-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 BWw1aRcUREn3xN0UIML09XWUHjQNMBbRknUw7qGXUcNHFU+0d/mBqTS635dA6FwU
 +MgqtqVlxGR1mduFCe8Q2g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000732713-03-000096.txt : 20030520
<SEC-HEADER>0000732713-03-000096.hdr.sgml : 20030520
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030520143214
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000732713-03-000096
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030516
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030520

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STAVROPOULOS WILLIAM S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001183698

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08607
		FILM NUMBER:		03712128

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		DOW CHEMICAL CO
		STREET 2:		2030 DOW CENTER
		CITY:			MIDLAND
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48674

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BELLSOUTH CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000732713
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS (NO RADIO TELEPHONE) [4813]
		IRS NUMBER:				581533433
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			GA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1155 PEACHTREE ST NE
		STREET 2:		ROOM 15G03
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30309-3610
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4042492000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1155 PEACHTREE STREET NE
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30309-3610
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-16</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000732713</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BELLSOUTH CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BLS</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001183698</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STAVROPOULOS WILLIAM S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Phantom Deferral Shares</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-16</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>33.9034</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>26.546</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2009-01-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-01-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecur
ityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>33.9034</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>14818.759</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">SHARES OF PHANTOM STOCK ACQUIRED PURSUANT TO BELLSOUTH CORPORATION DEFERRAL PLAN IN TRANSACTION EXEMPT UNDER RULE 16b-3(d).</footnote><footnote id="F2">INCLUDES SHARES OF PHANTOM STOCK ACQUIRED AS A RESULT OF REINVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS ACCRUED ON PHANTOM SHARES PREVIOUSLY ACQUIRED UNDER VARIOUS DEFERRAL PLANS IN TRANSACTIONS EXEMPT UNDER RULE 16b-3 AND DEFERRED INTO PHANTOM ACCOUNT.</footnote><footnote id="F3">SHARES OF PHANTOM STOCK CONVERT TO COMMON STOCK ON A ONE-FOR-ONE BASIS.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Marcy A. 
Bass, Attorney in Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-20</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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