Jimmie Westmoreland Reynolds

Jimmie W. Reynolds, 94, died Sunday, March 7, 2021 at her residence at the Flowood Blake. A member of the greatest generation she conquered rheumatic fever as a child and fought a decades-long battle with high blood pressure, out of whack cholesterol, diabetes, and a BMI north of 35. More recently she grappled with Alzheimer’s disease and vanquished covid-19 only to have to reluctantly hang up her dancing shoes because of thinning bones and several fractures in places unmentionable.

The party won’t be the same without her and that’s pretty much the way she’d want it.

Jimmie was the youngest of four children born to W.D. “Tett” and Willie Vanderburg Westmoreland in Batesville, MS on July 9, 1926. She was the same age as Marilyn Monroe, Fidel Castro, and Queen Elizabeth II—although prettier, slightly less dictatorial, and far more regal than any of those contemporaries.

Because of Jimmie’s pre-natal jitterbugging her mother was certain she was carrying a boy. A name had already been chosen “James Eugene,” in honor of grandfathers, but quickly revised to “Jimmie Eugene” when, on arrival, certain anatomical facts could not be disputed.

Jimmie admitted to being a spoiled child and readily confessed that this phenomenon was one she had arranged herself, rather than it being bestowed by parents or siblings. Her education in the Batesville public schools prepared her for a life long calling as a nurse. Her education outside the public schools prepared her for the dance floor and life as femme fatale. She received her nursing degree from the University of Memphis in 1946 while perfecting the Lindy Hop, the Big Apple, the Push and the East Coast Swing in her spare time.

In 1949 she arrived in Clinton, MS with her young family and took the town by storm. She combined careers as wife, mother, angel of mercy, devoted friend, fashion maven and purveyor of joie de vivre with aplomb and smooth amalgamation.

For years she worked as an office nurse, softening the sting of many a hypodermic on behalf of frightened children. She dispensed kindness and compassion to the seriously ill, distributed confidence-building pats on the backs to flagging souls, and showed steadfast, unlimited empathy for those in fear, suffering heartache, or just down on their luck.

If you were unhappy with your own mom, or didn’t have one, she was an obliging and comforting, if temporary, substitute. She was a nurturing, wise parent, a considerate, generous neighbor and a fiercely proud optimist when it came to her adopted small town of Clinton. Lucky was the stranger who became her immediate best friend.

If the band needed boosting, she boosted. If the Little League team needed a fund drive for equipment or uniforms, count her in. When a Cub Scout or Girl Scout pack was deficient a den mother, she answered the call. Couldn’t sell all your Girl Scout cookies? She’d take them off your hands in a cash transaction along with a gentle warning delivered to your ear sotto voce: “Don’t tell anyone.”

Her abilities in the kitchen were reflected in the billowing waistlines of those frequenting her table. A Waldorf salad met perfection in her hands; her banana pudding was a feast for the gods.

Jimmie’s powers of persuasion were legendary. She once convinced a skeptical music director that her tone-deaf, clumsy son would make a wonderful addition to his precision marching band.

She was a connoisseur of schmaltzy gift cards, carefully underlining each word for added emphasis and triple underlining the “I love you” part.

An earlier marriage to Dr. L.B. Richardson ended in divorce. She was remarried later in life to Dr. E.D. Reynolds, a widower and the noblest of men. Jimmie got to expand her maternal duties and to radiate the incandescent warmth of her love to four more children and their descendants. She enjoyed eight years of companionable bliss with Dr. Reynolds before his death in 1989.

Jimmie Reynolds was a faithful servant of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, but retained a life long suspicion of any religion forbidding dancing, jazz or Elvis.

She was predeceased by her husband, Dr. E.D. Reynolds, her daughter Beverly Richardson Smith, grandson Jon Richardson, great granddaughter Zia Richardson, and step-daughters Didi Arfsen and Deborah Young. She is survived by sons Douglas and Brian Richardson, step-sons Darden (“Chip”) and Bruce Reynolds, as well as numerous beloved grandchildren, great grandchildren, nephews and nieces.

Memorial contributions may be made to Pinehaven Presbyterian Church, 2001 Pinehaven Dr, Clinton, MS 39056, the National Alzheimer’s Association or by a charitable gift or kind act to someone, somewhere in need.

Visitation will be held at Lakewood Memorial Funeral Home, 6011 Clinton Blvd, Jackson, MS on Friday, March 12, 5-7 PM and Saturday morning, March 13, 10-11 AM. A Chapel service will commence at 11 AM at Lakewood Funeral Home with a brief interment service following at the Lakewood Park Pavilion.

The chapel service will be livestreamed at https://www.facebook.com/LakewoodMemorial/

In person attendees are requested to wear masks and encouraged to dip their hands into molten lava in a cauldron near the registry.

The family offers thanks to Mr. Chad Polk and the attentive Blake staff for their many kindnesses to Jimmie and their affection for her over the years, and special thanks to Jimmie’s caregiver Heather Smiley for Heather’s dedicated, loyal and loving service.

Finally, right here, Jimmie requests that you queue up Abba’s “Dancing Queen,” and join her spirit in a spin around the room.