Charles Edward Reeves Jr.

The Very Reverend C. Edward Reeves, Jr. died peacefully Wednesday, December 30th, at the age of 89. Dean Reeves, as many knew him, was the only son of Charles E. Reeves and Pauline Gay Reeves of Millen, Ga. His father was a grocer and his mother a school teacher.

He was born in Sandersville, GA on March 7, 1926. A voracious reader with an inquisitive and questioning mind, he attended Emory University graduating with a BA in 1946. His studies were interrupted though by World War II. He took his commitment to Country seriously, and served proudly in the U.S. Navy being stationed at Pearl Harbor. Upon returning to Emory for graduation, he was a member of Kappa Alpha fraternity –an association of friends he enjoyed his whole life. He told stories of his father having secured a place on the Ford dealer’s list due to scarcity of cars after the war. Upon his return from the war his father presented him a brand new red convertible. He never had a shortage of girls and guys wanting to ride especially the Agnes Scott girls. Atlanta was a fun place at that time with many fond memories for him.

The call to the ministry came. He completed his Bachelor of Divinity at Emory’s Candler School of Theology in 1952. A Methodist at that time, he was assigned to his first church at Isle of Hope outside of Savannah, GA. Later he went to serve churches in Reidsville and Macon, GA. Ten years had quickly gone by. His sense of theology prompted him to feel that the Episcopal Church was where his talents and calling could best be used. He attended the Episcopal Seminary at Sewanee and then became a Cannon at the Cathedral of St. Phillip in Atlanta. A talented preacher and sought after pastor to all ages, he was called in 1963 to St. Paul’s Augusta as the youngest priest to serve one of the oldest Episcopal Churches in Georgia.

In 1974, St. Mary’s Cathedral Memphis called him to be Dean of the Cathedral. He served there for fourteen years, helping the church grow and prosper. In 1988 he moved to Birmingham to become Vice Dean of the Cathedral Church of the Advent and later interim Dean. Upon retirement in 1995, he enjoyed helping multiple churches as interim rector -his passion for helping people and preaching the Gospel always being evident.

Dean Reeves is survived by his wife of 59 years, Darline Jackson Reeves, a son Charles E. Reeves III (Pamela) of Morganton, GA, a son Randolph Jackson Reeves of Memphis (Tony Henderson), and two grandsons whom he always described as “most satisfactory” Charles Taylor Reeves (Andrea) of Arlington, VA and John Edward Reeves of Miami, FL., and his nieces Cynthia Eidson (Frank), Grace France (Scott), and predeceased by niece Jennifer Jackson.

Visitation and services will be held at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Poplar Avenue, on Saturday, January 9, 2016, at 1:00PM. The funeral service will start at 2:00PM with a reception following in the Parish Hall. In lieu of flowers the family requests that contributions be made to St. Mary’s Cathedral, The Cathedral Church of the Advent (Birmingham), the Trezevant Foundation or to a charity of your choice.