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A Half A Century Posted by Joyce Jackson on January 29, 2008, 9:56 pm 207.200.116.14 Hi Everyone: Just wanted everyone to know that 50 years ago today I became the secretary to Jim Reeves and in my opinion, still the world's greatest singer! Quite frankly, I don't know where all the years went..My memory of today 50 years ago is just as vivid as it was back then. I was a scared little girl from Kentucky, but oh so happy to be working for this great artist whom I had admired ever since Mexican Joe. I want to thank all of you for always being so kind to me over the years. They have been good years and I treasure all of my memories, but hopefully soon I will be sharing them with you as I am close to finishing my book which I have entitled "Sharing My Memory". This will show how my life's path crossed those in the music industry and other related entertainment genres. In the meantime, thanks for the years of friendship to me and to you loyalty to Jim and his music. As I have stated before, you are the greatest and Jim would be so proud. Always for you Jim, Joyce  Post a Response

Re: A Half A Century Posted by Larry Jordan on January 30, 2008, 3:08 am, in reply to "A Half A Century" 69.66.111.56 Congratulations to Joyce on this milestone. I know that Jim and Mary both regarded her like a member of the family, and placed their trust in her. (Joyce even had her own bedroom at their Madison, Tenn. home and would "house sit" for them when they went away). As the personal secretary to an international singing star, Joyce carried a very heavy load of responsibilities. As we all know, Mr. Reeves was a perfectionist, and he wanted things done HIS way. Joyce became like his right arm; he couldn't have functioned without her. Like a lot of secretaries, she was accustomed to signing Jim's name to correspondence as a timesaver to him. But fans may be surprised to learn that Joyce also developed the skill to replicate Jim's handwriting such that she even wrote entire postcards for him. She was so good at it she once even fooled Jim, who was amazed and amused by his secretary's hidden talent. (This also means a lot of the correspondence being sold for big bucks by a certain ebay seller wasn't actually authentic Jim Reeves at all. Just another reason to be cautious.) I hope Joyce won't mind my telling all of you that over the months, she has shared portions of her book with me by reading excerpts on the phone. What she has written is truly fascinating, and filled with very personal details about the great stars and people of the music business (not just Jim). She has a lot of funny stories to tell, as well as poignant anecdotes too. You will be impressed when you discover how many people Joyce has known over the years -- and not just Nashville stars. Only someone in Joyce's unique position would ever be able to write such a book. She has a real flare for putting her thoughts on paper, and a writing style that is all her own. I'm sure fans will love it when it is released. Julie will let you know when it is available to purchase.  Post a Response

Re: A Half A Century Posted by Frank Baker on January 30, 2008, 4:53 am, in reply to "A Half A Century" 70.91.28.101 Joyce, Congratulations on your milestone and THANK YOU for all the memories you have already shared with us on the Forum. I hope to be among the first on the list to purchase your book when it comes out. Thanks for your loyalty to Jim and his family, and for sharing your part of Jim's life with us. Thanks as well for remaining a part of our lives! Best wishes always. Frank --Previous Message-- : Hi Everyone: : : Just wanted everyone to know that 50 years : ago today I became the secretary to Jim : Reeves and in my opinion, still the world's : greatest singer! Quite frankly, I don't know : where all the years went..My memory of today : 50 years ago is just as vivid as it was back : then. I was a scared little girl from : Kentucky, but oh so happy to be working for : this great artist whom I had admired ever : since Mexican Joe. : : I want to thank all of you for always being : so kind to me over the years. They have : been good years and I treasure all of my : memories, but hopefully soon I will be : sharing them with you as I am close to : finishing my book which I have entitled : "Sharing My Memory". This will : show how my life's path crossed those in the : music industry and other related : entertainment genres. : : In the meantime, thanks for the years of : friendship to me and to you loyalty to Jim : and his music. As I have stated before, you : are the greatest and Jim would be so proud. : : Always for you Jim, : : Joyce :  Post a Response

Re: A Half A Century Posted by Doris Gath on January 30, 2008, 9:45 am, in reply to "Re: A Half A Century" 4.232.42.115 Congratulations, Joyce! It doesn't seem like 50 years since we met, does it? I too had the privilege of getting a "peek" into Joyce's book when we stopped at her place last fall. She read me snippets from it and it will really be an interesting book. She touched bases with lots of stars and notables. Always for Jim, Doris --Previous Message-- : Congratulations to Joyce on this milestone. I : know that Jim and Mary both regarded her : like a member of the family, and placed : their trust in her. (Joyce even had her own : bedroom at their Madison, Tenn. home and : would "house sit" for them when : they went away). As the personal secretary : to an international singing star, Joyce : carried a very heavy load of : responsibilities. As we all know, Mr. Reeves : was a perfectionist, and he wanted things : done HIS way. Joyce became like his right : arm; he couldn't have functioned without : her. Like a lot of secretaries, she was : accustomed to signing Jim's name to : correspondence as a timesaver to him. But : fans may be surprised to learn that Joyce : also developed the skill to replicate Jim's : handwriting such that she even wrote entire : postcards for him. She was so good at it she : once even fooled Jim, who was amazed and : amused by his secretary's hidden talent. : : (This also means a lot of the correspondence : being sold for big bucks by a certain ebay : seller wasn't actually authentic Jim Reeves : at all. Just another reason to be cautious.) : : I hope Joyce won't mind my telling all of : you that over the months, she has shared : portions of her book with me by reading : excerpts on the phone. : : What she has written is truly fascinating, : and filled with very personal details about : the great stars and people of the music : business (not just Jim). She has a lot of : funny stories to tell, as well as poignant : anecdotes too. You will be impressed when : you discover how many people Joyce has known : over the years -- and not just Nashville : stars. Only someone in Joyce's unique : position would ever be able to write such a : book. She has a real flare for putting her : thoughts on paper, and a writing style that : is all her own. I'm sure fans will love it : when it is released. Julie will let you know : when it is available to purchase. :  Post a Response

