Ouachita County Louisiana Archives Obituaries.....REEVES, FRED LARRY July 23, 2017 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: GINA BROWN rootsgirl36@gmail.com August 20, 2017, 9:54 am News Star World - July 26, 2017 FRED LARRY REEVES United States Army Colonel (Retired) Fred Larry Reeves, Sr., 80, of Fayetteville, GA, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Sunday, July 23, 2017. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army for 30 years and as an educator for more than 25 years. He was born in Monroe, LA, on February 21, 1937, to Frances and John David Reeves and called Monroe "home" for more than 40 years. He was married to the late Patricia "Pat" Holloway Reeves, the love of his life, for 46 years. Larry was a long-time member of First Baptist Church in Monroe and of New Hope Baptist Church in Fayetteville where he taught Sunday School for more than 25 years. Larry was preceded in death by his wife Pat and his parents. He is survived by his son, Colonel (Retired) Larry Reeves, Jr. (Jen) of Vandenberg AFB, CA; his daughter, Jana Wiggins (Ben) of Watkinsville, GA; his grandchildren, Blake Wiggins, Leah Grace Wiggins, Morgann Schmeckenbecher (Russell) and Mitchell Reeves; his great-grandson, C.J. Schmeckenbecher; his brother Terry Reeves (Linda) of Monroe; and many special in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins and countless friends. He graduated from Neville High School in Monroe in 1955 where he was president of his class and a standout baseball and football player. He was a lifelong fan of the Tigers, even serving on the coaching staff in the early years of his career, and was awarded the Louisiana AAA Coach of the Year in 1967. He earned a Bachelor's degree from Northwestern State University of Louisiana, where he continued his baseball career, and a Master's degree in education from Northeast Louisiana University. Following his military retirement in 1990, he earned a Specialist's degree in educational leadership from the University of West Georgia and later retired from the Fayette County School System after serving as the system's director of counseling and testing. Larry's three decades of service to his country in the United States Army were marked by many awards, including the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal, among many others. He was passionate about the ministry and people of New Hope Baptist Church and considered the members of his Sunday School class and the church staff as his family. The men of his class will serve as honorary pallbearers during his memorial service. One of Larry's greatest joys included making mission trips to Belarus, China and Wales sharing the love and good news of Jesus Christ. However, his heart truly belonged to the people of Wales where he spent two weeks every year over the past 14 summers, including his last trip just two weeks prior to his passing. Larry also made it his life's mission to reach men and teens who were in prisons and jails across Georgia and throughout the southern states with the love of Jesus through the Bill Glass Behind the Walls Prison Ministry. He spent many weekends inside fenced recreation yards offering encouragement and speaking through steel bars giving hope to those who were incarcerated. Larry will be remembered as a generous man who loved his family and friends fiercely and with great loyalty. Moreover, his quick wit and dry sense of humor will keep those friends and family members laughing for many years to come as they keep his memory alive with stories of "The Colonel." Lastly, he had become an avid fan of the Georgia Bulldogs, both of the football team and the women's softball team, and spent many Saturdays in Athens between the hedges with his friend and comrade, Ray Gardner. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, July 27, 2017 at New Hope Baptist Church, 551 New Hope Road, Fayetteville, GA 30214, with Pastor Rhys Stenner officiating. A graveside service with full military honors will follow at New Hope Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 4:00-6:00 PM on Wednesday, July 26, 2017 at Mowell Funeral Home, Fayetteville, and beginning at 10:00 AM at the church prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the New Hope Baptist Church Wales Mission Fund in memory of Larry Reeves. Donations may be sent to 551 New Hope Road, Fayetteville, GA, 30214. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/ouachita/obits/r/reeves6419nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/lafiles/ File size: 4.8 Kb