Shirley H. (Harper) Reeves

 Shirley H. Reeves, 93, of Columbus, N.C., passed away July 26, 2018 at Tryon Estates in Columbus. She was the daughter of the late Dr. Earl E. and Clara L. Harper and wife for 65 years of Robert H. Reeves, who died last year.

Shirley Harper grew up in Massachusetts, Indiana and Iowa as her father, a Methodist minister and educator, moved from a church in Auburn to two college presidencies and Directorship of the Fine Arts Program at University of Iowa. After graduation from U of I, she moved to Chicago where she worked in the newly forming industry developing psychological tests for job placement. She met and married Bob Reeves in 1952. She devoted herself to raising her family while remaining involved in many Church and Social Services activities. In the 1980's she served as the President of Family Service Organization, which coordinated social services for families in Dayton, OH. During this time she continued her life-long interest in education for underserved communities by tutoring at-risk children. She was a director of the Apathy Program working with the Juvenile Court system in Montgomery County, OH. She was an active member and chair of the Board of Trustees of Christ United Methodist Church in Kettering, OH where she was also president of the United Methodist Women, and she served on the board of Metropolitan Churches United. She was a longtime, active member of the PEO Sisterhood, a service group which advances education opportunities for women. Since moving to Tryon, she has been a member of the United Congregational Church. She sang in church choirs from her childhood until her 90th birthday; her home was always full of music, one of many lasting gifts that she shared with her family.
 
Mrs. Reeves is survived by her three children, Dr. Roger Harper Reeves (Ruth Lammert-Reeves), Philip Andrew Reeves (Dr. Elizabeth Wolfe), and Elizabeth Gail Reeves Rognier (Christopher).

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Manna Food Bank, 627 Swannanoa River Road, Asheville, NC 28805.
 

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