Mr. Reid was born James Thomas Jefferson Reid on July 17, 1918, in the American Spinning Community of Greenville, South Carolina, the son of Thomas Calvin Reid and Leila Nancy Roberts Reid. He died Friday, October 5, 2018.
Mr. Reid was predeceased by his wife, Mary Lou Mims Reid. As fellow students at Furman University they married in 1941. He is survived by their four children, Dr. James Jefferson Reid, Jr. and his wife Dr. Stephanie Whittlesey of Tucson, Arizona; Virginia Reid Parker of Winston-Salem, North Carolina; David Mims Reid of Columbia, South Carolina and Ellen Reid of Greenville, South Carolina.
His grandchildren are David Randall Reid of Columbia, SC; MaryMims Goldman and her husband Tim of Mt. Pleasant, SC; James Kenneth Reid and his wife Patty of Great Falls, SC; Dr. Katherine Meadows Harper and her husband Dr. Andrew Harper of Clemmons, NC; Elizabeth Reid Meadows also of Clemmons, NC; and Erin Elisabeth Reid of Tucson, Arizona.
Great-grandchildren are Tess, Andrew and Emily Harper; Burgan and Ava Campbell; Zoe Goldman; Jimmy Reid; Amanda Reeves Kenney and Nancy Reeves.
Mr. Reid was predeceased by his brother Grover Reid and sisters Margaret Reid Rector, Nelle Reid Nabors Bouchillon, and Marcelle Reid Allen Carithers.
Mr. Reid received his education in the Greenville Public Schools of the Parker District, Furman University and the University of South Carolina Law School. He studied law and received legal training under Attorney Henry K. Townes of Greenville. After passing the bar exam he was admitted to the South Carolina Bar in 1956. He furthered his legal training at the Law Center of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Reid spent the majority of his career in public service. He served for 6 years as a member of the State House of Representatives from Greenville County. He was the Campaign Manager for Strom Thurmond’s successful gubernatorial race in 1946. Mr. Reid served as the Governor’s Legislative Secretary and was later appointed by Governor Thurmond as Chairman of the South Carolina Industrial Commission (later renamed the Worker’s Compensation Commission) where he served a total of 37 years, retiring in 1986, after serving 14 governors. In addition, he served for 2 years as an appointed member of the Federal Employees Compensation Appeals Court in Washington, D.C., during the Eisenhower administration. Governor Richard W. Riley awarded him the Order of the Palmetto in recognition of his years of distinguished public service. After retirement, Mr. Reid practiced law in Columbia and Greenville until 2012.
Mr. Reid was one of the founders and organizers of the Southern Association of Workers Compensation Administrators in 1949 and served in several capacities with the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions including President. He served for several years as a consultant to the Council on Industrial Health of the American Medical Association.
Mr. Reid was enthusiastic about sports, both as a player and as a spectator. He played semi-pro baseball with textile teams in the old Western Carolina League and earned varsity letters in baseball at Furman. He had played golf on 160 courses including Pebble Beach and Augusta National, home of the Masters. He was proud to have attended the Masters every year from 1958 to 2011. In recent years he achieved a long time ambition of visiting Florida in March to watch Major League Baseball Spring Practice games. In retirement Mr. Reid continued to be active, playing golf on a short par three course.
Mr. Reid was a former member of the Columbia Lions Club. As member of the Greenville Optimist Club he served as president and as governor of the 18th district for North and South Carolina of Optimist International.
Mr. Reid was a longtime member of Earle Street Baptist Church in Greenville, where he served the church as a Sunday school teacher, Deacon and as an award-winning member of the church softball team.
In recent years he and his wife, Mary Lou Mims Reid, lived in Rolling Green Village in Greenville where he served as chairperson of the safety committee; on the property owners’ association board and as the property owners’ association president.
A visitation will be Friday evening, October 12, 6 to 8 p.m. at The Mackey Mortuary, 311 Century Drive, Greenville. The funeral service for Mr. Reid will be Saturday, October 13, at 2 p.m. at Earle Street Baptist, followed by private burial at Graceland West Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Earle Street Baptist Church, 225 West Earle Street, Greenville, SC 29609.
