born 1944), Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist and short story writer, (Jackson)
- Lynn Franklin (born 1922), author, police detective
- Ellen Gilchrist (born 1935), novelist/poet/short story writer, (Vicksburg)
- John Grisham (born 1955), legal thrillers novelist, (Southaven)
- Barry Hannah (born 1942), novelist and short story writer, (Clinton)
- Charlaine Harris (born 1951), mystery author, (Tunica)
- Thomas Harris (born 1940), author who created the character Hannibal Lecter, (Rich)
- Beth Henley (born 1952), playwright and screenwriter, (Jackson)
- M. Carl Holman (1919–1988), author/poet/playwright, (Minter City)
- Greg Iles (born 1960), novelist, (Natchez)
- Greg Keyes (born 1963), science fiction and fantasy writer, (Meridian)
- Donna Ladd (born 1961), investigative journalist, (Philadelphia)
- Muna Lee (1895–1965), author and poet, (Raymond)
- Sam Chu Lin (1939–2006), journalist, (Greenville)
- C. Liegh McInnis (born 1969), poet/short story writer/editor of Black Magnolias (Clarksdale)
- Anne Moody (born 1940), author, activist, (Centreville)
- Willie Morris (1934–1999), author, editor (Jackson)
- Jess Mowry (born 1960), writer of books and stories for children and young adults, (Starkville)
- Thomas Naylor (born 1936), author and economist, (Jackson)
- Lewis Nordan (born 1939), (Forest)
- Steven Ozment (born 1939), historian, (McComb)
- Walker Percy (1916–1990), (Greenville)
- William Alexander Percy (1885–1942), (Greenville)
- William Raspberry (born 1935), public affairs columnist, (Okolona)
- Kevin Sessums (born 1956), magazine editor, (Forest)
- Patrick D. Smith (born 1927), Pulitzer Prize and Nobel Prize nominee, (Mendenhall)
- Lynne Spears (born 1955), author and mother of Britney Spears and Jamie Lynn Spears, (McComb)
- Elizabeth Spencer (born 1921), novelist, (Carrollton)
- Kathryn Stockett, novelist, (Jackson)
- William N. Still, Jr. (born 1932), maritime historian, (Columbus)
- Donna Tartt (born 1963), novelist, (Greenwood)
- Clifton Taulbert (born 1945), author and speaker, (Glen Allan)
- Mildred Taylor (born 1943), author, (Jackson)
- Wright Thompson (born 1977), journalist, ESPN.com
- Natasha Trethewey (born 1966), 2007 Pulitzer Prize poet, (Gulfport)
- Jamie Langston Turner (born 1949), Christian novelist
- Brenda Venus (born 1947), author, (Biloxi)
- Howard Waldrop (born 1946), science fiction author, (Houston)
- Robert W. Walker, novelist, (Corinth)
- Peggy Webb (born 1942), romance novel author, (Mooreville)
- Eudora Welty (1909–2001), (Jackson)
- Tennessee Williams (1911–1983), (Columbus)
- Richard Nathaniel Wright (1908–1960), (Roxie)
- Al Young (born 1939), poet/novelist/essayist/screenwriter, (Ocean Springs)
- Stark Young (1881–1963), playwright/novelist/literary critic/essayist, (Como)
Other people
- Arthur Blessitt (born 1940), preacher, most famous for carrying a cross through every nation of the world, (Greenville)
- Miriam Chamani (born 1943), Mambo Priestess and co-founder of the New Orleans Voodoo Spiritual Temple, (Jackson)
- James Copeland (1823–1857), outlaw and co-leader of the Wages and Copeland Clan, (Jackson County)
- Cat Cora (born 1967), only female Iron Chef America in franchise history, (Jackson)
- James A. Ford (1911–1968), archaeologist, (Water Valley)
- Fred Haise (born 1933), former NASA astronaut, (Biloxi)
- Elizabeth Lee Hazen (1885–1975), microbiologist who contribution in the developement of nystatin, (Rich)
- Larry Hoover (born 1950), leader of the Gangster Disciple Nation gang, (Jackson)
- Leslie Hubricht (1908–2005), biologist and malacologist, (Meridian)
- Mary Comfort Leonard (1856–1940), founder of the Delta Gamma Fraternity, (Kosciusko)
- L.H. Musgrove (died 1868), outlaw hanged by a vigilante committee in Denver, Colorado, (Panola County)
- Haller Nutt (1816–1864), planter, builder of Longwood, (Jefferson County)
- Lenny Skutnik (born 1953), celebrity rescuer of 1982 disaster victim
- Roy A. Tucker (born 1951), astronomer, (Jackson)
References
- Jackson Free Press: How to Start a Movement
- Jackson Free Press: Breaking Out
- Jackson Free Press' Jackpedia: Knol Aust
- Local People by John Dittmer, retrieved on 2009-08-08
- Southern Echo: Dianna Freelon-Foster
- "Inventory of the Ed King Collection". Retrieved 2009-06-20.
- Dallas Voice retrieved 2009-08-09
- "Profile for Rick Anderson". Retrieved 2008-07-27.
- The Meridian Star newspaper: Backstage Pass: Meridian Museum of Art Around Mississippi 2008
- "William N. Beckwith: biography". Retrieved 2009-05-02.
- University of Mississippi: Notable alumni in Art
- Mississippi Public Broadcasting: MPB-TV provides LIVE broadcast of 2006 Cellular South Conerly Trophy Presentation
- "Photographer reflects". Retrieved 2009-06-07.
- "Profile for William Dunlap". Retrieved 2008-07-27.
- University of Mississippi Dept. of Art Alumni: William Dunlap
- "Theora Hamblett". Retrieved 2009-05-01.
- EdMcGowin.com
- University Press of Mississippi: Ed McGowin
- "Ethel Wright Mohamed: biography". Retrieved 2009-05-01.
- Smithsonian Magazine: Mississippi Cultural Destinations
- "Profile for Ken Sessums". Retrieved 2008-07-27.
- "Sam Haskell: 'Promises I Made My Mother'". Retrieved 2009-06-20.
- "Kenneth Haxton: A Mississippi Musician and Writer". Retrieved 2009-06-20.
- "Profile for John Hall". Retrieved 2008-07-27.
- "James Hardy, Surgeon Who Paved Way for Transplants, Dies at 84". Retrieved 2009-06-20.
- "Bruce Brady Profile". Retrieved 2009-06-20.
- "AKR Author: Charlie Braxton". Retrieved 2009-01-16.
- "Ellen Douglas, Mississippi author". Retrieved 2009-06-20.
- "Bill Fitzhugh's Profile". Retrieved 2008-07-27.
- "Bill Fitzhugh, Mississippi writer from Jackson". Retrieved 2009-06-20.
