DéLana R. A. Dameron

DéLana R. A. Dameron
Born(1985-01-30)January 30, 1985
DiedNovember 29, 2025(2025-11-29) (aged 40)
Education
SpouseCurtis John

DéLana R. A. Dameron (January 30, 1985 – November 29, 2025) was an American writer and poet.[1][2] She authored two books of poetry, How God Ends Us (2009) and Weary Kingdom (2017),[3] as well as one prose collection, Redwood Court (2024).[4] How God Ends Us won the South Carolina Poetry Book Prize.[1]

Life and career

Dameron was born in Anderson, South Carolina on January 30, 1985, to Thomas and Rena (née Melvin) Dameron, and grew up in Columbia, South Carolina. She had a sister. Dameron graduated from Spring Valley High School, then received a Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of North Carolina in 2007, followed by a Master of Arts in poetry from New York University. After living in New York for 13 years, she returned to Columbia in 2019, buying a farm called Saloma Acres in 2021.[1]

Dameron was married to Curtis John.[1] She died from kidney and heart problems on November 29, 2025, at the age of 40.[1]

Books

  • How God Ends Us. Foreword by Elizabeth Alexander. University of South Carolina Press. 2009. ISBN 978-1-570-03832-7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  • Weary Kingdom. Foreword by Ross Gay. University of South Carolina Press. 2017. ISBN 978-1-61117-809-8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  • Redwood Court. Dial Press. 2024. ISBN 978-0-593-44702-4.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Risen, Clay (December 9, 2025). "DéLana R.A. Dameron, Writer of the Black South, Dies at 40". New York Times. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  2. ^ Nicholson, Zoe (December 1, 2025). "'Gigantic crater' in Columbia's literary community: A renowned SC author and equestrian has died". Post and Courier. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  3. ^ Sundahl, Daniel (November 1, 2017). "November Read of the Month: "Weary Kingdom," by DéLana R. A. Dameron". Southern Literary Review. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  4. ^ Wilkerson, Charmaine (February 4, 2024). "A Child's-Eye View of Grandparents and South Carolina". The New York Times. Retrieved December 10, 2025.