Catherine J Reeves

Catherine J. Reeves passed away at home early Monday morning, June 27, 2016, at the age of 86. She was predeceased by her parents George and Sarah Johnson; her husband, Billy Edward Reeves; her son, Mark Edward Reeves; two of her brothers, James Lee Johnson and Earl Graves Johnson; and her dearest friend, Sarah Ann White. She is survived by her brother Bill Johnson (Janice "Ziggy"); her son, Gary Reeves (Kathy); her grandchildren, Janet Reeves Lewis (Jeremy), Eric Reeves, and Steven Reeves (Jill); her great-grandchildren, Jonathan and Justin Lewis; and her grand-dog, Gabby. She is fondly remembered for Sunday family lunches, Christmas Eve parties that were practically family reunions, and 4th of July BBQ festivities with a great view of the Birmingham fireworks. Born Margaret Catherine Johnson, she grew up alongside three brothers. At the age of 13, Catherine was baptized at the 60th Street Church of Christ, where her grandfather James David Graves was one of the elders. Although she was a tomboy, she preferred living in the city, and pressed her parents to transfer her to Woodlawn High School, where she graduated. On Feb. 18, 1949, she married Bill Reeves. She attended Huffman Church of Christ for more than sixty years, and saved the congregation's first bulletin, dated Sept. 16, 1956 in her meticulous files. They raised two wonderful sons, Mark and Gary, then she earned her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education at UAB where she was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa in 1969. She went on to earn her Master's degree in 1973 and AA in 1977. At the time of her retirement in 1990, she was teaching third grade at Alberta Shields School. Mrs. Reeves was also an honored friend of the Gamma chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma and a frequent guest at meetings. Services will be held at Ridout's Trussville chapel on Thursday, June 30, 2016 with visitation at 1:30, followed by the funeral at 2:30. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.