JoAnna
McKenzie's Story - Her Friendship with Elvis Presley
(photograph of JoAnna around the time she knew Elvis)
My name is JoAnna and I am blessed and
thankful to be able to call Elvis my friend. I was introduced to him by
Starla and Wanda June Hill. I am forever grateful to them. I lost touch with
them for a long time, and found them recently through this wonderful
website. I really missed them, they are wonderful, generous, loving people.
Elvis is very special to me. My memories are treasured, as are the cards,
letters, poems and gifts he gave me. He was a generous, loving man. Always
kind and so very funny. I miss him so much, every day, but I know he is
always with me.
Wanda, I so vividly remember those great days in your old home. We had so
much fun. Laughing, sharing stories, watching movies & eating vanilla ice
cream with some kind a cherry topping (yum yum). The laughter stopped on
August 16, 1977. Elvis tried to reach me that morning. He called my home
phone and left a message and called my work and left a message. I was on the
freeway, driving to work (no cell phones back then). I never got to talk to
him again. I got a call at work and was told the news. I left worked. I
remember driving, it was August in California, but it was raining. I was
crying so hard, so between the rain and my tears, it was hard to drive. Some
girls in another car rolled down their window and asked if I was ok, of
course I wasn't. The news hadn't been released to the press yet. I drove to
Wanda's house, but I don't remember how I got there. I was so sad for so
long. After he went to heaven, I received a tape from him and also a card
that his secretary found on his plane. He told me to be happy. That's how
I've been trying to live my life, with happiness and silliness and laughter.
Now, when I think of him, I remember his beautiful smile. His beautiful
eyes. His tender, sweet soul. His laughter. I miss him.
We shared an incredibly close, tender,
intimate friendship...I know it's hard to believe or understand, but I felt
blessed just to have him in my life. I did not have dreams of marrying him
or living with him. He was my friend. I know he loved me, he told me and
showed me often, and I loved him dearly and still do. We had very intimate
times and conversations. I believe that because he knew he could trust me,
he could be intimate with me, and confide in me.
I first met him...
I was sitting around a kitchen table at my friend Pam's house. Across the
table was her younger brother and his friend, Julie, they were 5 years
younger than us. I was 18 years old. The day was April 1st, the next day was
my 19th birthday. Julie kept staring at me until I finally said "What?" She
asked me "If you could have anyone famous call you for your birthday, who
would it be?" I said "Bob Hope". She sighed. Then she gave me hints about
Memphis and Graceland. I said "Glen Campbell". She was in shock. She said
something like "Never mind!" A little later she asked me if I would like
Elvis Presley to call me for my birthday. I said something like "Of course I
would!" She explained how she and her family knew him and he was her "Uncle
Elvis" and she was his "Little Julie". The next morning, my phone rang. The
caller said he was Elvis Presley. I started shaking. I knew in my heart it
was him (that voice!) but my brain was saying, "NO WAY!" I asked him who he
really was (after all, the day when Julie (Starla) told me all of this was
April Fools Day). He said that he thought I was aware that he'd be calling
me. Julie had told me things he liked to keep him interested, like football
and karate. I was a cheerleader in high school and had 3 brothers, I knew
about football. We talked for about an hour. Then when I got to work, he
called me again. That was the beginning of our wonderful, beautiful
friendship. Thank you Julie (Starla). After I had said Bob Hope and Glen
Campbell, she could have easily said forget it. But I guess there was
something she saw in me that she thought he would like. I am forever
grateful to her and to Wanda and Jimmie for being wonderful friends and
family to me.
* * *
JoAnna shares more on her friendship with Elvis in
Wanda June Hill's book "We Remember Elvis."
read
JoAnna's poem from Elvis /
card Elvis sent her in
August, 1977 /
the gifts Elvis gave her
