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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 C2qQ60T940Rrovr+QLZVjwa/ygMpjnKgFLZ2w+/zP/pIZa/4Dxkr0G/Z8iIz4dwT
 lx3Qt9HfmDV2EE3Qipdcxg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000732713-03-000108.txt : 20030602
<SEC-HEADER>0000732713-03-000108.hdr.sgml : 20030602
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030602162521
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000732713-03-000108
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030530
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030602

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ACKERMAN F DUANE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001013644
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			GA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08607
		FILM NUMBER:		03728326

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INC
		STREET 2:		1341 W. MOCKINGBIRD LN
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75247-6913
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9726476741

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INC
		STREET 2:		1341 W. MOCKINGBIRD LN
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75247-6913
</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>2003-05-30</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000732713</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BELLSOUTH CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BLS</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001013644</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ACKERMAN F DUANE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chairman and CEO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-30</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>F</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>12943</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>26.56</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>281973</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwne
rship><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">REPRESENTS SHARES WITHHELD FROM VESTED RESTRICTED STOCK FOR THE PAYMENT OF FEDERAL AND STATE TAXES DUE ON VESTING. </footnote><footnote id="F2">9,562.2673 SHARES ARE ALSO HELD INDIRECTLY IN ESOP.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>F.D. Ackerman</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-02</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
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