Mary Virginia Pierce Reed, daughter of the late Jesse Davis Pierce and Mary Alice Gamm Pierce, was born in Blytheville, Arkansas, on January 10, 1931 and departed this life on March 28, 2021 at Cypress Point Skilled Nursing in Dexter, Missouri, at the age of 89 years. Her life was not always easy, having been born one of thirteen kids to a farmer and Baptist minister. She met ever trial with grace and faith throughout the years.
She would attend an ice cream social with her sister where she would meet the love of her life Wafe B. Reed. They would be united in marriage on June 2, 1950 in her parents’ home in Blytheville, Arkansas. In union they had three children.
She was an adept homemaker while raising three children and later worked for four years in a shoe factory in Dexter. At night she would sew and make her children clothes. She was always ready to tackle something new. Virginia would begin a job as a secretary for the attorney, Claude Arnold which she would leave to accept a job as a secretary for the Dexter Public Schools for 26 years before retiring.
Virginia had a love for music which she sang for funerals at both Rainey and Watkins funeral homes, sang for many weddings, and also participated in the First Baptist Church choir for many years, and she also participated in the pageant at First Baptist Church for fifteen years in Dexter where she was a member.
Virginia was a secretary to MSTA (Missouri State Teachers Association) for three years, secretary to Chalk Bluff Cemetery up until her passing and board member for several years. She was a member and secretary to RTA (Retired Teachers Association) for three years. She also held offices as President and benevolence chairman for a few years for her Sunday school class, the Mary Magdalene class at First Baptist Church. Virginia also worked the Stoddard County elections for many years and served in a supervisory capacity.
Virginia along with her husband worked along with the county extension agents for eight years and would eventually organize a 4-H club, which would be named, “Town and Country” to join together kids from town as well as the country. They taught cooking, cattle, swine, sewing, horsemanship, breads, gardening, bicycles and numerous other classes in the homes. All of their children would be awarded trips to Washington, D.C. through the organization.
As an accomplished quilter, Virginia was a member of the Heartland Quilt Guild in Dexter and served as President, Historian and Reporter through the years. Her many beautiful quilts will remain heirlooms for years to come.
Virginia is survived by one son, Dale Reed (Judy) of Ellsinore, Missouri; one daughter, Terrie Reed Weaver of Tomball, Texas; by her grandchildren, Dennis Reed of Old Monroe, Missouri, Desirae Weaver (Brandon) of Brighton, Colorado, Andrea Weaver of Thornton, Colorado, Justin Lewis (Megan) of Oak Park, Illinois and Holly Lewis of Poplar Bluff, Missouri; and by two great-grandchildren, Jack and Kate Lewis.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Wafe B. Reed; son, Wayne Reed; granddaughter, Monica Lynn Reed; parents, Jesse D. Pierce and Mary Alice Gamm Pierce; brothers, James Russell Pierce, Paris, Arkansas, James Elvin Hood, Dinuba, California, Jesse Burette Pierce, Diamondale, Michigan, Dewey Lee Pierce, Pocahontas, Arkansas, Wilburn Ray Pierce, St. Louis, Missouri, and Franklin Delano Pierce, Bolingbrook, Illinois; sisters, Geneva Pierce Hamilton, Owasso, Oklahoma, Reba Lois Eslinger, Spooner, Wisconsin, Veleta Pierce Stutts, Dexter, Missouri, and Betty Pierce Braun, Dexter, Missouri.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri on Friday, April 2, 2021 from 12:30 p.m. until 2:00 p.m.
Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Chapel on Friday, April 2, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Greg McGhee officiating.
Interment will follow in the Chalk Bluff Cemetery, south of Dexter, Missouri.
Memorials may be made to Chalk Bluff Cemetery, c/o Louella Layton, PO Box 727, Dexter, Missouri 63841 or First Baptist Church, 11 W Castor Street, Dexter, Missouri 63841 or Ben Kruse 18 Fore Life, c/o Scott Kruse, 705 Laurie Circle, Dexter, Missouri 63841 or American Heart Association, 3816 Paysphere Circle, Chicago, Illinois 60674.
