We’re sorry to say that Jaynee is not prepared to visit with you this week.  Her Mother, Julia, passed away on Monday, October 19.  Right up to the last moment, Jaynee was at her side, comforting her with the caring words of a daughter who wanted her Mother to know how much she loved and treasured her.

All of us at Titanic feel her loss and dedicate this day to her Mother.  Perhaps this would be an appropriate time to express our thanks to Julia  for bringing such a lovely and talented daughter into the world…and into ours.  Jaynee is the heart and soul of the Titanic Museum Attraction and she means the world to all of us.

I’ll never forget the day we met back in 2005.  Titanic was in the early stages of construction when she knocked on our construction office door and expressed interest in working with us. We weren’t hiring at the time and I suggested she check back, later.  She did and this time we had a place for her.  In the back of my mind I could see her as the model for the First Class Maid costume.  It was a defining moment when she put the costume on.  It was as though we had been handed a special gift whose personal warmth would add the human element to the Titanic experience.

Jaynee surprised us all with her creative talents.  Singer, dancer, performer, guest speaker… she could do it all, who knew?  I accompanied her on one of her first speaking engagements in behalf of Titanic.  She wore her First Class Maid’s uniform – all Titanic  crew members are required to be in uniform whenever they appear in public.  Anyway, on this day Jaynee was to address a group of school children.  Her image as a Titanic icon had not yet been established, so many of the kids thought she was supposed to be a Pilgrim in an apron.  Well, three years and many billboards, TV, radio and print ads later children know she’s not a pilgrim, she’s Jaynee, the Titanic’s First Class Maid.

A couple of weeks ago Jaynee and I attended a glorious church event in Springfield.  More than 3,000 members had gathered to hear Jaynee pay tribute to all those who sailed on Titanic’s maiden voyage.  I wish you could have been there to watch Jaynee address  this reverent crowd and to hear her recite a truly emotional Titanic poem.  In just moments she roused the emotions of the group, reducing the entire assembly to tears.

That’s our Jaynee…a compassionate, caring and loving human being who all of us at Titanic are proud to know and feel lucky to have in our lives.

Jaynee will be right here to greet you again next week.

Mary Kelllogg Joslyn

October 20, 2009
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Tags: Titanic, Titanic Branson, Titanic Museum

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 20th, 2009 at 1:50 pm and is filed under Jaynee's Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.