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Joe Odom (attorney)

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Joe Odom
Born
Joseph Algerine Odom

(1948-03-22)March 22, 1948
Claxton, Georgia, US
DiedNovember 2, 1991(1991-11-02) (aged 43)
Savannah, Georgia, US
Occupation(s)Attorney, musician
Known forAppearance in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

Joseph Algerine Odom (March 22, 1948 – November 2, 1991) was an American attorney who later became a musician.[1] He came to prominence after his appearance as one of the main characters in John Berendt's 1994 true-crime book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.[2]

Early life

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Odom was born in Claxton, Georgia, in 1948, to Herman and Gwendolyn. He later moved to Savannah, where he was a "ne'er-do-well"[3] attorney,[4] based on West Broad Street.[5]

He became a proficient jazz pianist and a ballroom dancer.[5]

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

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Hamilton–Turner Inn, where Odom lived at the time of his death

In John Berendt's 1994 book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, Odom was portrayed as the love interest of Mandy Nichols; however, Nancy Hillis, upon whom Nichols was based, stated that there was no romantic relationship between her and Odom, who was "not strictly heterosexual."[6] They performed music together only and owned a bar, Sweet Georgia Brown's, in Savannah's City Market.[7][8]

Odom was also friends with and a business partner of Emma Kelly, dubbed by Johnny Mercer as the "lady of 6,000 songs", who also appears in the book.[9] Kelly and Odom opened Emma's, a piano bar in a former cotton warehouse on Savannah's River Street. It was forced to close after Odom squandered its takings. "He could do you wrong. And he did me wrong," Kelly said in 1997. "But I miss Joe. I get a little teary-eyed thinking about him. He had a flair for coming up with good ideas."[10]

Hillis said that, contrary to what Berendt wrote, she and Odom did not meet until Odom had moved from 16 East Jones Street in Savannah to 101 East Oglethorpe Avenue, a three-storey townhouse at the corner of Drayton Street. From there, he moved to 126 West Harris Street in Pulaski Square.[11]

During his time at today's Hamilton–Turner Inn, on Lafayette Square, Odom hosted tours of the property and, much to the chagrin of the square's residents, hosted loud parties at the home.[12]

"I saw Joe Odom playing the piano all the time," said Berendt in 2015. "I thought he was fascinating, charming, and so easygoing the way he just floated around town. Southern charm. I was very taken with him."[13]

Odom died three years before the book's release.[6] He was portrayed by Paul Hipp in Clint Eastwood's 1997 movie adaptation. Hillis died in 2016, aged 67, after a five-year battle with ALS.[7]

  • One of Odom's former residences in Savannah, 16 East Jones Street
    One of Odom's former residences in Savannah, 16 East Jones Street
  • He moved to 101 East Oglethorpe (right) shortly before meeting Nancy Hillis for the first time
    He moved to 101 East Oglethorpe (right) shortly before meeting Nancy Hillis for the first time
  • His third home was 126 West Harris Street in Pulaski Square
    His third home was 126 West Harris Street in Pulaski Square

Death

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Odom died in 1991, from complications of AIDS. He was 43, and was living at the time in an apartment inside Savannah's Hamilton–Turner Inn,[14] which Nancy Hillis purchased in 1991.[7] He is buried in a family plot in Bull Creek Cemetery in his hometown of Claxton,[15] beside his parents. After the death of her husband of 56 years, his mother was married to Aubrey Strickland until her death in 2013.[16]

References

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  1. ^ Collins, Andrew (2002). Carolinas and Georgia: The Guide for All Budgets, Completely Updated, with Many Maps and Travel Tips. p. 67.
  2. ^ "`MIDNIGHT' MADNESS IN SAVANNAH". Chicago Tribune. 1994-06-26. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  3. ^ "Voodoo Justice" - New York Times Books, March 20, 1994
  4. ^ "MURDER TALE, SOUTHERN STYLE, PUTS SAVANNAH ON THE MAP" - Daily Press, June 12, 1994
  5. ^ a b "'Midnight' at 30: My look at The Book from the time and place it was written". The Savannahian. 2024-01-22. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  6. ^ a b "MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF FACT AND FICTION" - Washington Examiner, December 29, 1996
  7. ^ a b c "Nancy Hillis, ‘Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil’s’ Mandy, passes away" - Savannah Morning News, August 9, 2016
  8. ^ "'This is the real me'; 'Midnight' star Nancy Hillis shines light on her life in new book" - Bluffon Today, January 20, 2016
  9. ^ "A return trip to Savannah in honor of 25th anniversary of 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil'" - Palm Beach Daily News, March 23, 2019
  10. ^ DEAN, SUELLEN E. "An evening with EMMA KELLY Savannah songbird to sing for Spartanburg benefit The Lady of Six Thousand Voices from the 'Garden of Good and Evil'". Spartanburg Herald Journal. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  11. ^ "Article clipped from The Atlanta Constitution". The Atlanta Constitution. 1994-10-26. p. 41. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  12. ^ SBJ, Lou Phelps (2023-03-31). "March 31 - Historic Hamilton-Turner Inn Sold; Broker was Hodges Ward Elliott". www.savannahbusinessjournal.com. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  13. ^ "John Berendt: The interview". Connect Savannah. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  14. ^ "MIDDAY IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL: FANS OF BOOK FLOCK TO GEORGIA" - Hartford Courant, March 16, 1997
  15. ^ "Savannah, GA's Historic Jones Street". gosouthsavannah.com. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  16. ^ "Gwendolyn Odom Strickland - View Obituary & Service Information". Gwendolyn Odom Strickland Obituary. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
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