Dean Sherwood Gillespie Reeves

Dean Sherwood Gillespie Reeves, born August 26, 1935, daughter of Lyssa Dean Hunt and William Sherwood Gillespie, passed away peacefully on June 28, 2025 after a long struggle with dementia. With the exception of a short time with her husband while stationed in the army in Oklahoma and Texas, Dean was born and spent her entire life in Nashville. She attended Parmer School, Ward-Belmont, Harpeth Hall and Vanderbilt University. Dean was devoted to her family, her church and her community. She served on boards and worked tirelessly for many groups such as Harpeth Hall, Oak Hill School, Vanderbilt University, Fannie Battle Day Home, Florence Crittendon, the Ladies Hermitage Association, Belle Meade Plantation and the APTA, Cheekwood and the Horticultural Society of Middle Tennessee, where she served as president for two terms. Dean served many meals for the shut-ins with Meals on Wheels, making each person feel special. Her devotion to the ladies at the West End Home for Ladies was ever so sweet as her love for the residents at Monroe Harding where she was honored for many years of service.

Dean was one of the founding members of the Friends of Children’s Hospital, where she was responsible for naming the hospital as well as its red paper dolls insignia. She was a member of the Sow ‘n Grow Garden Club, Centennial Club and First Presbyterian Church, serving both in many capacities. Dean was a deacon and an elder and in a leadership role for many committees, and she could always be found doing anything that involved cooking, whether it was for Habitat for Humanity, the Downtown Presbyterian Church, Room In The Inn, or Safe Haven.

Of all Dean’s many accomplishments, she loved to share her experience as a volunteer at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. She is also the author of “From the Kitchen Door,” a compilation of the most loved recipes of her mother, Lyssa Dean Gillespie, with loving family notes, history and photos included. Dean is most proud of her family. She nurtured and cared for them and gave them the most welcoming and loving home. She loved to travel and needlepoint and celebrated every holiday with great joy.

Dean is predeceased by her brother, William Hunt Gillespie (Bullets). She is survived by her husband of 69 years, Robert Laws Reeves and her children, Lyssa Reeves Styers, Edith Elizabeth Reeves, Robert Laws Reeves, Jr. (Karen). She is survived by her grandchildren, Rachel Dean Styers Newman (Rudy), William Cody Reeves (Rebecca), and Robert Laws Reeves, III (longtime girlfriend Lana). The family would like to thank the nurses and staff at Woodcrest for being so extremely loving and professional.

A visitation will take place at 11:30 on Friday, July 11, 2025 at Blakeford Hall, Blakeford Independent Living, 11 Burton Hills Blvd., Nashville, TN 37215 with a funeral service to follow. A Celebration of Life will take place that afternoon from 2:00-4:00 at Belle Meade Country Club, 815 Belle Meade Blvd., Nashville, TN 37205.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church, Nashville and the Horticultural Society of Middle Tennessee at Cheekwood.