Raymond C. Reed

Within weeks of his 98th birthday, Raymond Morgan Reed of Smyrna, Georgia passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 9, 2014. He had lived a long life filled with service to his country and his state, a successful law practice, and a large and loving family.

Born September 22, 1916, in Smyrna, Georgia: Raymond attended Smyrna High School and graduated from Marietta High School. He moved to Knoxville, Tennessee to work for TVA. His co-workers were having so much fun at the University of Tennessee that he enrolled there and joined the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, in August, 1942, he graduated with the Degree of Bachelor of Laws and immediately reported to the U.S. Navy, serving from 1942 to 1945 as Ensign. Lieutenant Junior Grade, and Lieutenant. In February, 1943, he graduated from Officers Training at the Naval Midshipmen School at the University of Notre Dame and reported to the Pacific for duty during WWII .

Raymond started practicing law in an unlikely place, the Mariana Islands in the South Pacific, representing some of his fellow servicemen who had legal problems after his tour of duty was completed, he stayed for an extra month to finish his cases. After a stint as a midshipman instructor at Notre Dame University, he started his very successful legal career in Marietta, Georgia . Raymond served as the Cobb County Attorney for eight years. During his legal career, some of his clients were Atlanta Gas Light, L & N Railroad, Bank of Smyrna, First Bank and Trust, U.S.F. and G. Insurance Company and Saint Paul Insurance Company in 1946, he was admitted to the State Bar Association of Georgia and recognized in 1996

for fifty years of service. He was a

member of the Cobb Bar Association and served as President in 1963-1964. He was a member of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association and of the International Association of Insurance Council.

In addition to his law career, Raymond also served eight tumultuous years in the Georgia General Assembly House of Representatives representing Cobb County. In his initial term he attracted nation wide publicity when he co-authored a bill with fellow lawmaker, John Greer, to de-hood the Ku Klux Klan. The bill was passed several years later. After not running for the next term, he returned to the legislature and served three additional consecutive terms, 1954-1960 Later in 1955, he again captured the national spotlight when he opposed his fellow representatives by speaking out against a General Assembly resolution calling for impeachment of the members of the US Supreme Court. Raymond sponsored and obtained passage of the bill permitting a wife to testify for or against her husband, changing the existing law.

He served as a Director on the Board of the Bank of Smyrna and The First Bank. and Trust of Marietta. He joined the Marietta Country Club in June, 1947, and Wildcat Cliffs Country Club in Highlands, NC in 1990 Formerly, he was a member of the Atlanta Country Club and Pine Tree Country Club.

He was married to Mary France Taylor Reed from 1947 until her death in 1970 . He is survived in death by his loving and devoted wife of 38 years, Mary Love Reed; his children, Debbie Reed Hudson (Paul Hudson), Patricia Reed Carter (Ben Carter), and Raymond Morgan Reed Jr. ( Antonia Reed ) ; his grandchildren , Paul L. Hudson , III ( Megan Hudson ) , Taylor Reed Butkus ( Michael Butkus ) , Palmer Carter Stratton (Douglas Stratton ) , Benjamin M. Carter , Bonney Reed-Knight ( Paul Knight ) , and Emily Reed Underwood (Bo Underwood ) ; and his great granddaughters , Anna Grace Hudson and Reed Morgan Butkus .

A graveside service will be held at Kennesaw Memorial Park , 1306 Whitlock Avenue , Marietta , Ga. 30064 on Friday September 12 , 2014 at 11:00 AM. Following the service , the family will receive friends at a reception at his home in Smyrna.

Memorial contributions may be made in Raymond’s honor to :

Paralyzed Veterans of America

7 Mill Brook Road

P.O. Box 9517

Wilton , NH 03086-9511 or

Disabled American Veterans

P.O Box 14301

Cincinnati , Ohio 45250-0301

Castellaw Funeral Home , Smyrna Ga. in charge of arrangements

Burial arrangements under the direction of Kennesaw Memorial Park.