Virginia Gray Reed

She was born in Goldsboro, NC to Garland Gray and Vera Wilkins Gray and was raised in Rocky Mount. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest Lindsay Reed II and by her elder sister, Dorothy Gray Ancona.

She graduated from Rocky Mount High School in 1952 and went on to attend the Woman’s College of the University of North Carolina and then the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1956.

Soon after graduation, she moved to Raleigh and began work at Wachovia Bank and Trust Company. It was there that she met the love of her life, Ernest Lindsay Reed II. They were engaged six weeks after their first date and were wedded on March 2, 1957. They were happily married for 62 years.

After raising three young boys, she decided to go back to school to earn her Teacher Certificate from North Carolina State University. She began teaching 7th Grade English, first at Carnage Junior High School and finally at Apex Middle School. She taught at Apex Middle School for over two decades and also served as Chair of the English Department. In addition, she worked as a Teacher Assessor for the Wake County Public School System.

She retired from teaching in 1994 but had no intention of slowing down. She wrote poetry with her writing group, The Scribblers. She worked as a docent at the North Carolina Museum of Art. She took care of granddaughters Caroline and Deborah after school. She travelled extensively, both stateside and abroad, with her husband Lindsay and friends. She was an avid reader, a British mystery enthusiast, and she loved spending time with family and friends.

Music was an important part of her life. As a young woman, she went to see live music acts like Sam Cooke and Dave Brubeck. She loved classical music, particularly Bach, as well as pop music from The Beatles to Simon & Garfunkel. She played piano, had a beautiful singing voice, and was a longtime member of the Raleigh Oratorio Society and North Carolina Master Chorale.

She was a devoted member of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Raleigh since 1957, and singing in the St. Michael’s Choir was one of the great joys in her life. She also served on the St. Michael’s vestry. She was a member of the Raleigh Jaycettes and the Supper Club, a close-knit and longtime group of friends.

She is survived by son Ernest Lindsay Reed III and wife Gina of Norfolk, VA, son Garland Gray Reed and wife Debbie of Raleigh, and son Peyton Tucker Reed and wife Sheila of Los Angeles, CA.

In addition, “Gaga” is survived by nine grandchildren whom she adored: Elisabeth, Stephen, Josiah, Rebekah, Andrew, Caroline and husband Hunter, Deborah, Dexter and Charlie.

The family will have a private memorial service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (donate.lls.org) or St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, 1520 Canterbury Road, Raleigh, NC 27608.

The family would like to thank the caregivers from Lilies of Hope, the hospice workers from Heartland Hospice and Dr. Robert Starkenburg and his staff.

Services by Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's Street, Raleigh.