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Obituary for Rodger Clifton Reeves
Rodger Clifton Reeves, 82, of Madison, Mississippi was called home on Good Friday, April 15, 2022.
Rodger was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on February 25, 1940 to the late Clifton Tynes Reeves and Lottice Lee Reeves. He grew up in Brookhaven, Mississippi, graduating from Brookhaven High School in 1958, before heading off to Mississippi State University, where he graduated in 1962.
After college, he moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where he met his wife of nearly 57 years, Betty Lou (Asbridge) Reeves. It was in Memphis where he began his career in industrial sales, work that took him all over the South serving industries as varied as shipbuilding, paper milling, small manufacturing, public transit, gulf coast shrimping and fishing, and hardware distribution.
Rodger’s company transferred him to Tampa, Florida in 1968, where he moved with his wife and first child. Tampa was the family home for 11 years. Rodger’s two other children were born there, and when not at work, he enjoyed treating his family to Florida’s various tourist attractions and many Saturday and Sunday afternoons at Clearwater Beach. However enjoyable his time in Florida, Rodger was elated when in 1979 an opportunity opened up with his company to move his family to his native Mississippi. The family settled in Brandon, where they made great friends and memories over the next 25 years. With the children grown and out of college, Rodger and Betty Lou sold their Crossgates home in 2004 and moved to Madison, where they continued to build friendships and memories.
Rodger was raised in the First Baptist Church in Brookhaven, but became an Episcopalian in Memphis. He had a deep and abiding love of sacred music and sang in the choir at Calvary Episcopal Church in Memphis, at St. Christopher’s in Tampa and at St. Luke’s in Brandon. The family joined St. James in Jackson for its outstanding youth program while the children were in middle and high school. After they graduated, Rodger and Betty Lou made their way downtown to St. Andrew’s Cathedral and, most recently, had become members at Madison’s historic Chapel of the Cross. Rodger believed in Christian service and particularly enjoyed his many years of helping to prepare and serve meals to the poor and homeless at downtown Jackson’s Stewpot Community Kitchen.
Rodger was known for his sense of humor and his easy, infectious laugh. He was a great storyteller, and his years of travel gave him plenty of ammunition to turn into a tale. He loved people and never met a stranger. He was an avid gardener and particularly enjoyed decorating his back patio and lawn for the season each spring. In the fall, he turned his energies to following Mississippi State Bulldogs and New Orleans Saints football. Most of all, he loved his family and was extraordinarily proud of his wife’s, Betty Lou’s, career. He was also a proud father and grandfather, closely following the exploits of his children and grandchildren.
Rodger is survived by his wife, Betty Lou, three children and their spouses, along with seven grandchildren – Michael and Julie Reeves (Spencer, Kate and Vivi) of Hillsborough, North Carolina; Laurie and Steve Sprecher (Stuart and Andrew) of Allen,Texas; and Andy and Heather Reeves (Addison and Ty) of Madison, MIssissippi.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am on Wednesday, April 20th at Chapel of the Cross in Madison with a reception following from 11:00 - 12:30. A private family committal follows. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Chapel of the Cross Building Fund in Madison, Mississippi (chapelofthecrossms.org) or the Stewpot Community Services of Mississippi (stewpot.org).
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