A lot of people did what they could to help Joe, like his old friend Art Dietz who drove him to and from gigs the past few years and did his best to look after Joe's well-being. Art was the one who knew what time the gigs started. Robert Kuhn, a young harp player from Galveston, often assisted Dietz or filled in for Art to get Joe to and from gigs. That kid treated Joe like a sensei.

Beautiful soul Jomonica Phoenix, a Florence Nightingale of the blues scene, was usually the first to visit Joe in the hospital, tout a gig he had, or help him gather rent money. She had taken Joe some food Monday and found him so weak she called 911. These are the tasks that fall to angels of mercy like her.

Joe counted on other friends like Eddie Stout of Dialtone Records in Austin, who recorded Joe and got him gigs in places like Tokyo; Dr. Roger Wood, who also helped Joe with gigs and always had a $20 bill when Joe dropped by Wood's office at HCC. Miller Outdoor Theater operations director Reg Burns was one of Washington's guardian angels; he helped manage Joe a bit just to keep him straightened out when Joe first started a real comeback.

One final footnote: I suspect that Joseph Marion Washington is the only person in history to have the Mayor of Houston proclaim a day in his honor and to be given a citation for riding on the Metro rail without a ticket in the same year.

I could go on, but what's the point? The last few years have been tough, but Little Joe is finally out of his hand-to-mouth misery. As Gene Okerlund posted on her Facebook page, "It cheers me up a bit to think how many Little Joe stories can be told all over Houston tonight."

Too bad Washington won't be playing "White Christmas" for us this year.Thanks for the beautiful memories, little man. You were a true diamond in the rough.

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