Posthumous Award to Janis Martin

Posthumous Award to Janis Martin

Janis Martin, once billed as the - female Elvis - by RCA has been selected as one of Virginia's 2010 Outstanding Women by the Library of Virginia. Janis is one of eight women being honored in the Librarys Virginia Women in History program.

"The 2010 Virginia Women in History program highlights outstanding Virginia women who saw things differently from their contemporaries, developed new approaches to old problems, strove for excellence based on the courage of their convictions and initiated changes in Virginia and America that continue to have an impact on our lives today" Jan Hathcock, spokesperson for the Library of Virginia, said in a news release.

At the time of her death, her husband, Wayne Whitt, said, "She just had a gift of God that was just out of this world. She would walk out on stage and the place would just go in an uproar".

Janis Martin shares the spotlight with seven other women selected as 2010 Outstanding Women:
Jean Miller Skipwith (1748-1826)
Kate Mason Rowland (1840-1916)
Wade Holmes Adams (1881-1973)
Queena Stovall (1888-1980)
Madison Bailey Furman (1893-1976)
Edythe C. Harrison (1934-)
Marian Van Landingham (1937-)

The honorees will be celebrated at an award ceremony in Richmond on March 25, 2010, according to the news release. Wayne Whitt will be going to the awards presentation. This is a great honor and maybe Janis will be honored in the Cleveland Rock and Roll Hall of Fame some day. Let's hope so. May Janis live forever.
-From Wayne Whitt and Danville Register & Bee

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