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Janelle McComb Passed Away (Updated)

July 28, 2005 | People
Janelle McComb died on july 25 in Tupelo due to a congestive heart failure. Janelle was a friend of the Presley family since Elvis was four years old and remained close to Priscilla and Lisa Marie. As far as know, Janelle was 84 years old and was the driving force behind the Tupelo Youth Center, the renovation of the birthplace, the construction of the museum and the Elvis memorial Chapel. Janelle possessed a treasure of letters, notes and pictures from Elvis, which were never made public.

Few fans know that Janelle was a gifted writer herself. For Lisa’s 4th birthday, she wrote a poem, called “The Priceless Gift”. Elvis was so touched by it, that tears filled his eyes. In fact, he was so impressed that he commissioned a second poem in 1976, this time as a Christmas gift for his father. One year later, shortly after Elvis had passed away, it was Vernon’s turn to call on Janelle, and ask her if she could write a poem for the gravestone. Janelle did, and it’s that poem that millions of fans all over the world have read in the Meditation Garden. Later, when the Eternal Flame was installed, Janelle wrote another poem.

Cards and letters of condolence may be sent to:

The McComb Family
c/o Graceland/Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc.
3734 Elvis Presley Boulevard
Memphis, TN 38116

Visitation & Funeral

W. E. Pegues Funeral Home
535 Jefferson St.
Tupelo, Mississippi
Phone: (662) 842-4872

Visitation:

5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Thursday, July 28

Funeral Service:

11:00 AM
Friday, July 29
Source:Various
Ton Bruins wrote on July 26, 2005
May she rest in peace. Very nice lady. Spoke with her in 1997 en 2002 in Tupulo.
Presleygirl wrote on July 26, 2005
Very sad news for the Elvis world. Very nice and devoted lady to Elvis and his memory. I know she hadn't been doing well for the past couple of years, may she rest in peace.
Lolelv wrote on July 26, 2005
This news is just so very sad - Janelle was such a lovely lady and such a very big part of the Elvis world... I am so glad I met her on a few occasions and she was always so welcoming and friendly. On a very personal note - my own mother died on 25 July 1980 so yesterday was particularly sad for me... but to know Janelle passed away on the same 'date' as my beloved mother gives a strange comfort to me somehow. We will all, I am sure, hold a very dear place in our hearts having met Janelle.
cathyreno wrote on July 27, 2005
This Lady was a wonderful poet I have read the 'priceless gift' and another poem she wrote about 'Graceland' both filled me with tears. Wo's gonna look after the Tupelo Birthplace now? As I believe she kept an eye over its development etc.. My condolences to her family may she rest in peace
Peter@EM wrote on July 27, 2005
I had the pleasure of talking to her, faxing, mailing and telephoning countless times. Of all those many memories, one will always stick out. It was 1999, and we had just created the “John Wilkinson Website”. Online was also a chapter called “Unseen Elvis”. One of those pictures showed Elvis backstage at the International Hotel in August of 1969, posing – in his stage suit – with Vernon, Dee, Janelle and her husband Roy. It was a beautiful picture that was never been published before. One day later when I came home from work, I found Janelle’s voice on the answering machine, asking me to remove the picture from the website. It was a private picture she said, and she asked me not to publish it until after her death. Needless to say that we honored that request. Less than two weeks later, the postman delivered a huge – and I do mean Huge – box at our home. It was filled with (singing) teddy bears, Tupelo souvenirs and reading books for kids. Also in the package was a card, written by Janelle as a “thank you” for our understanding. I still have the picture and the card. Even the teddybears are still here, although they did suffer from 5 years of children’s play. But that’s what they were sent for, I guess. Yet, Janelle had a mind of her own, sometimes. Flashback to August 1997, when I interviewed her for my newspaper “Het Laatste Nieuws” at the famous Johnson Inn Hotel on Brooks Road. Janelle told me in detail about her life with Elvis and the Presley family, and at the end of the interview she promised me an “exclusive” story for my news paper - on condition that I would return that same afternoon. So I did, but by then, she had changed her mind. The story involved Priscilla, she said, and she had decided not to tell the story… Sadly, I never heard it. I could spend hours talking about the many conversations we had, and the friendship she showed me and thousands of other fans. The only comfort now is the knowledge that Janelle, despite her severe health problems, died in a peaceful way at her house, surrounded by her loved ones. Rest in Peace, Janelle - you were a wonderfull part of the Elvisworld.
Steve Grayson wrote on July 28, 2005
its a very sad news to hear the news of Janelle's death. She was a very good friend of Elvis and wasc liked by all of us. May she rest in peace.
Chris C wrote on July 28, 2005
To Peter - You will have to forgive me for being mercenary at this sad time, but could you now PLEASE put that photo of Ms McComb, her husband and Elvis at Vegas in 69, back onto your website?
Big-E wrote on July 28, 2005
So sorry to hear of our longtime friends leraving ...
JC´ wrote on July 29, 2005
godbless a beautiful human been that with her feelings touched a millions of people in the world.Very sensitive and heartfully,rest in peace,AMEN.
Crawfish wrote on July 31, 2005
What sad, sad news. A wonderful woman and a huge loss to us left in the Elvis world. May she rest in peace for ever more. God bless Janelle - you had an enormous heart and were very much loved.