Margaret Mitchell’s Death: What Happened?

Margaret Mitchell was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on November 8, 1900. She is best known for her one and only hit novel, Gone with the Wind, which received a National Book Award and a Pulitzer Prize. The bestselling novel was adapted into a critically acclaimed 1939 film starring Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable.

Growing up, Mitchell was influenced by her mother, a suffragist, and her father, an attorney. A childhood accident led to her wearing boys’ pants and earning the nickname “Jimmy.” Her early creative efforts included a novella called Lost Laysen, written during her adolescent years but published posthumously.

Personal life

Mitchell was briefly married to one Berrien K. Upshaw. But their marriage could not last – Upshaw was a violent man when he drank, resulting in physical and emotional abuse. Instead, John R. Marsh, the best man at their wedding, would stand by her side until the end. Although she never had children, her legacy lives on through her writing.

How did Margaret Mitchell die?

Margaret Mitchell’s life came to a sudden and tragic end on August 16, 1949, in her native Atlanta, Georgia. She died from injuries sustained in a traffic collision. While crossing Peachtree Street, she was struck by a speeding car driven by a drunk driver.

Burial and funeral

Her funeral was held in Atlanta, with her burial taking place in the Oakland Cemetery, a historic cemetery that also serves as the final resting place for many notable figures from Georgia’s history. In 1952, when her husband John passed away, he was buried next to his wife.