Me and my girlfriend are Road trippin' from Atl via miami, New Orleans, Memphis and back to Atlanta!

I am just after some tips on safety and towns to avoid?
We are well travelled and no strangers to road trips and are sensible enough to avoid dangerous situations.
I am not worried about the major cities, just after advice on the small towns, and how safe it will be to stop off in random towns in theses states? Am I right to be cautious or have I just watched to many hollywood horror movies?????