Jeanne Adams Reedy

Jeanne Adams Reedy was always late. If Jeanne told you that she’d arrive somewhere at 6:00, it was safe to say she wouldn’t be there until 6:15 at the earliest (and she was liable to blame a lack of parking). So it was no surprise to her family when Jeanne lived several days longer than doctors at Baptist Medical Center South predicted after she was transferred into palliative care toward the end of a brave fight with a rare blood disorder. Her unpunctual passing occurred on the morning of March 7, 2024, in Montgomery, Alabama. Jeanne transitioned into her next grand adventure in the company of the love of her life, Dr. Edward Reedy. She spent her final days surrounded by family and friends while rocking out to the tunes of legendary artists like Frank Sinatra and Elvis. Sadly, Jeanne’s beloved dogs, Jet and Freeway, were not permitted to join the party. But they were there in spirit.

Jeanne was born to the late Edward and Mabel Adams on Oct. 17, 1954, in Washington, DC. She was raised in Montgomery County, MD. Jeanne was the middle child. Her late brother, Jack, was the oldest. Her sister, Linda, was the baby of the group. From a young age, Jeanne had a strong work ethic and bought her first bike with her own money. Her first job was folding a neighbor’s laundry for 25 cents a basket. This was apparently a formative experience, because Jeanne avoided folding laundry like the plague for the rest of her life. She also hated ironing — her preferred dewrinkling method was to throw a wet sock in the dryer.

Jeanne often described herself as a quiet child. She liked to play in the woods with her friends, and generally avoided getting into trouble. But she was not totally averse to childhood tomfoolery. Jeanne and a friend, for example, once decided to pour dog food into the trunk of someone’s car, which understandably was not appreciated by the owner of the vehicle.

She graduated from Wheaton High School, where she played tennis. Jeanne had a lifelong love affair with the sport and was fiercely competitive on the court. She particularly enjoyed giving a good whooping to male opponents.

Jeanne was the first person in her family to graduate from college, receiving a B.S. in Business Administration from Towson State University in 1980. But as one of the most empathetic and approachable people you might ever meet, Jeanne found her true calling as a therapist years later. She earned her master’s from the University of Maryland School of Social Work in 1998. Jeanne would go on to help numerous clients via her private practice, and also worked in a number of hospitals — where she developed strong friendships with her colleagues.

During Jeanne’s first marriage to John Couch Haltiwanger Jr., she lived in California for a time and briefly taught at a Catholic high school. Her eldest child, Meagan, was born in Los Angeles in 1985. But it wasn’t long before the family moved back to Maryland and Jeanne’s son, John III, would soon join in on the fun. He was born in the nation’s capital in 1988. There was nothing Jeanne reveled in more than being a mother. Though she sometimes dressed them in questionable outfits when they were too young to object, Jeanne adored her children and never missed an opportunity to let them know. She made every single holiday so special for her kids. She baked the most delicious cookies for Christmas, and was a big fan of a good Easter egg hunt. Jeanne loved going on adventures with her kids — she took them on trips to Hawaii, Ireland, Tunisia, and beyond. She wanted them to have all the opportunities she never had growing up, and worked tirelessly to raise open-minded, warmhearted humans.

Jeanne met Ed in the early 2000s. He was a game-changer. On paper, they were an unlikely match. Jeanne was an anti-war liberal who couldn’t keep track of her car keys. Ed was in the Navy, libertarian, and exceptionally organized. But they ultimately fit together like pieces in a puzzle. Jeanne and Ed married in 2004, making her a stepmom to his three children: Kyle, Lucy, and Andi.

In part thanks to Ed’s career in the Navy, Jeanne lived and traveled across the world. She saw the Great Wall in China, snorkeled in Okinawa, popped into some pubs in Scotland, met some elephants in Thailand, and so much more. She was perpetually curious and never stopped asking questions.

Jeanne’s favorite place was the beach. Like a true Marylander, she was never happier than when she was near water. She had an infectious, cacophonous laugh. She found Robin Williams particularly hilarious. “Mrs. Doubtfire” was one of her favorite films (and one of the few movies she actually remembered watching). She found so much joy in music, and passed this trait on to her kids. Jeanne wasn’t a regular mom, she was a cool mom — she took her son to see Aerosmith when he was 14.

Jeanne was also an incredible grandma (grammie) to Meagan’s children, Owen and Julian, and Lucy’s child, Cora. She loved them dearly, and her eyes lit up whenever she talked about them.

She will be remembered as an extraordinarily kind and loving human who always went out of her way to ensure that the people in her life knew how much she appreciated them. Though Jeanne could be forgetful, she never missed a birthday. She was the type of person who always showed up. She never wanted people to feel left out or ostracized. While she lived in College Park, Maryland, Jeanne invited her Jewish neighbors over for Christmas morning breakfast every single year.

The world is less bright without Jeanne in it. Her family cannot begin to express how greatly she will be missed. But her love was so infinite that they will never stop feeling its warm embrace. Keeping her memory alive will not be difficult, because a life as big as Jeanne’s is impossible to forget.

A family and friends visitation for Jeanne will be held Saturday, March 16, 2024 at 10:00 AM at First Christian Church, 1705 Taylor Road, Montgomery, AL 36117, followed by a celebration of life church service at 11:00 AM.