Roy Lee Reed

   Roy Lee Reed, 97, of 304 North Front Street, Hertford, NC, passed away on Saturday, June 25, 2016 in his home.

   Mr. Reed was born February 21, 1919 at home in Perquimans County, and was the son of the late Corprew Wilson Reed and Sally Myrtle Litchfield Reed. A seventh generation in America descendant of William Reed (William Reed was in North Carolina as early as 1695) and William Reed's first wife Christian Jennings, or second wife Jane Norton, he was a fifth generation direct descendant of Christian Reed and his wife Mary Durant of the Durant family of Perquimans County.

   A 1936 graduate of Perquimans County High School, he graduated NC State University in 1942 with a degree in Civil Engineering. He was awarded a 2nd Lt. Commission following graduation from the Air Force ROTC in 1942, and served both in the Air Force and the Army Corps of Engineers. His military service included over two years in the Far East while in the 849th Engineer Aviation Battalion. He was Honorably Discharged from the military as a First Lieutenant in April, 1946.

   He and his loving and dedicated wife of 70 years, Prudence Collins Newby Reed, were married in the Hertford United Methodist Church on January 5, 1946. They lived in Covington, Virginia for 35 years where their children were born and raised. Employed with Westvaco Corporation in various engineering and management positions, he retired in 1981 as the Plant Engineer. Community involvements in Covington included his service faithful in the Granbery Memorial Methodist Church, and a 34 year membership in the Covington Kiwanis Club where he served as its President in 1955.

   Roy and Prue moved back to their beloved hometown of Hertford in 1981. He grew up on the Corp and Myrtle Reed Family Farm in the Beech Springs community of Perquimans County. A farmer, an engineer, and a professional manager, he was proud of his family, his profession accomplishments, his Military Service, and his Perquimans County heritage. After returning to Hertford, he became a faithful member of the Hertford United Methodist Church, and it was the church and its Bible study that were sources of strength and guidance to him. A member of the Rotary Foundation, he became an active member of the Hertford Rotary Club and served as its President in 1985. Hobbies included writing family stories, stock market investing, the Family farm, their residence, and fresh water sailing his beautiful Herreshoff "Eagle" sailboat in the Perquimans River, the Albemarle Sound, and its adjoining rivers. His first love was for his wife and family and, then, his close friends and acquaintances.

   In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Wallace L. Reed, and an infant, Albert Corprew Reed.

   Surviving with his wife are his daughter, Elizabeth Lindsay Reed Stullken and husband Russell; two sons, Roy Lee Reed, Jr. and wife Bobbi, and William Newby Reed and wife Caroline; four grandchildren, Faye Craven and husband Jeff, Donna Lee Stullken, Benjamin Lee Reed, and Meredith Reed; and four great-grandchildren, Landon Lee Ginetz, Christian Ginetz, Salome Craven, and Birdie Prudence Craven.

   A graveside memorial service will be held Monday, June 27th, at 1:00 p.m. on the family plot at Cedarwood Cemetery, and will be officiated by his pastor, The Rev. Jane Leechford, and longtime family friend, Chaplain Corbin Cherry. The family will receive friends at the residence immediately following the service. Miller & Van Essendelft, Funeral and Cremation Providers, 1125 Harvey Point Road, Hertford, is handling arrangements, and online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.

   In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hertford United Methodist Church, 200 Dobbs Street, or to Hertford Baptist Church, P.O. Box 34, or to the Perquimans County Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 191, all in Hertford, NC 27944.