Henry Lee Reed, Jr.

Obituary

Henry Lee Reed, Jr., was born July 20, 1932, and died peacefully on Tuesday, December 31, 2013. Born the sixth child of Henry Lee Reed, Sr. and Vines Baxter Reed (both deceased), he grew up in a loving home in Orangeburg, S.C.

Henry left home in 1950 and joined the Army where he served for four years. After his service in the army, he relocated to Washington, D.C. where he met and married his wife, Wilma V. Davis (deceased). They eventually relocated to Bridgeport, Connecticut where he worked as a mechanic for the U.S. Postal Service in their downtown station until he retired in 1990.

After his retirement, Henry moved back “home” to Orangeburg, S.C., to the very house he lived in with his parents and siblings so many years before. He established a routine of waking up early in the morning and driving to pick up his daily papers. Henry was an avid reader and always kept up with the news and current events. He read each paper from beginning to end and would even reread them later in the evening just in case he missed anything. Even as his health began to fail he continued his routine of getting up daily to walk outside and get his newspaper from the driveway. He’d spend the next several hours sitting in the sun reading.

Henry, affectionately known as “Reed”, “Bub”, or “Uncle Bub” will be remembered for his generous and helpful spirit. He often spent time after he retired visiting friends and helping the elderly or infirmed. As he got older, he especially enjoyed spending time sitting under the pecan tree talking with his neighbor of many years, Preston Sanders (Mr. Pres). The two looked out for each other and their families over many years.

Henry was a small man, but he had a big voice. He was a man of few words, but spoke well and proud when he felt he had something to say. Always in control, he lived (and died) on his own terms. We will always remember him for that.

Henry is survived by his daughters, Barbara Green, Vines B. Reed, and Gina Williams; his sisters, Arlene Jamison, and Adele Murph; sister-in-law Carrie Reed ; grandchildren Corneilus Green, Yolanda Green, and Marlette Green; a host of nieces and nephews, cousins, other family and dear friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, wife, and siblings, Stelman Reed, Abraham Reed, Bernell Jones, Eugene Reed, and Matthew Reed.

Memorial Services for Mr. Henry Lee Reed Jr., 81, of 1156 College St., Orangeburg, SC will be held at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, January 4th, 2014 in the Chapel of Simmons Funeral Home, Orangeburg, SC. Condolences may be sent to www.simmonsfuneralhome.com or www.triadcremationsociety.com

Cremation services entrusted to Triad Cremation Society & Chapel.