James Farr Reed

The Reverend Dr. James Farr Reed, 81, born July 24, 1931, died Sunday, August 05, 2012.

Born in Bolton, Mississippi to Marguerite Farr Reed and Stevenson B. Reed, Dr. Reed grew up in Pinkneyville, Mississippi and attended school at Julius Freyhan High School in St. Francisville, Louisiana. He graduated from Louisiana State University with a BA in Physics. He worked as an engineer in Venezuela for several years before attending Seminary at St. Luke's School of Theology University of the South at Swanee, Tennessee. After graduating from Swanee, Dr. Reed was a priest in Bayou DeLarge, and then DeRidder, before becoming Canon at Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd and Chaplain at Episcopal Day School. He also served as Chaplain at Camp Hardtner. He then attended McNeese State University, where he received a Master's Degree in Math. He went on to Rice University to earn his Master's and Ph.D. in Physics. Dr. Reed worked briefly in Houston, Texas, and then moved to McNeese State University in the Math and Computer Science Department, where he taught for twenty-eight years. In 2003, he retired from both the ministry and teaching to begin a life of travel with his wife, JoAnn (Jody), and his family and many friends. Although retired, Dr. Reed did occasionally supply the pulpit at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd. He also supplied the pulpit for the Chapel of Holy Spirit in Big Lake each year from Easter Sunday until the Sunday before Labor Day.

Dr. Reed was a member of Merry Mates, The Bucaneers and the Krewe de la Famille, where he was Duke in 2004 and King of Famille in 2006. He became a strong fan of the New Orleans Saints, attending most home games as a season ticket holder.

Dr. Reed is survived by his wife, JoAnn "Jody" Logan Reed; son, Bennett Howard Reed and wife Wendy; grandson, Quentin Reed; sister, Retta Miller and husband Rob; brother, Merwin Reed and wife Barbara; nephews, Will Martens and wife Melissa and Stevie Martens and wife Gena; niece Kay Reid and husband Robbie; three great nephews, Brannan Martens, Rob Reid, and Kevin Reid; three great nieces, Mimi, Maci and Emma Martens; one great great nephew, Alden Reid; six stepchildren, Michael Sebren and wife Beverly, Kathryn Granger, Julie Cannon and husband Kelly, Hamp Simmons, Cyndi Rains and husband Glenn, and Lucy Thacker and husband Jerry; ten step grandchildren, three step great grandchildren, and several cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father, Stevenson B. Reed; mother, Marguerite Farr Reed, brothers, Stevenson Reed and Billy Reed.

Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. on Friday, August 10, 2012 at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. The Right Reverend Dr. Jake Owensby, Bishop of the Diocese of Western Louisiana, will officiate, assisted by The Very Reverend John G. "Jack" Myers. Visitation will be at the church in Hardtner Hall on Friday from 2 p.m. until service time. Interment will be on Saturday, August 11, 2012 at 2 p.m. in the Reed Family Plot in Evergreen Cemetery in Woodville, Mississippi for Dr. Reed's immediate family.

Pallbearers will be grandson, Quentin Reed; step grandsons, Fredrick James Granger, Kody Cannon, Kollin Cannon; and nephews, Will Martens and Stevie Martens. Honorary pallbearers will be Guy Fanguy, Charlie Bourgeois, and Sonny Hodges.

Memorial donations may be made to the Bishop Noland Episcopal Day School, 803 North Division Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601 or The Governor's Program for Gifted Children, MSU Box 91490, Lake Charles, LA 70609.