Delia Bridwell Reynolds

Delia Bridwell Reynolds, 89, of Atlanta, Georgia, passed away peacefully on August 8, 2025, after a progressive illness. Born December 9, 1935 in Claxton, Georgia to Blanche and Harry Bridwell, she grew up near Savannah and graduated as valedictorian from Effingham Academy. Delia is a member of the Georgia Salzburger Society having family lineage that established residency pre-dating Georgia as a British Colony.

She attended Weslyan College in Macon, Georgia from 1954 to 1956 as a music major and played on the NCAA women’s golf team. She earned a BA in English from Emory University in 1958, where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma; and expressed her love of music as a soprano soloist at school and in the Atlanta area. At Emory, Delia met her husband Richard through his sister Marianna. After graduation, Delia taught English in Dekalb County and enjoyed teaching, arts, and crafts. She and Richard married at The Cathedral of Christ the King on November 21, 1959.

Delia became a mother in the 1960’s to three sons — Richard "Rich", Michael, and Timothy "Tim". The family settled in Brookhaven, where Delia was in so many ways “Mom” to the neighborhood children. She continued that role through high school and college always engaged with her son’s friends. A devoted parishioner and choir member at the Cathedral of Christ the King, Our Lady of Assumption, and the basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, she instilled strong values in her family.

Arts, sports, and hobbies played a major role in family life. Mom was a loud supporter at every sporting event. During this time, Delia often endured steam train excursions, packing picnics and reading spy novels. She supported Tim and Rich's railroading hobby — Tim later became an expert historian and modeler. She continued to pursue music, mastering piano pieces by Bach and Chopin, and even learned guitar after buying one with S&H green stamps. She taught Rich to play, launching over forty years of his enjoyment with the instrument.

A pivotal point in Delia’s life came when she and Michael began making miniatures. She was a founding member of the Atlanta Miniature Society and held leadership roles there, as well as in NAME and IGMA. Delia quickly gained international recognition, starting to sell her work in 1979. Her pieces have been featured in shops, shows, and museums across the U.S. via her business, Miniatures Limited. While she specialized in chandeliers and lamps, she also created wired room boxes, houses, and vignettes, dedicating over 40 years to her passion.

Delia became grandmother to Ashlyn, Ansley, Richard, Mary, and Kathryn, encouraging their interests in arts, music, band, crafts, and hobbies. She actively supported them at sporting events and shared her passion for literature and reading, always supporting her family. Holidays — including Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and birthdays — were especially meaningful, with Delia passing down traditions like decorating the Christmas tree. She cherished family, faith, and celebration.

Delia, a remarkable woman known for her humor, generosity, strong faith, and unwavering love, passed away in her ninetieth year. Her family cherishes their final visits and, though saddened by her loss, finds comfort in believing she is at peace.

She was preceded in death by her parents Harry and Blanche Bridwell, sister Jo Elaine “Bitsy” Regan, and nephew Justin Regan. Delia is survived by her husband of nearly 66 years, Richard J. Reynolds III; her sons Richard John Reynolds IV with wife Lee and children Jennifer Ansley, Mary Bridwell, and Richard V; Michael Edwin Reynolds; and Timothy Bridwell Reynolds with wife Deanna, their daughter Ashlyn Hudson and her husband Logan, and Kathryn Reynolds. She is also survived by her brother Harry Bridwell Jr., nephew Eric Regan, and extended family including Marianna and Solon Patterson, their children John with wife Nancy and children Mary Hansen, John Jr., and Luke; Joseph with wife Carolyn and children Annabelle, George, and Mary Claire; George and Dale Patterson, and son Pete.

Visitation for Delia will be held on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM, with a Rosary at 5:00 PM, at H.M. Patterson & Son Oglethorpe Hill, 4550 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA. A Memorial Mass will take place on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at 10:00 AM at the Cathedral of Christ the King, 2699 Peachtree Rd, Atlanta, GA, followed by a Committal Service at 11:30 AM at Westview Cemetery, 1680 Westview Dr SW, Atlanta, GA.