On July 30 a headstone will be dedicated at the grave of blues and gospel artist Jessie Mae Hemphill, who died on July 22, 2006, and was buried a week later on July 30.

Hemphill, who was born October 18, 1923, was best known as a blues guitarist, songwriter and vocalist, and in this capacity toured widely in Europe and won several W.C. Handy Awards for her recordings. For many years she also performed as drummer in fife and drum bands, a long-established musical tradition in her native north Mississippi. Her grandfather was Sid Hemphill, a multi-instrumentalist who was recorded by Alan Lomax for the Library of Congress.

The dedication ceremony will take place beginning at 4:45 pm at the Senatobia Memorial Cemetery, which is located on Highway 51 South in Senatobia. Reverend John Wilkins, the son of early blues and gospel recording artist Robert Wilkins, will lead a prayer service, after which attendees are invited to join in a group performance of Hemphill’s "Lord Help the Poor and Needy.”

The tombstone was donated in part by the Rodgers Funeral Home in Coldwater, Mississippi, with additional expenses provided by funds raised for funeral expenses following Hemphill’s death.

“By erecting this tombstone we wanted to publicly memorialize the important contributions to north Mississippi blues traditions made by Jessie Mae,” says Olga Wilhelmine Mathus, who founded the Jessie Mae Hemphill Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of north Mississippi music. “Her music was timeless, and we wanted to ensure that people can discover and learn about her music and the musical traditions of her family for generations to come."

Foundation named in honor of hill country blues legend Jessie Mae Hemphill.
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We are incredibly saddened by the loss of a dear friend and blues music legend, Jessie Mae Hemphill, who passed away Saturday, July 22 around 7pm. She was 83. Her music was an inspiration to music players and lovers around the world and will live on in the hearts of those who knew her and her art. We pray for her safe journey home.

The family of Jessie Mae Hemphill wishes to thank everyone for their love, phone calls, cards, flowers, emails, care, support, and especially their prayers during and following the life, illness, and passing of our loved one.

Jessie Mae Hemphill was laid to rest at Senatobia Memorial Cemetery, located on Hwy. 51 South. May she rest in peace. October 18, 1923 - July 22, 2006