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......A few years after graduation, I began voice lessons from Dr. Ronnie Avalone, former Dramatic Tenor - Metropolitan Opera Company --- Oddly enough, I don't even like Opera music at all!
A New York City policeman led Dr. Avalone to the Lord and he left the opera life behind to begin a full-time solo career with well-known evangelists. My Aunt Vivian and I were in Mobile, Alabama, Daulphin Way Baptist Church, when she asked him if he would be willing to "teach my little niece" voice lessons! He said he would be glad to if she would bring me to his home in South Florida. She agreed and for a whole summer, she and I would travel back and forth for two weeks at a time to Delray Beach, Florida, for me to take voice lessons. Believe it or not, I was really a "shy" person and told him I would NEVER be able to get up before people to sing! At the time, my dad was a "lay speaker," and in order for me to get over my "shyness," he sang duets with me until eventually I felt comfortable enough to sing solos and did so for many years.....fast forward to 1982........After much preparation, Vivian took me to Bill Gaither's studio in Indiana and a gentleman from First Baptist Church, Atlanta, Georgia, produced my first album, entitled "Until Sunrise." My dad sang several duets with me on that album and it will always be a cherished memory .....We sang "live" with members of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and only had to go through each song one time, editing the album in a 24-hour period......what a joy and delight to be able to sing beautiful sacred music.....
......I was married to Blake Hollis (in 1980) for approximately 13 years and together we have one daughter, Renee' who is married to Keith Taylor and they have one adorable little boy, Logan Keith! Logan was born 2 1/2 months premature, weighing in at 2 pounds!. The Lord is so good! At present, he is almost 2 years old and is healthy as can be!
.....In 2000, I married my soul mate and best friend, Jim Rains. Amazing how two people can come together ---- Our families "grew up together," living "back to back" in the Cove section of Panama City, and the only thing separating our houses was an alley! We all went to the same church in early days! Jim left Panama City after graduating in the 60s and didn't return until the mid 90s! We reconnected at church, dated for several years before marrying on October 7, 2000.
Jim has two children - Jamie, son, lives in Atlanta, working for a large construction company. Lesley, daughter, is married to Charles Coke and they have one daughter, Lyla Addison, who was born two months before Logan! We are all extremely close and the Lord has blessed us beyond measure.
....... At present, I am Personal Assistant for over 16 years to NY Times and USA Today Romance Author, "Amelia Grey," aka Gloria Skinner! I have a "dream job" that I love. Jim is retired and enjoys fishing in three different bass clubs! Life is good......
