Eartha Kitt: The Most Exciting Woman in the World

What does it take to be the most exciting woman in the world? Beauty certainly doesn't hurt. A gift for singing, dancing and acting can help, too. How about a great sense of humor and a love for social justice? Add a seductive purr of a voice, mix well, and you've got , the performer once called "the most exciting woman in the world."

Dizzy Gillespie, Blow Your (Bent) Horn

It was Dizzy Gillespie's talent and innovative style that placed him in the ranks of the all-time greatest jazz musicians… but his distinctive look didn't hurt. The bulging cheeks are essential to Gillespie's image—even people who have never heard his music are likely to recognize a photo of him. And then there was his trumpet with its bell bent upward at a 45-degree angle.

Two Tasty Legacies

Food is becoming a frequently mentioned hobby or passion in today’s obituaries.

Eartha Kitt: Sex Symbol

When died five years ago at 81, her New York Times obituary called her "a seducer of audiences." One of the first widely known African-American sex symbols, Kitt purred—literally—whether on screen as Catwoman in the Batman television series or onstage singing "Santa Baby." Orson Welles once called her "the most exciting woman alive."

Voices of Support After the Charleston Shooting

Although atrocities such as the June 17 massacre of nine people in a historic Charleston, South Carolina, church shake us to our core, it gives us hope to see people coming together online, offering support and sympathy.

South Carolina Flood Victims

Days of torrential rains kept much of South Carolina and its capital gripped by floodwaters early Monday as emergency responders promised renewed door-to-door searches for anyone still trapped after a weekend deluge and hundreds of rescues, The Associated Press reported.

Pat Conroy (1945 - 2016), The Prince of Tides author

Author Pat Conroy, whose works include "The Prince of Tides" and "The Great Santini," died Friday evening, March 4, 2016, of pancreatic cancer, according to his publisher. He was 70.

Mose Allison (1927–2016), jazz and blues pianist

Mose Allison was a legendary blues and jazz pianist.

Remembering Charleston Church Shooting Victims

Gunshots shattered the peace of a prayer meeting June 17, 2015, when a shooter opened fire in a historic church in downtown Charleston, South Carolina, killing nine people.

John Blackwell Jr. (1973–2017), drummer with Prince

Acclaimed drummer played 12 years with superstar Prince.

Hurricane Irma Victims (2017)

As of Sept. 13, at least 58 people have died or are presumed dead in the wake of Hurricane Irma’s path through the Caribbean and landfall in Florida.

Bud Moore (1925–2017), NASCAR Hall of Famer

The World War II veteran was awarded five Purple Hearts.

Ernest Finney (1931–2017), South Carolina's first African-American chief justice

He was a prominent civil rights attorney before becoming chief justice…

South Carolina Amtrak Train Crash Victims (2018)

Two people died after an Amtrak train collided with a freight train…

Craig Mack (1970–2018), "Flava in Ya Ear" rapper

WALTERBORO, S.C. (AP) — Former rapper Craig Mack, best known for the platinum 1994 hit "Flava in Ya Ear" has died in South Carolina.

Hurricane Florence Victims (2018)

At least 37 people died as a result of Hurricane Florence, a dangerous tropical storm that made landfall in North Carolina in September 2018.

Hurricane Dorian Victims (2019)

At least fifty people have died from the storm.

Sam Wyche (1945–2019), head coach took Cincinnati Bengals to Super Bowl

Sam Wyche was the last head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals to take the team to the Super Bowl. Despite a high-powered offense, led by quarterback Boomer Esiason, the Bengals lost Super Bowl XXIII on a thrilling last-minute drive by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana. It was a cruel twist of fate for Wyche, who had previously coached Montana as part of the 49ers coaching staff that won Super Bowl XVI, coincidentally also against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Chadwick Boseman (1976–2020), star of Black Panther

Chadwick Boseman, the actor who starred as T'Challa in "Black Panther," Jackie Robinson in "42," and Thurgood Marshall in "Marshall," died at his home in Los Angeles, his family .

Roy Charles Hammond (2020), legendary soul singer

Roy Charles Hammond was a legendary soul singer known as Roy C. His best-known song was “Shotgun Wedding,” a top 20 R&B hit in 1965.   

Martha Lou Gadsden (1930–2021), Lowcountry soul food icon

Martha Lou Gadsden was the owner of the iconic Charleston, South Carolina soul food restaurant Martha Lou’s Kitchen.

Jim Bohannon (1944–2022), host of “The Jim Bohannon Show”

Jim Bohannon was a talk radio host best known for “The Jim Bohannon Show.”

University of Virginia shooting (2022)

Three students were killed, and two others were injured, in a shooting at the University of Virginia Sunday night.

Emily Meggett (1932–2023), renowned Gullah Geechee chef 

Emily Meggett was a chef who brought Gullah Geechee cuisine to a wide audience with her cookbook, “Gullah Geechee Home Cooking: Recipes from the Matriarch of Edisto Island.” 

Linda Haynes (1947–2023), Rolling Thunder star

Linda Haynes was an actress who starred in such movies as “Rolling Thunder,” “Coffy,” and “The Nickel Ride.”

Dorothy Casterline (1928–2023), deaf linguist and ASL advocate 

Dorothy Casterline was a deaf linguist and contributor to the Dictionary of American Sign Language (ASL) on Linguistic Principles whose innovative treatment of ASL as a distinct language led to greater mainstream acceptance.

Lt. Gen. Claudius “Bud” Watts III (1936–2023), past president of The Citadel 

Lt. Gen. Claudius “Bud” Watts III was a United States Air Force veteran who served as president of The Citadel, a military college in South Carolina, from 1989 to 1996.

Bertie Bowman (1931–2023), long-serving Congressional aide 

Bertie Bowman was a long-serving Congressional aide on Capitol Hill who got his start sweeping steps and ended his career as the longtime hearings manager for the Foreign Relations Committee.

Cale Yarborough (1939–2023), three-time NASCAR champion 

Cale Yarborough was a consecutive three-time NASCAR champion and one of the winningest racers in series history with 83 career victories.

Sandra Reaves-Phillips (1944–2023), Lean on Me actress and singer

Sandra Reaves-Phillips was an actress and singer for both stage and screen, and who appeared in such films as “Lean on Me” and “Round Midnight.” 

Roman Gabriel (1940–2024), Rams, Eagles quarterback 

Roman Gabriel was a quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles in the 1960s and ‘70s.

Maurice Williams (1938–2024), singer of Stay from Dirty Dancing

Maurice Williams was a singer and bandleader who fronted the group Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs, best known for their song “Stay,” featured in the film “Dirty Dancing.”

Ron Hale (1946–2024), longtime Ryan’s Hope, General Hospital actor

Ron Hale was an Emmy-nominated actor best known for his long tenure on the daytime soaps “Ryan’s Hope” and “General Hospital.” 

John Spratt (1942–2024), South Carolina congressman

John Spratt was a longtime member of the U.S. House of Representatives, a Democrat from South Carolina’s Fifth District.

Jesse Colin Young (1941–2025), Youngbloods frontman

Jesse Colin Young was the founder and frontman of the band the Youngbloods, best known for their enduring classic about peace, “Get Together,” originally written by Chet Powers.0