In 1989, Deen and her husband Jimmy divorced. Deen's cooking style had been informed by her grandmother Irene Paul, who had taught her the art of Southern cooking that Deen described as “real farmhouse cooking, the kind that takes all day”. In her 20s, Deen suffered from depression and agoraphobia and began to spend more time preparing food for her family, as it was something she could do without leaving her house. Prior to her father's death, Paula, aged 18, married Jimmy Deen and in 1967 they had their first son James ('Jamie'), and in 1970 a second son Robert ('Bobby') was born. Deen was 19 when her father died unexpectedly aged 40, and her mother died four years later aged 44.
Hiers (née Paul) and Earl Wayne Hiers, Sr. She has published fifteen cookbooks.ĭeen was born Paula Ann Hiers in Albany, Georgia, the daughter of Corrie A. Deen resides in Savannah, Georgia, where she owns and operates The Lady & Sons restaurant and Paula Deen's Creek House with her sons, Jamie and Bobby Deen. Paula Ann Hiers Deen (born January 19, 1947) is an American chef, cookbook author, and TV personality. 2007 Emmy for Outstanding Lifestyle Host.
