Wanda Lee Rebecca Reaves

Wanda Lee Rebecca Hill Reaves May 10, 1922 – March 19, 2014 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. – 2 Corinthians 9:7 Wanda Reaves was both: cheerful and a giver. She loved to laugh and she lived to give. No one enjoyed laughing more than she did, even in her last years as her mental abilities began to fade. She looked for the humor in every situation and usually found it. As the wife of a Methodist minister, Jack Reaves, she used humor to encourage him and others through difficult situations. Smiles abounded when Wanda was around. Her life was devoted to serving others as a pastor’s wife, mother, friend, neighbor – and stranger. No one was beyond her help when she knew help was needed. Even when her own needs were barely being met, she found ways to reach out. She accompanied her giving with encouragement never expecting anything in return. Wanda Lee Rebecca Hill was born in Edgefield, South Carolina to a large family of share croppers. Her early successes included the days she could pick more cotton than her brothers. Her aunt Reba gave her the opportunity to attend business school in Columbia, an act of generosity from which she benefitted her entire life. With World War II brewing, their Presbyterian church held a regular social for the soldiers at Fort Jackson. It was at one of these events she met Jack and began a love story that would inspire others and serve as a model for the families they would serve together. Their first child, Jackie, was born while Jack was fighting in North Africa. Towards the end of the war, he was seriously wounded in the South Pacific Theater and spent many months in the hospital recovering, even as other soldiers returned home. Jack and Wanda moved to Atlanta because he had a job as a soda “jerk” at Rich’s department store when he was drafted into the service and employers were required to give jobs back to returning veterans. It was here that their second child, Chuck, was born as Jack moved up the corporate ranks at Rich’s. During a difficult time in the war Jack had vowed to God that if survived he would serve the Lord as a pastor. When it became clear that he had to honor his commitment, Jack went back to college full time and Wanda went to work to support the family. Because of her business school education, she was able to find some of the best positions available. Not only did she not complain, she sought out others in the organization who loved to laugh and lived to give. Once ordained, the North Georgia Conference of the Methodist Church assigned them to Forest Park Methodist Church. Wanda became a full-time pastor’s wife and mother and another child, Debe, was added to the family. In every church assignment, Wanda exemplified herself as the person who would help. She could be depended upon whenever anyone had a genuine need. People who did not have family nearby were often found around our dinner table on Sundays and special seasons so they would not have to eat alone. We called them "Mother's strays." They were always welcome, and somehow there was always enough food. Towards the end of her life she was being moved to a facility that could assist with her declining mental and physical abilities. While sitting in the strange lobby unsure of what was happening and not wanting it to happen, she saw a woman weeping. She went to the woman, put her arm around her, gave the woman her handkerchief, and before long had the woman smiling. The Lord loves a cheerful giver. For a copy of her autobiography, go to www.ChuckReaves.com/Wanda.pdf Memorial service plans will be announced later. In lieu of flowers the family has requested that donations be made to the Methodist Children’s Home, 500 S Columbia Drive, Decatur, GA 30030 404.327.5820