The Lady Chablis (March 11, 1957 – September 8, 2016), also known as The Grand Empress and The Doll, was an American actress, author and transgender club performer. Through exposure in the bestselling nonfiction book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and its 1997 film adaptation (in which she played herself), she became one of the first trans performers to be introduced to a wide audience.

Early life

Born in 1957, at Gadsden County Memorial Hospital, Chablis grew up in Quincy, Florida, and studied at Quincy Junior High School. after her mother, Desia Mae Ponder, Desia Mae had three children, each with different men. Chablis' half-siblings were brothers Jerome and John and sisters Lois and Cynthia. "My mom was going to have a baby and she miscarried. The baby's name was going to be La Quinta Chablis and she told me to take the name. I didn't even know what Chablis was." Known as the "Grand Empress", Chablis was a regular performer there until August 6, 2016, just before she was hospitalized.

She was a prominent character in John Berendt's best-selling 1994 book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, during her days working at The Pickup, at the corner of Bay Street and Abercorn Street. She left her job in a dispute over pay.

Chablis traveled the U.S. performing her show, The Doll Revue, at various venues and special events, such as gay pride gatherings. She also appeared on radio shows.

Chablis' autobiography Hiding My Candy: The Autobiography of the Grand Empress of Savannah was published by Pocket Books in 1996, a year before she played herself in the Clint Eastwood-directed movie adaptation of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, starring Kevin Spacey and John Cusack. The book was co-written by Theodore Bouloukos, and its introduction was written by John Berendt. It was dedicated to Auntie Katie Bell, who died the year book was published, and Miss Tina Devore.

The Lady Chablis was featured in the closing segment of the Savannah episode of Bizarre Foods America on The Travel Channel. She joined host Andrew Zimmern at several Savannah restaurants, including Elizabeth on 37th. In 2012, she was interviewed in Savannah on the local television and internet talk show MAMA Knows Best (season 2, episode 1). On April 19, 2013, Chablis performed for the grand opening of the short-lived Mama's Cabaret in Lewiston, Maine, with "MAMA" Savannah Georgia.

Awards and titles

In her early career as an entertainer, under the name Brenda Dale Knox, she won multiple titles in drag pageantry, including:

  • Miss Dixieland, 1976
  • Miss Gay World, 1976
  • The Grand Empress of Savannah, 1977
  • Miss Sweetheart International, 1989
  • Empress of Atlanta, 1996
  • Miss Cosmo USA, 1997
  • Miss Garden City, 1997
  • Miss Atlanta Universe, 1998
  • Miss Georgia National, 1998
  • Miss Southern States USA, 1998

Autobiography

Filmography

  • This Old House: The Savannah House Part 4 (1996) as Herself
  • Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997) as Chablis Deveau (credited as Lady Chablis)
  • Midnight in Savannah (1997, TV documentary) as Herself
  • Partners (1999, TV movie) as Beverly
  • Damn Good Dog (2004, video documentary) as Herself
  • Bizarre Foods America: Savannah (2012) as Herself
  • Real Housewives of Atlanta (2013) as Herself

Personal life

Chablis said she did not want any label except her name, "The Lady Chablis", and said she found it hurtful when people called her a "drag queen". In her book Hiding My Candy, Chablis said she had not undergone sex reassignment surgery.

Death

The Lady Chablis died in 2016 from Pneumocystis pneumonia, aged 59,

On November 5, a special screening of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil was shown at Savannah's Lucas Theatre for the Arts, with a tribute to Chablis beforehand. A few of Chablis' gowns were on display in the theatre's lobby. Jerry Spence, the former hairdresser who appeared in both the book and movie, was in attendance. A reception was held at Club One after the memorial service and, after the movie screening, Club One Cabaret held two Lady Chablis tribute shows.

Tributes

Upon news of her death, several of Chablis' former co-stars made tributes to her. Paul Hipp, alongside whom she appeared in the movie adaptation of Midnight in the Garden, said: "So sad to hear of The Lady Chablis' passing. She was super talented, kind, and laugh out loud funny. She was a true transgender pioneer, way ahead of her time (in the Deep South, no less)." Chablis was impersonated on the second episode of Season 7 of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars by drag queen Jaida Essence Hall.

References

  • The Lady Chablis' memorial page at Club One
  • The Lady Chablis Photos