Juanita R. Green

Juanita Reeves Green passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 8, 2016, surrounded by her family and friends. She had a great run in her 90 years, learning much and sharing her wit and wisdom with many. Juanita Phair Reeves was born in Nashville on July 2, 1925, the daughter of Dr. Walter Reeves and Ethel Simmons. She lived in Nashville her entire life. Juanita also answered to “Gock.” The name given to her by her oldest grandson. It’s origin is unclear but by the time of her death she was as likely to be addressed as Gock as she was Juanita.

Gock attended schools Nashville and completed her education at Ward-Belmont College (now Belmont University) where she developed a lifelong love of literature and writing, skills served her well as a librarian for Vanderbilt Medical School and the Nashville Public Library.

She was a fervent believer in the dignity of all people and, during her many years at Waverly Place/Forest Hill United Methodist Church, was a co-founder of their Room in the Inn program, providing outreach, food, clothing and temporary lodging for Nashville’s homeless. She also served in a leadership role with the Nashville Union Rescue Mission.

In addition to her work in the community Juanita had a playful side. As a single mother she would often entertain her two children by following sirens, often in the middle of the night, to see what excitement was brewing. She was an avid participant in her church theatre group, taking on a wide range of entertaining roles.

Her family was the most important thing in her life. She Married Henry Green in 1966 and they had nearly 20 loving years together. Her children from a previous marriage are Michael Kidwell of Silver Spring, MD and Lesley K. Miller of White Bluff, TN. Michael and his wife Marlene Cohen are proud of their son, Alex Kidwell. Lesley is the mother of two fine young men – Jason and Joshua McClintoch. Jason and wife Emily gave Gock two great-grandchildren, Laney and Landon. Joshua and his wife Chelsee gave her two more great-grandchildren, Charlie and Sophie.

While she lived in Nashville her heart belonged to her favorite place in the world, Beersheba Springs located in the east Tennessee mountains and home to the Methodist Assembly Grounds. For many years she coordinated trips to Beersheba for Methodist families and their friends where everyone made memories to last a lifetime.

Juanita asked for a celebration of her life, not a somber funeral. The celebration begins Friday March 11, 2016 with visitation from five o’clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock in the evening at Woodlawn Roesch Patton Funeral Home 660 Thompson Lane and continues on Saturday March 12th from eleven in the morning until one o’clock in the afternoon at Forest Hills Methodist Church 1250 Old Hickory Boulevard in Brentwood. Funeral service will be at the church at one o’clock in the afternoon, followed by burial at Woodlawn Memorial Park. Donations in her honor can be made to Room in the Inn or Forest Hills United Methodist Church.