George Reed, Jr.

Graveside services for George Reed, Jr. will be held Saturday, June 27, 2020, at 12:00 PM at Graham Cemetery, with Brother Gary Davis officiating, burial to follow. George was a member of Mount Vernon Baptist Church.

Mr. George Reed Jr., age 69, of Meridian passed away Wednesday, June 24, 2020, at his home with his wife and girls.

George was a welder.  He learned to weld from his father as a teenager and used this skill to start a career at Structural Steel for 34 years. Steel is often used to frame buildings to offer support for walls and floors; to hold the building up.  That is what George did for his family; he made sure we all stuck together and held each other up.  He was the steel, the foundation.  George was a husband and father.  He loved Rita unconditionally for over 50 years; surrounding her with walls of love.  And just like a steel frame, he supported his three daughters to be strong independent women.  George was an artist.  He welded old rusty objects together to create beauty; he welded his family together to create strength.  He surrounded his home with creativity, love, and compassion.  George was a prankster and loved to bring joy and laughter to all of us.  (Unless you were the one getting pranked). He loved to make people happy; to hold us all up.  George was made of steel; his laugh and smile will live in our hearts forever.

Survivors include his wife of 49 years Rita Buckley Reed; daughters, Wendy Reed, Dana Reed, and Jodi Reed-Viken (Reanne); grandchildren, Abhaya Orzechowski, Pearin and Cedric Reed-Viken; sister-in-law, Glenda F. Buckley; special family member, James Murray, along with several nieces, nephews, and cousins; and family dog, Tiny.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Damon and Pearline Reed and one sister, Fran Boardman (Kenneth).

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in his honor to Upturn Arts – George Reed Jr. Memorial creARTive Grant Fund . ( https://bit.ly/GeorgeReedJrMemorialFund ). Cards and donations can be mailed to 4371 Dr. Brock Rd.  Meridian, MS 39307.

Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at robertbarhamffh.com