GREATNESS HAPPENS HERE
Famous Oxonians
From Abbeville, to Oxford, and from Harmontown to Taylor, the county has become a destination for young and old alike. Positioned between its fictionalized past as Yoknapatawpha County and the enduring reputation of the University of Mississippi, many residents and visitors believe that they know Lafayette County. Yet, even familiar places can hold a surprise or two.
Greatness Happens Here
Lafayette County, MS
This county has produced and nurtured great people, great art and great invention in the past. By all indications, the county’s predicted growth and expansion heralds its bright future. We invite you to learn more about our county on the remainder of this page because, indeed, “Greatness Happens Here!”
Greats born in Lafayette County
- Larry Brown, Lafayette County, author
- R.L. Burnside, Harmontown, bluesman
- Elizabeth Dollarhide, Writer, film producer, photographer
- Jennifer Gillom, Abbeville, Olympic Gold medalist, basketball coach
- Peggie Gillom-Granderson, Abbeville, Coach of Gold medal-winning Olympics team in 2000
- Olympics, WNBA and Lady Rebels Coach
- Dr. Arthur Guyton, Oxford, physician, inventor, textbook author
- Jimbo Mathus, Oxford, musician
- Angela McGlowan, Lafayette County, political commentator
- Sulton (a.k.a. Sultan) Rodgers, Lafayette County, artist
- Naomi Sims, Lafayette County, first Black supermodel, businesswoman and author
Greats raised in Lafayette County
- William Faulkner, Nobel Prize winner and author
- Stark Young, author and attorney
Greats who live here or have stayed a while!
- Joey Lauren Adams, actress
- Ace Atkins, author
- Howard Bahr, author
- William Beckwith, sculptor
- Jason Bouldin, artist
- Jane Rule Burdine, photographer and Mayor of Taylor
- Ellen Douglass, author
- William Dunlap, artist
- William Eggelston, artist
- Beth Ann Fennelly, author
- Ann Fisher-Wirth, author
- Richard Ford, author
- Tom Franklin, author
- Rev. Duncan Gray, civil rights activist
- John Grisham, author
- Theora Hamblett, folk artist
- Barry Hannah, author
- Sam Haskell, former worldwide head of the William Morris Agency
- Mary Donnelly Haskell, singer & actress
- L. Q. C. Lamar, statesman, U. S. Supreme Court justice
- Kate Jackson, actress
- Archie Manning, sports legend
- Eli Manning, professional football player
- Gerald McCraney, actor
- James Meredith, civil rights icon
- Mary Ann Mobley, First Miss Mississippi to win the Ms. America pageant, actress, singer
- Willie Morris, author
- Cynthia Shearer, author
- Larry Speakes, White House press secretary under Ronald Reagan
- Shepherd Smith, Fox News anchor
- Glennray Tutor, artist
