NATCHEZ – Services for Leslie Samuel “Tex” Reed, 81, who died Monday, July 14, 2008, at his residence, will be at 11 a.m. today at Laird Funeral Home Union Street Chapel with the Rev. Edwin Temple officiating.
Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time today at the funeral home.
Mr. Reed was born April 11, 1927, in Natchez, the son of Herbert Cain and Carrie Ione Haddox Reed. He was raised and lived most of his adult life in Natchez. Tex attended Natchez High School before a two-year term in the U.S. Navy. After the completion of his military service, Tex attended Copiah-Lincoln Junior College, graduating in accounting. Tex retired from Johns-Manville after a 35-year career that gave him the opportunity to live in Denver, Colo., for the last 11 years of his employment.
Tex was well regarded from his days in the Natchez High Band as an exemplary tenor saxophone player. Music would continue to play a large role in his life, starting first in 1943 with the Harry King Barth Band to his tenure with the U.S. Navy Band and many well recognized local bands, such as The Mississippians, The Stardusters, Dixie Docs and Prescription Jazz and entertaining at several New Year’s Eve dances at the Eola Hotel rooftop. Tex was a lifelong member of Jefferson Street Methodist Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Jack Reed and Herbert Reed; one sister, Rosalie Ard Dreher; and one granddaughter, Leslie Ann Blanton.
Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Ann Reed; two children, Sammy Reed of Denver and Lynda Reed Blanton of Natchez; one sister, Margaret Bolls; one grandson, Jamie Blanton and wife, Mary Jo, all of Natchez; two great grandchildren, Reed and Mary Claire Blanton; and a dear friend, Blake Wadsworth also of Natchez.
Pallbearers will be Jamie Blanton, Joe Davis, Dix Doering, Doug Scruggs, Byron Carnette and Jim Barnett.
Honorary pallbearers will be Blake Wadsworth, Premo Stallone, Bill Kennon, James Rehms, Bill Stein, Bill Gore, Ronnie Gaudet, Burnley Cook, Joe Sam Moritz and Bernard Treadwell.