Cover photo for Jack R. Reed, Sr.'s Obituary
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Jack

Jack R. Reed, Sr.

d. January 27, 2016

JACK REED, SR.   Tupelo -Jack Raymond Reed, Sr., surrounded by his family, left this world Wednesday, January 27, 2016, bringing a conclusion to a long, abundant and storied life. "Jack" was born in Tupelo, on May 19, 1924. He attended Tupelo Public Schools and then Vanderbilt University. At age 18 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the U.S. Army Intelligence Corp; he was sent to California to learn Japanese and completed his service in The Pacific Theatre as a code-breaker, stationed in Australia and in the Army of Occupation in Japan, leaving as a Sergeant. Following military service he returned to Vanderbilt, graduated magna cum laude, and then graduated from New York University with a Masters Degree in Retailing. While there he worked at Brooks Brothers and Bloomingdale's. Mr. Reed returned to join his father, R. W. Reed, Sr., and brother, Bob Reed, in the family business R. W. Reed Company, Inc. (Reed's). Later they joined their other brother, Bill Reed, in purchasing Reed Manufacturing Company from their uncles. In 1950 he married the former Frances Camille Purvis of Corinth, Mississippi. She remained the love of his life. They had four children: Jack Raymond Reed, Jr.; Frances Camille Reed Sloan; Catherine Dale Reed Mize; and George Scott Reed. For the past several decades he has served as Chairman of the Board of R. W. Reed Co. (Reed's), with stores in Tupelo, Columbus, and Starkville. During this time he has led Reed's successes and helped it face the challenges of a family-owned independent retailer in a very competitive marketplace. Its 111-year-old history is a testament to his bright mind and willingness to embrace change. He was recognized by his business peers by being elected President of the Mississippi Retail Merchants Association in 1966, an Executive Board Member of the Menswear Retailers of America, and was inducted into the Mississippi Business Hall of Fame. Immediately upon his return to Tupelo Mr. Reed began a life-long commitment to community service, which took as much of his time and energy as did his business. His time devoted to his fellow citizens was extraordinary in its breadth and scope. Among his leadership contributions locally were: the Yocona Area Boy Scouts, where he was awarded both the Silver Beaver and Silver Antelope volunteer awards; a co-founder of The United Way of Lee County - now of Northeast Mississippi and received the Julius G. Berry Outstanding Citizen Award; a founder of LIFT (Mississippi's first community action agency) and a Board of Directors member for 30 years; and the longest serving member of the Executive Committee of both the Community Development Foundation and CREATE, Inc., where he also served as President of both. He was chosen Tupelo's Outstanding Citizen in 1975. He served as President of the Tupelo Kiwanis Club and remained a member all of his life (frequently sharing his barbs and quips with the members every Friday for over 60 years). He believed in the value of a locally-owned newspaper and was the longest serving member of the Board of Directors of the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. He served as Chairman of the Board of First Citizens National Bank until it merged with Deposit Guaranty National Bank. He believed in the value of locally-owned financial institutions. On the State of Mississippi stage he was the Chairman of Governor William Winter's 1982 Blue Ribbon Committee on Education which led to Mississippi's nationally recognized education reforms. He and Governor Winter were life-long friends and often found themselves supporting effort upon effort together. He was appointed by Governor Bill Allain to the citizen-led State Department Board of Education, where he was unanimously elected as that Board's first chairman and served on the Board for ten years, serving five as Chairman. He was a leader in the successful effort to pass the 1987 Mississippi Highways Act that finally brought safer 4-lane roads to our state. He was one of five successful plaintiffs to the State of Mississippi challenging the manner of funding 16th Section Land. He was the first leader to challenge our state and region to provide tuition-free community college, a visionary idea accomplished recently for our region. He served as Chairman of the Mississippi Economic Council in 1963-1964 and remained on the MEC's Board of Governors until his death. In 1987 he ran unsuccessfully for Governor of the State, losing a close election to then State Auditor Ray Mabus. However, he always maintained that the campaign was "a great experience giving him the chance to make thousands of new friends from all over the state". Many always believed that he was "the best Governor Mississippi never had". When asked why he thought he lost, he replied, "I've been lucky all my life!" On the national scene, Mr. Reed was appointed by President George H. W. Bush as the Chairman of the National Advisory Council on Education. Mr. Reed maintained that "racial reconciliation" was the paramount issue of his generation and he steadfastly put