Memphis is best known for soul and blues history, Beale Street energy, and a music legacy that still shapes American pop culture. It’s also a sports town with a loud identity and a deep bench of hometown stories. This countdown ranks the most notable Memphis-born names by national and international fame. The mix covers chart-topping music, Oscar-level acting, major sports careers, and a few figures who shaped law and civil rights far beyond Tennessee.
20) Mary Church Terrell (1863–1954)
Mary Church Terrell became a nationally important voice in civil rights and women’s rights. She helped shape early Black activism in the United States, including leadership work with major national…..