Joe Randall: Chef of Southern Cuisine

Story by Morgan Twitty. Photo courtesy of Savannah Now. 

Joe Randall is a memorable chef and founder of a renowned cooking school in Savannah.He passed away on Saturday, February 14th 2026, in Savannah, Georgia. He was 79. The cause of death has not been publicly released, according to WTOC.com.

Randall was born on July 23,1946 in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. He attended William Penn Highschool. He later received restaurant certificates from the University of California,Berkeley. From an early age, Randall developed a love for cooking while helping in the kitchen learning Southern recipes when he was younger. 

Randall was known for mentoring chefs and preserving traditional Southern cooking. One of Randall’s major achievements was receiving the 2023 James Board Foundation Cookbook Hall of Fame Award for his landmark 1998 book; A Taste of Heritage: The New African-American Cuisine. Through his work as a founder of a cooking school he helped inspire cooks. He spent 16 years operating his own cooking school and working in culinary schools. His dedication to cultural preservation made him influential in the culinary world and community. 

During his career, Randall established a renowned cooking school and authored a landmark cookbook and national recognition to elevate chefs. “Chef Joe Randall didn’t just teach recipes he taught pride in our culinary heritage and opened doors for young chefs who might never have had a chance,” said Garry McDaniel, a colleague of Joe Randall. 

Beyond his professional achievements, Randall was known for his generous and unwavering belief that cuisine is art and history. He had a passion for southern food traditions and teaching culinary knowledge with others. His hobbies were mostly cooking, developing recipes, and studying traditional Southern cuisines. He also volunteered his time to support culinary education programs and communities in Savannah. Friends and family described him as someone who was an incredible human who loved life, people, and telling the story of chefs who paved the way.

Randall is survived by his wife Barbara; three children J.Christopher, Kenneth A, and Cari; a grandson named Joey; and three sisters, Lorraine Stone, Cathryn Stevenson, and Carolyn Lewis.

 Morgan Twitty is a sophomore at Friendship Collegiate Academy.