Beatrice Reeves Kissel

Beatrice Reeves Kissel, 91, died on December 25, 2025. Bea was born on November 14, 1934 in Savannah, Georgia to Marjorie and Joseph Lane Reeves. She grew up with her siblings, Martha Carolyn Reeves (Martha) and Joseph Lane Reeves Jr. (Lane). They loved spending their weekends and summers on Tybee Island. Bea enjoyed life with a serious case of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out). She did not want to miss anything.

After graduating from high school, Bea attended the University of Georgia where she was a member of the Phi Mu Sorority. After completing her degree in Education, Bea moved to Birmingham Alabama to teach school where she met a sweet golfer named Jimmy Kissel. They married on June 13, 1959. She was always devoted to her Jimmy!

Bea and Jimmy began their life together in Birmingham, Al where they added two children to their family. James E. Kissel Jr (Jim) was born on May 10, 1960 and Carolyn Reeves Kissel was born on December 18, 1963. In 1965 Bea and Jimmy moved their family to Atlanta, Georgia for Jimmy to open his commercial roofing company, Southeastern Roof Decks. They all enjoyed spending time with their family on Lake Lanier and on Sea Pines Plantation in Hilton Head, South Carolina. And after their children were grown, Bea and Jimmy found settling in Highlands NC as their favorite place to relax, golf and enjoy close friends. Bea and Jimmy were inseparable and happily married for 63 years. She was a loving wife, mother, and caring friend. She loved her family more than anything. She was also incredibly smart, really sneaky smart. The kind of person that quietly makes sure no one knows she is the smartest person in the room.

Bea was accomplished at so many things: water sports, tennis, golf, hiking, duplicate bridge, and croquet. She ran a successful business with her friends, Hanover House Antiques LTD, Highlands, NC which featured British antiques. She loved the trips to England with her partners. Bea especially liked exchanging money for a day of shopping in London and having the banker exclaim: “you already spent all that money from yesterday.”

Bea was preceded in death by her mother, Marjorie Thomas Reeves; her father, Joseph Lane Reeves; her brother-in-law, Orrin Kenneth Rudd; her sister-in-law, Mary Lou Reeves and her beloved husband, Jimmy Kissel.

Bea is survived by her Children: son- Jim Kissel (Carol) of Santa Rosa Beach, FL.; her daughter- Carolyn Harden (Neal) of Athens, GA; her grandchildren: Sara Kissel of Johns Creek, GA; Reeves Kissel (Brittany) of Roswell, GA and her much loved great grandchildren: James and Peter Kissel. Bea is also survived by her sister-Martha Reeves Rudd, and her brother-Dr. Joseph Lane Reeves Jr. and many nieces and nephews.

There will be a Graveside Service at Arlington Memorial Park on January 7, 2026 at 11:00. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to:

Highlands Country Club Scholarship Fund

Highlands Country Club

981 Dillard Road

Highlands, NC 28741

Or

The Lenbrook Employee Appreciation Fund

Lenbrook Foundation

3747 Peachtree Road, NE

Atlanta, GA 30319