Jane Elizabeth Tomlinson Reid

Jane Elizabeth Tomlinson Reid was born in Holly Springs, MS on February 21, 1938. On January 30, 2013 at age 74, Godtook away her pain from cancer and carried her to heaven. In those years in between, she spent her youth in Holly Springs where she was a cheerleader at Holly Springs High School. Her parents, (who preceded her in death), Solon H. Tomlinson and Maudie Brown Tomlinson moved their family to Memphis while Jane was in high school. She graduated from Central High. One Sunday afternoon in her junior year, Jim Reid picked her up from choir practice for a blind date set up by a friend. They would double date with the other couple. Little did she know that their blind date would bring “the man of her dreams” into her life and her life would change forever. She was a tiny thing, only 4'10”. He was over 6 feet tall. She was quick to laugh with dark brown eyes that showed every emotion. He was quiet and reserved with beautiful blue eyes that twinkled every time he looked at her. Jane and Jim married in July 1956 at Union Avenue Baptist Church. In the first years of their marriage, they lived in Stephens, Arkansas where they had their first child, James Reid, Jr. Soon after the birth of James they returned to Memphis where their daughter Ronda was born. Jane was a dedicated wife and mother that loved and cared for her family. Jim Reid worked for DuPont before starting a home building business, Reid Homes, Inc. Jane supported him in this new endeavor and provided a warm, cozy place to come home to that was filled with love and support. While her children were growing up and attending school, she was active in the Georgian Hill PTA, volunteered as room mother, and helped with Vacation Bible School at Georgian Hills United Methodist Church. The Reids were avid “Tiger basketball” fans and rarely missed a game. It was always a delight to watch them dancing to “their” song, “The Great Pretender” by the Platters...Jim so tall with his gray hair and twinkling blue eyes, and Jane always smiling and laughing, so very tiny in his arms. They were so much in love, it is hard to imagine one without the other. After her own children married, grandchildren came along and Jane became known as “Nanny”. She was the fun grandmother who hosted swimming parties and baked homemade cinnamon rolls. Nanny loved picking her grandchildren up from school and would love them, hug them and give “lipstick kisses”. Nanny would attend as many basketball games, soccer games and school functions as possible and could be heard cheering from the sidelines no matter what the score may be. Jane was more than a wife, mother and grandmother. She was the symbol of a loving home for her family and their hearts are broken at her passing. She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Jim Reid; her son, James Reid, Jr. (Metra); her daughter, Ronda Reid Jacques (Gary); six grandchildren, Michael Jacques (Rachel), James Baker, Matthew Reid, Josh Baker, Aaron Jacques and Chelsea Reid. Jane Reid also leaves her brother, Solon Tomlinson, Jr. (Evelyn) and her sister, Bonnie Tomlinson Dover (Richard) as well as numerous nieces, nephews and friends. Visitation will be at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 Germantown Road, from 5-7 p.m., Friday February 1, with funeral services on Saturday at 10 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Memorial Gardens. The family requests that any memorials be made to Methodist Residential Hospice, 6416 Quince Road. Online condolences may be made at www.memphisfuneralhome.net Memphis Funeral Home And Memorial Gardens 3700 N. Germantown Rd. (901)725-0100