Share Lady's life story with friends and family. Love you. Chablis could be playful and ironic, but she had a tough inner core. She would go on to perform, donate and contribute to many LGBT charities throughout her career. May you rest in peace....You will be missed my many! “She was Club One’s very first entertainer, officiating our grand opening in 1988, and paving the way for female impersonation in Savannah,” the venue said in their statement. Plant a tree to honor the memory of your loved one. Coyote Ugly Turns 20: Where Is the Cast Now? “I don’t know what it’s like to be a woman and I don’t try to be a woman,” she told Kim Wade. 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. She'll be remembered for her outrageous profanity-laced spontaneity and for being one of the first up-front transsexual personalities to be accepted by a wide audience. A reception will following at Club One located 1 Jefferson Street, Savannah GA 31401. I know I'll see you in Heaven someday. You will be greatly missed. Published in Savannah Morning News on Oct. 7, 2016. “The legacy that she wanted to leave was one of ‘believe in who you are and never let the world change who you are,’ ” her sister, Cynthia Ponder, told the AP. "Don't be fooled by this dress I'm wearing," she'd say with a hint of danger in her voice. In 1996, she released her autobiography “Hiding My Candy,” dubbed by her publisher as a cross between The Color Purple and Cinderella. The Lady Chablis -SAVANNAH - Due to Hurricane Matthew, The Lady CHABLIS' Memorial Service has been postponed until Saturday, November 5, 2016 from 4:00 P.M.-6:00 P.M. at the Lucas Theatre located 32 Abercorn Street in downtown Savannah. She insisted to USA Today that she would play herself in the movie - or there would not be one. In 1997, Chablis made her big screen debut, portraying herself in the Clint Eastwood-helmed film adaptation of Midnight, which also starred John Cusack, Kevin Spacey and Jude Law. © 2020 Adams Funeral Services, Inc.. All Rights Reserved. The Lady Chablis rose to stardom in the 1997 film adaptation of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Please allow 24 hours for your entry to be reviewed for appropriate content. Order Flowers, Cards and Sign the Guestbook using the links on our website: www.AdamsFuneralServicesInc.com Savannah Morning News September 9, 2016. The Lady Chablis -SAVANNAH - Due to Hurricane Matthew, The Lady CHABLIS' Memorial Service has been postponed until Saturday, November 5, 2016 from … ", Order Flowers, Cards and Sign the Guestbook using the links on our website: www.AdamsFuneralServicesInc.com. “At that time, transsexuals weren’t that well known and weren’t that well understood,” he explained. Goodbye Miss Chablis and thank you for all the joy and laughter you have given us. “Chablis always wanted to give the audience, be it 15 or 1500, the best that she had,” the club said. Ms. Brenda Dale Knox "The Lady Chablis", 59, had her transition on Thursday, September 8, 2016 at Candler Hospital surrounded by her loving family. Funeral Home website by. Too young for sure. She was the headlining entertainer for Savannah Pride’s inaugural celebration, and hosted their Miss Gay Pride Pageant. “With her declining health, she regretted that her body wouldn’t allow her to give more.”. The Lady Chablis -SAVANNAH - Brenda Dale Knox better known as The Lady Chablis, 59, had her transition on Thursday, September 8, 2016 at Candler Hospital surrounded by her loving family. Get email updates about Lady Chablis delivered directly to your inbox. The Lady Chablis -SAVANNAH - Brenda Dale Knox better known as The Lady Chablis, 59, had her transition on Thursday, September 8, 2016 at Candler Hospital surrounded by her loving family. No one, however, could outshine the Grand Empress herself. She was Club One’s very first entertainer, officiating our grand opening in 1988, and paving the way for female impersonation in Savannah. Our support in your time of need does not end after the funeral services. She’d be the first to tell you that she stole the show in Clint Eastwood’s 1997 adaptation. Condolences to all. Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date. Since then, thousands of visitors have come to Savannah, visiting the locations in The Book, and crowding into Club One to see her. Share to let others add their own memories and condolences. Two years after Brendt’s book, Chablis penned her own memoir, Hiding My Candy, where she claimed that she had not undergone gender reassignment surgery. Have the collectors edition! Savannah, Georgia The Lady Chablis, a transgender entertainer known best for playing a drag queen comedian in the 1997 film "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," died Sept. 8, 2016, in Savannah, Georgia, according to multiple news sources. I know I'll see you in Heaven someday. Midnight Garden of Good And Evil was one of my absolute favorites because of the Lady Chablis! Enter your email below to receive a grief support message from us each day for a year. If you need help finding the right words, view our. The Lady Chablis, who has died aged 59, was the beguiling star of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendt’s literary sensation of the mid-1990s about life in Savannah, Georgia. “I thought celebrity would change the way people looked at me.”. “No one, however, could outshine the Grand Empress herself.”. “I just try to be who I am without all the labels people try to put on you. Lady Chablis passed away on September 8, 2016 at the age of 59. Loved and missed always. Funeral Home Services for Lady are being provided by Adams Funeral Services, Inc. - Savannah. She also proudly helmed the Savannah Pride Festival in its inaugural year, even hosting their Miss Gay Pride pageant. Her final performance was on Aug. 6, according to the AP. "Im so devastated to just hear about the loss of a lady so powerful and was true to herself. “Love yourself first and respect yourself first and others will love and respect you.”. A STATEMENT FROM Club One: "The Lady chablis, who stole hearts - and the spotlight - in Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil, passed this morning surrounded by friends and family. Send your deepest condolences with fresh flowers. If you would like to opt out of browser push notifications, please refer to the following instructions specific to your device and browser: this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. We will be following this story and have a look at her life, times and career of a true Savannah character. Get push notifications with news, features and more. You'll get the latest updates on this topic in your browser notifications. The Lady is survived by  two sisters: Cynthia Ponder and Lois Stevens; two brothers: Charles Whiteside and Joh Farley Jr.; two aunts: Bettye Ponder and Ella Ponder; long time friend Debra Vanhorn; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, who request privacy during this time of grief. Condolences to all", "Goodbye Miss Chablis and thank you for all the joy and laughter you have given us.