his energy and heart into pulling and pushing Mississippi beyond its past. He was a too rare white leadership voice when in 1963 as President-Elect of the Mississippi Economic Council he toured the state calling on citizens to keep their public schools open and integrate our schools peacefully. He was a loyal supporter of Mission Mississippi, an organization promoting racial harmony. Locally, he joined many like-minded white friends who refused to build an all-white private school in Tupelo, and believed this commitment led directly to Tupelo's social and economic development and its reputation as Mississippi's most progressive city. He also served as the only white southerner on the Race and Religion Committee of the national United Methodist Church, as it led Methodism's merging of the white and black congregations. In 2001 he and Governor William Winter led the movement to remove the Confederate Battle Flag from our State Flag. Though the effort failed, and was quite controversial, it was another example of his willingness to do what he believed was the right thing, regardless of the consequences He was honored to have been presented The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major Award in 2002. He loyally followed Vanderbilt sports - despite this often futile exercise - and was elected President of the National Vanderbilt Alumni Association in 1973. (He did live to see the baseball team win its national championship in 2014.) He was a devoted husband for 52 years to his wife Frances and a loyal and loving father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He would often say, somewhat tongue in cheek, "I never fail to give my children the benefit of my advice." He and his wife loved to travel with friends and family, and he particularly cherished an evening of cocktails around a piano bar followed by dinner peppered with lively, happy conversation. They were constant supporters of Tupelo's cultural organizations and were recognized as philanthropic leaders at CREATE. He was a good athlete and enjoyed playing sports well into his 80's. In 1951 he won both the Tupelo Country Club Golf Championship and the City Tennis Doubles Championship. He went on to win several Charlie Close Tennis Tournament Doubles Championships. But playing and enjoying fellowship with his friends, not winning, was his real joy along with staying in shape. When he returned to Tupelo in 1948 he began a 60-year plus daily habit of joining a group of friends in a downtown Tupelo morning coffee club, which made for many a happy half-hour. His sense of humor was one of his most endearing qualities and it helped him become - along with hours of thoughtful preparation - one of the South's most delightful and inspirational public speakers. A book containing some of these speeches, "A Time To Speak", by Danny McKenzie published in 2009, has preserved some of his best. Mr. Reed was a life-long voracious reader. In his later years he averaged reading two books a week, and always had a tape of Great College Lectures playing in his car - at a very loud volume once his hearing began to lessen. He believed in the value of having heroes. His faith was a foundation of his life, and you could find him in his regular pew at First United Methodist Church every Sunday he was in town for over 90 years. He taught a young adult Sunday School class there for 30 years. He served as a Trustee of Millsaps College, which in 2015 awarded him the honorary degree of Doctor of Public Service. He was inspired by Jesus' teachings and tried to live his life accordingly. He was predeceased by his parents, Bob and Hoyt Reed, his brothers and sisters-in-law Bob (Betty) Reed and Bill (Kitty) Reed. Services honoring his life will be 11 a.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Fred Britton officiating. Lewis Whitfield, Billy Crews and Former Governor William Winter will deliver eulogies. Graveside services with military honors will follow at Tupelo Memorial Park. His grandchildren will serve as honorary pallbearers. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday in Wesley Hall at First United Methodist Church. W. E. Pegues Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.  He is survived by his four children: Jack Reed, Jr. (Lisa), Camille Sloan (Crofton), Catherine Dale Mize (Paul), Scott Reed (Annette); twelve grandchildren: Frances Clayton, Kirk Reed Forrester (Tate), Claude Clayton, III (Roxie), Jack Reed, III (Ashley), Paul Mize, III (Bonnie), Bennett Mize, Dakin Reed, Lilla Reed, Rollin Sloan (Spring), Shipman Sloan (Anna Kathryn), Spencer Sloan, Crofton Sloan, III; ten great grandchildren; his business associates Lex Jackson (Judith) and Clyde Biddle , and all of his loyal and appreciated fellow employees at Reed's, a special friend, Mary Catron, and special friends Willie Pierce and Peewee Warren, as well as later in life caretakers and many, many friends and relatives who made his life a wonderful journey. Memorials may be made to the Jack and Frances Reed Endowment Fund in care of CREATE, P.O. Box 1053, Tupelo, MS 38802. Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.peguesfuneralhome.com
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