Charles Henry Reed

Charles is survived by his wife, Ida Nix Reed, of Sulphur, LA; his children, Ashleigh Reed Smith and husband, David of Gautier, MS; Leslie Reed of Atlanta, GA; and Charles Henry Reed, II and wife, Jessica, of Sulphur, LA; his grandchildren, Caroline Grace Smith of Gautier, MS; and Charles Henry Reed, III, Camille Lucia Reed, and William Matthew Reed of Sulphur, LA; and his sisters, Tina Carlos Lawrence and husband, Brian, of Baton Rouge, LA; and Melba Carlos Zebrick and husband, Guy, of Memphis, TN. He is preceded in death by his parents, Willie and Una McFarlain Reed of Sulphur, LA; his daughter, Summer Lynn Reed, of Lafayette, LA; and close family friend, Roland Moss, of Sulphur, LA.

Charles was born on July 25, 1946, in New Orleans, LA, to Celina Bergeron and was subsequently adopted by his parents, Willie and Una Reed. Although Charles was brought up as an only child, he later connected with his sisters, Tina and Melba, and has enjoyed a close family relationship with them for many years. He graduated from Sulphur High School in 1964 and, although he never earned a college degree, he was a very intelligent, well-read man. In 1968, he married Ida Nix Reed, and they raised their family in Sulphur. As a father, Charles instilled values of compassion, hard work, and diligence in his children, lessons that would serve them well throughout their lives. His surviving children remember him as a compassionate, generous man who was always willing to help anyone in need regardless of their situation or circumstance in life and as a loving father who always encouraged them to pursue their goals and serve others. His friends and family also remember him as a man who loved to have a good time--never passing up an opportunity for riding his Harley, playing poker, dancing, or watching football with his friends. In fact, due to his dancing prowess, his classmates at Sulphur High School nicknamed him “Rockin’ Reed,” a moniker he wore with honor.

In 1990, Charles was elected mayor of Sulphur, LA, a city for which he had great love. From 1990-2002, his position as mayor allowed him to serve others on a much broader scale. While mayor, he always had the best interests of the city employees as well as his constituents at heart. In 1997, he was recognized as the West-Calcasieu Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year. Charles was also an active member of the Louisiana Municipal Association, an organization for which he served as district vice president, second vice president, vice president, and president over the years. Additionally, Charles was a member of the Sulphur Kiwanis Club, Lions Club, Sulphur Mines Association, Imperial Calcasieu Regional Planning and Development Commission, and other municipal groups. He also worked tirelessly in various philanthropic endeavors for the benefit of his community. He chaired the West Calcasieu Division of the United Way in 1997 and was honored with the Jim Leigh Memorial Campaign Award for record-setting fund-raising that year. He also spent many Thanksgiving holidays serving the less fortunate at the Lions Club community meal.

Charles was also a man of great faith who trusted in the Lord. A lifelong Catholic, he was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Sulphur, LA. Charles had a life-changing experience after making Cursillo #136 in 1981. He was not afraid to die, and he looked forward to spending eternity with Jesus as well as his loved ones who preceded him in death.

Charles passed away peacefully in his home after a short illness. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, a loyal friend, a man who loved to have a good time, and a leading figure in the community.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 20, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Sulphur. The Rev. Aubrey Guilbeau will officiate. Burial will be in Mimosa Pines Cemetery South in Carlyss under the direction of Hixson-Sulphur Memorial Funeral Home. Visitation will be held in the church on Thursday from 4-9 p.m. with a scripture service at 6 p.m., followed by a Cursillo Rosary service. Visitation will resume at the church on Friday from 9 a.m. until the time of service. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Charles’s life. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his memory to the Kawasaki Disease Foundation (www.kdfoundation.org). Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com.