Maggie (Magnolia Smith) and Elvis shared a unique and special friendship. Their meeting was a random encounter in a Memphis parking lot in 1974, where they struck up a conversation. Elvis learned that Maggie was a college student struggling to pay her bills and had no transportation to get to and from school. In response, he offered her a job. However, his primary request was that she focus on her studies and maintain good grades.
Elvis went above and beyond, buying Maggie a car to ensure she could get to school and covering her college tuition. He also arranged for her to receive regular payments, allowing her a quiet, comfortable place to study at Graceland. This special space helped her concentrate on her academic work.
Maggie held the official title of “Executive Assistant” from 1974 to 1977, although she wasn’t just a maid, as some have mistakenly described her. Her role was much broader and more meaningful. She helped with various tasks, including caring for Lisa Marie and assisting with other needs around Graceland. A large team was needed to manage Elvis’ life, and Maggie played an important role in that team during the last three years of Elvis’ life.
Beyond her studies, Maggie served as an assistant to every business operation at Graceland, although she often joked that she spent most of her time answering the phone. She also spent a significant amount of time with Lisa Marie and accompanied Elvis and his family on both Memphis and West Coast tours.
Maggie’s connection with Elvis went beyond work. She had lost her father just a few years before meeting Elvis, and she and her mother were going through tough times. Elvis became a father figure to her, and she described his humanity in great detail. He frequently called Graceland to check on her grades and would ask for full reports on her classes and studies. Maggie was majoring in biology, and Elvis was determined to see her graduate.
Maggie recalls the lighter moments of their friendship, including Elvis’ sense of humor and their shared laughter. But she also shared more emotional memories, like times when Elvis cried with her, prayed for her, and read books to her. One of the most memorable books Elvis read to her was The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, a book he returned to regularly.
Text Credit Goes To: Cabin Essence