Dee Reid

Elisha Dee Reid E. Dee Reid was born on August 13, 1930, to the late Elisha Dero and Nelia Fuqua Reid in Milldale Tennessee, in Robertson County. As the youngest of 10 children, E. Dee Reid learned at an early age the benefits and rewards of pitching in to help out family members, volunteering, and working as a team to accomplish tasks. Service was part of Dee’s nature as this was demonstrated when he and his brothers opened Reid’s Garage and Service Center in White House back in 1947. Dee also became actively involved in the church as a member of the White House First United Methodist Church where he served on and chaired almost all committees and served as Lay Leader for several years. Volunteering to serve his country was also a priority for Dee as he served in the U.S. Air Force SAC Unit from 1951-1955. From that point on, serving the community became a way of life for Dee. Upon Dee’s return from the Air Force, he joined the American Legion and had been a member for many years and had served as its Commander as well. In 1956, Dee began his career as a parts sales manager for Payne Chevrolet in Springfield. While Dee worked in Springfield, he felt it was important to be actively involved in the community where he lived. With Dee’s commitment to his community, he stayed busy throughout the 1960’s volunteering in various organizations. He started the Dixie Youth Baseball League in White House, where he became not only the President of the league but also regularly coached his son Mark’s teams. Dee became involved in civic activities when he joined the Lion’s Club in 1964. Since that time, he received a lifetime membership from Lion’s International, the Monarch Award, and in 2005 was awarded “Lion of the Decade” by his fellow members of the White House Lions Club. He also received from the Lions International, the prestigious Melvin Jones Fellow Award for his humanitarian services. In the late 1960’s the White House Community was without fire protection. Realizing this need for the community, Dee took the lead in starting the first fire department in White House and became Civil Defense Director and Fire Chief of this volunteer fire department. Dee and a mechanic friend of his worked in their spare time at night and built the first fire truck from an old fuel delivery truck. He served as Fire Chief until the late 1970’s. He was elected and served on the County commission from 1970 to 1976. He served as Chairman on the County Farm Committee. It was also at this time in 1975 he joined the Board of Trustees at Jesse Holman Jones Hospital. It was a position that span over 38 years. He served as Chairman of the Board for 16 years. Dee was elected Robertson County Tax Assessor in 1976 and served in that position for four years. He also remained active in new volunteer activities. In 1977, he and a group of citizens from the white House area chartered the White House Housing for the elderly. This new non-profit organization features duplex housing units for senior citizens. Dee served as president of this organization for many years. In 1984 Dee transitioned into a new career opportunity by opening an appraisal and real estate company known as Reid Realtors in Springfield. Later, in 1987 he relocated to White House and started Century21 Reid Realtors. While Dee continued to be involved in community activities such as Grand Jury Foreman of the county court system and the Chamber of Commerce in both Springfield and White House, he remained faithful to his commitment as hospital board member and never lost sight of the importance of providing healthcare to the citizens of the community on a local basis. While serving on the board, he was instrumental in assisting the hospital from a county-owned facility to a community not for profit. He was a public advocate for the hospital and the Board of Trustees when the community publicly opposed not only the hospital’s incorporation as a 501C3 entity, but also the movement toward building a new 100 bed facility at a new location in Springfield. Prior to his being named Board Chairman in 1993, he served as vice-chairman and active chairman, through an affiliation with HCA, a for profit organization. He over saw ground breaking festivities and the 18 month process of building the new facility which is now known as NorthCrest Medical Center. As Board Chairman, he also served as the Middle Tennessee Representative of the Tennessee Hospital Association Assembly of Governing Boards since 1990. Dee is the only two time recipient of the White House Citizen of the Year Award in 1991 and 2006 respectively. In the year 2000, The White House Chamber of Commerce presented Dee with the Community Service Award for his selfless dedication to the needs of the people of the White House and extraordinary effort on behalf of all its citizens. All these awards sums up Dee’s character, philosophy, and a mission in life to strive to make a difference in the community and to demonstrate the positive effects of volunteering. While Dee was tied to the community in many aspects, his first commitment was to his family by coaching or supporting his children in various sports and other activities. In his later years, he enjoyed watching his grandchildren play various sports. Preceded in death by father and mother Elisha Dero and Nelia Fuqua Reid as well as nine brothers and sisters. Dee is survived by his wife of 63 years Charlene Brinkley Reid, his two children son Mark (Kim) Reid and daughter Melanie Reid as well as three grand children Ashley Hutson Luna, Christian Reid and Carson Reid and one great granddaughter, Lexi Luna. Pallbearers: Northcrest Hospital Board of Trustees, Tom Byrum, Don Eden, and Fran McNutt. Honorary Pallbearers: WHFUMC Friendship Sunday School Class. Family visitation will be at Austin and Bell Funeral Home Thursday May 2nd 4:00-8:00pm, Friday May 3rd 4:00-8:00pm. Funeral services Saturday May 4th 11:00am at White House First United Methodist Church officiated by Pastor Randy Brown and Dr Tommy Crunk. Burial is at White House Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to American Cancer Society or American Heart Association.

Dee Reid

August 13, 1930 - April 30, 2013