Re: A Half A Century Posted by Maggie Buck on January 30, 2008, 10:08 am, in reply to "A Half A Century" 198.176.188.201 Hello all - I must add my congratulations to all the others. I spent a wonderful week with Joyce this past September and we had such fun. In the evenings, Joyce read me some excerpts from her book, much to my delight, and also regaled me with lots of funny stories about her life in Nashville - I loved my stay with her. Joyce - so glad you kept on writing!!!!!! When finished, the book will be awesome, so I hope everyone is looking forward to purchasing a copy - just like me! Regards to all Maggie B --Previous Message-- : Hi Everyone: : : Just wanted everyone to know that 50 years : ago today I became the secretary to Jim : Reeves and in my opinion, still the world's : greatest singer! Quite frankly, I don't know : where all the years went..My memory of today : 50 years ago is just as vivid as it was back : then. I was a scared little girl from : Kentucky, but oh so happy to be working for : this great artist whom I had admired ever : since Mexican Joe. : : I want to thank all of you for always being : so kind to me over the years. They have : been good years and I treasure all of my : memories, but hopefully soon I will be : sharing them with you as I am close to : finishing my book which I have entitled : "Sharing My Memory". This will : show how my life's path crossed those in the : music industry and other related : entertainment genres. : : In the meantime, thanks for the years of : friendship to me and to you loyalty to Jim : and his music. As I have stated before, you : are the greatest and Jim would be so proud. : : Always for you Jim, : : Joyce :  Post a Response

Re: A Half A Century Posted by Greg Bates on January 30, 2008, 12:00 pm, in reply to "A Half A Century" 216.78.14.196 Dear Joyce: What a joy it has been for me to honored by your friendship. The stories you have shared with me about Jim have meant so much to me, Bev, and Dad. I look forward to being able to read your book, and to get to know your life story even better. You have been so gracious to me in the past with requests I have made of you, and your offers of help were certainly appreciated. Also, thank you for all your prayers and encourging words concerning my ongoing health problems, and for your prayers for my dear Beverly this past summer when she had that heart problem, you are a great Prayer Warrior and I thank God for you! Jim was blessed to have you as his secretary and both Jim and Mary were very fortunate to have you on staff at JR Enterprises, and more so you were part of their family. Thanks Again for Everything, Love Ya! Greg  Post a Response

Re: A Half A Century Posted by Mike Slater on January 30, 2008, 7:05 pm, in reply to "Re: A Half A Century" 172.131.73.231 Congratulations, Joyce, on your 50 year anniversary of going to work for Jim! We should ALL be so lucky to have worked with such a great man and entertainer and be left with many wonderful memories! I wasn't aware until now that you were writing a book about your years in the music business and I'm really looking foward to it! When it is published, where we will be able to purchase it? --Previous Message-- : Congratulations, Joyce! It doesn't seem like : 50 years since we met, does it? : : I too had the privilege of getting a : "peek" into Joyce's book when we : stopped at her place last fall. She read me : snippets from it and it will really be an : interesting book. She touched bases with : lots of stars and notables. : : Always for Jim, Doris : --Previous Message-- : Congratulations to Joyce on this milestone. : I : know that Jim and Mary both regarded her : like a member of the family, and placed : their trust in her. (Joyce even had her own : bedroom at their Madison, Tenn. home and : would "house sit" for them when : they went away). As the personal secretary : to an international singing star, Joyce : carried a very heavy load of : responsibilities. As we all know, Mr. Reeves : was a perfectionist, and he wanted things : done HIS way. Joyce became like his right : arm; he couldn't have functioned without : her. Like a lot of secretaries, she was : accustomed to signing Jim's name to : correspondence as a timesaver to him. But : fans may be surprised to learn that Joyce : also developed the skill to replicate Jim's : handwriting such that she even wrote entire : postcards for him. She was so good at it she : once even fooled Jim, who was amazed and : amused by his secretary's hidden talent. : : (This also means a lot of the correspondence : being sold for big bucks by a certain ebay : seller wasn't actually authentic Jim Reeves : at all. Just another reason to be cautious.) : : I hope Joyce won't mind my telling all of : you that over the months, she has shared : portions of her book with me by reading : excerpts on the phone. : : What she has written is truly fascinating, : and filled with very personal details about : the great stars and people of the music : business (not just Jim). She has a lot of : funny stories to tell, as well as poignant : anecdotes too. You will be impressed when : you discover how many people Joyce has known : over the years -- and not just Nashville : stars. Only someone in Joyce's unique : position would ever be able to write such a : book. She has a real flare for putting her : thoughts on paper, and a writing style that : is all her own. I'm sure fans will love it : when it is released. Julie will let you know : when it is available to purchase. : : :  Post a Response

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