MARY JEAN REEVES

The other day we learned we had lost another friend.  Mary Jean Reeves lost her battle with liver disease.  When we came  to Second Baptist Church of Bessemer to pastor in 1982 we soon became friends with Charles and Mary Jean.  As I think about that I became aware that there are for too few folks we can count as 'close friends' in all the places we have served.  Who are they?  People who go out of their way to make you feel welcome, invite you into  their homes, and are not pretentious.  What you see is what you get.  They are real.

If you really want to know somebody, go camping together.  I remember so well how we enjoyed each other's company around a campfire on a cool fall evening.  Someone cooked a big pot of beans, another prepared mac and cheese, another cornbread, another slaw, etc, etc.

There are many others, like the Reeves, that we remain close friends; and many of them we never camped with.  Camping is not necessary; being real is.

I know there are some in the ministry who vow to never become close friends with the people in their Church.  To me that is sad.  Some in the Church may read something else into that kind of friendship and feel threatened, like maybe we are a part of some conspiracy.  I'll always be willing to take that chance.  Please join me in prayer for Charles, her daughter, Jennifer (Kyle)  and those three precious grandchildren, as well as the rest of her family.

Tomorrow I will participate in Mary Jean's Funeral Service.  It is my privilege to call her Friend.  The following is her obituary as it appeared in the paper:

Mary Jean Whisenant Reeves
REEVES, MARY JEAN WHISENANT, age 67, of Alabaster, passed away March 6, 2009. She was a school teacher for over 30 years in Bessemer City Schools. Mrs. Reeves played piano and organ at Second Baptist Church for 33 years. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 at Bessemer Brown Service Funeral Home with burial at Highland Memorial Gardens. Rev. J.D. Davis and Rev. Max Youngblood officiating. Visitation will be held at the funeral home prior to the service from 1:00 pm until 2:00 pm. She is survived by her: husband, Charles W. Reeves; daughter, Jennifer Williams (Kyle); son adopted in love, Scott Pylant (Amy); grandchildren, Kelsey Reeves Williams, Kylie Christian Williams, Kole Barner Williams, Rebekah Eleanor Pylant and Scott Reeves Pylant. She is also survived by her family: Tommy and Susan Reeves, Glenda Parsons, Jesse and Sue Reeves, Christy and Alan Miller, Jacglen and Terry Poole, Jason and Jill Bowman, Glynn and Bum Reeves, Jonathan and Jordan Reeves, Terry Grimes and numerous great-nieces and nephews. The family would like to express special thanks to the staff at Meadowood Nursing Home for the wonderful love and care given to Mrs. Reeves. Bessemer Brown Service Funeral Home is honored to serve the Reeves family.