Will Allen Reed

Mr. Will Allen Reed, 89, retired businessman and former long-time resident of Columbia, died Monday, October 8, 2007 at the residence of his daughter in Nashville where he made his home for the past nine years. Funeral services will be conducted Friday at 10:00 a.m. at Oakes & Nichols with Rev. Pete Taggett and Rev. Mike Dawson officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery with military honors at graveside provided by Herbert Griffin American Legion Post #19. The family will visit with friends Thursday from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 2790 Pulaski Pike, Columbia 38401. Notes of sympathy may be sent to www.oakesandnichols.com. Born and reared in the Knob Creek Community in Maury County, he was the son of the late Joe B. Reed and Alta Goad Reed. Following graduation from Columbia Central High School in 1937, he worked for a time at Maury Farmers Co-Op. At the outbreak of World War II in 1941, he joined the U. S. Army and was attached to the 9th Battalion as a 1st Sergeant at the Field Artillery Replacement Training Center in Fort Sill, Oklahoma until his discharge in 1945. Upon returning to Columbia from military service, he gained employment with the Western Auto Store and remained there for 28 years. For 25 years, he owned and operated Will Reed Furniture & Appliance Store. Following his retirement, for several years Mr. Reed was associated with Jones Home Furnishings. A long-time devoted member of First Baptist Church, he served as a Deacon for many years. He was a member of Herbert Griffin American Legion Post #19 for 62 years. He was married 54 years to Eleanor Hayes Reed, who preceded him in death January 24, 1998. Survivors include his daughter and son-in-law, Janice and Allen Klein of Nashville; two sisters, Helen Liggett of Pulaski and Joann Jewell of Cleveland; three grandchildren, Jeff (Carole) Klein and Amy (Scott) Trotter, both of Hendersonville, and Roger (Owen) Klein of Jenks, Oklahoma; six great-grandchildren, Blake, Katherine, Hayden, Elizabeth, Abigail, and Spencer Klein; sister-in-law, Aurelia Reed of Columbia and sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Anne and Noel Ammons of Columbia; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a sister, Ruby Thurman and a brother, J. B. Reed. Pallbearers are Harlan Ogle, Louis Liggett, Lee Liggett, Jerry Meyer, Dr. Jereome Reed, Mike Jewell, John Swallows, Brad Hayes, Mike Johnson, Tony Grimes, Mike Shouse, and Tommy Hayes. Honorary pallbearers include Deacons of First Baptist Church.