ATLANTA –Sometimes it takes news a while to get around. Consider the matter of Jodie Joiner’s posthumous induction into the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame, an event that took place more than two months ago, on November 27. But thanks to an article in The Montgomery Monitor, news of the induction finally did come to light.

Joiner was a native of Montgomery County. And because the area of the county where he was born (on July 31, 1919) and grew up was the Taylor Springs Road area, he also was almost a native of Vidalia. Current residents of that area just northwest of town have Vidalia postal addresses, and most of them do consider themselves Vidalians.

A multi-talented musician who played all the string instruments commonly associated with country music – banjo, mandolin, guitar and fiddle – John (Jodie) Joiner began making music at an early age. And before his career was over, he had played back-up for such country stars as Brenda Lee, Ferlin Husky, Hank Williams, Jr., Faron Yong, Bill Anderson, Johnny Cash and Webb Pierce.

As a member of the Peach State Jamboree band, he played on WJAT in Swainsboro every Saturday night for an extended period. His last 13 years were spent with The Dixie Caravan, a country gospel group.

Joiner ended his nomadic career by settling in Swainsboro, where he died at age 65 on January 18, 1985. He’s buried in the Swainsboro city cemetery.

His recent induction ceremony took place at the Marriott in Duluth. His widow, the former Helen Upton of Wadley, who still lives in Swainsboro, accepted the award.

Their daughter, Shirley, and her husband, James Driggers, were present for the induction ceremony. So were the honoree’s brother, Bill Joiner, also a musician, and his wife. But a sister and her husband, Betty Kate and C.D. Fountain, who live in Montgomery County, were unable to attend.

Among other family members who did attend were Montgomery County Probate Judge Rubie Nell Moxley Sanders, whose mother also was a sister to the honoree, and her husband, Montgomery Sheriff Clarence Sanders.

So now you can add another name to the long list of Vidalia-area people who have been honored for lives of impact and accomplishment.