Donald C Reaves

Donald Christopher Reaves (Don or D.C.), 79, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on 12/6/2022. His family will receive friends and family on Saturday 12/10/2022 at Gray Brown Funeral Home from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm with a graveside service following at 2:30 pm at Eulaton First Baptist Church. The service will be officiated by Rev. Randy Huddleston and Rev. B.J. Price.

Donald was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Sandra Lanell Hammett Reaves, his parents, Fred Warren Reaves and Addie Bennett Reaves, and his brother-in-law Gerald Hamby.

He is survived by his son James Reaves; one daughter, Elaine Reaves Price, son-in-law, B.J. Price; his four grandsons: Airman Joel Lanier Price, Caleb Reaves Price, David Andrew Price, and Malcolm Bennett Reaves; and his siblings: Lonette Hamby, Mick Reaves and his wife Carrie; Angela Mueller and her husband Wolfgang; and Lana Reaves, along with many, much loved, cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews.

Donald (Don) was born on September 15, 1943 in Jacksonville, AL. He graduated from Wellborn High School in 1960 and went directly into the U.S. Navy at the age of 17. He served his country primarily abroad the U.S.S Shangri-La, where he was trained and worked as an Ammunition Specialist until 1964. After leaving the Navy, Don began working in Anniston at the Anniston Army Depot. In 1969, he met Sandra Hammett, a student at Jacksonville State University. The couple went on their first date to the newly opened Six Flags on April 13, 1969. Don and Sandra were married in her parents’ home on June 12, 1970.

Don made his home in the Eulaton area of Anniston for the rest of his life. Nonetheless, he was still able to travel the world, working for the government throughout the US but also in places like Germany and Saudi Arabia. Using his training as an Ammunition Specialist, he worked at the Depot for 35 years and retired in 1995. Don enjoyed his work and the people he worked with and always had a story to tell about “Bynum” as it was called then. Don had a wonderful sense of humor, was a great cartoonist, and had a not-bad singing voice. He could make up a song or draw a cartoon about any situation and brought lots of laughter to his family and co-workers.

In 1974, Don & Sandra welcomed their first child, a son named James. In 1977, a baby girl named Elaine completed their family. Don worked very hard during those years to allow his wife to stay home with the children. He bought, worked on, and sold cars, lawnmowers, and garden tillers to allow his wife to be a stay-at-home mom for nine years. The couple loved to travel and made sure to take their young family on vacation. They traveled to the beaches of Alabama and Florida and the mountains of Tennessee. They also saw Colorado, Washington D.C., the Northeast, Niagara Falls and Canada, Yellowstone National Park, the Grand Canyon, Mt. Rushmore, and all the places in-between by car.

Don loved history and traveling and passed that on to his children and grandchildren, whom he affectionately called “Papa’s Boys.” Until his death, he was a student of history and enjoyed talking about the Civil War, WWII, and great naval battles with his family and friends. Don also loved the music of Al Stewart, Billy Joel, and Bob Dylan. He could also answer any question about a vehicle or an airplane-- old or new. Don enjoyed watching Nascar in person and on TV and even did some drag racing as a young man. Don’s love of travel, history, music, drawing, cars, racing, and airplanes can be easily seen and will live on in the lives of his children and grandsons.

Don had a deep sense of responsibility to his family and passed this on to his children. He cared for his wife with Alzheimer’s at home until the last 22 months of her life. His family cared for him at home until the last 26 days of his life. Don loved his family and never let a day pass without saying he loved them and that he was proud of them. Even in his last days, he always made sure to tell his family he loved them.

Pall-bearers will be Caleb Price, David Price, B.J. Price, Gerry Hamby, Myles Chamblee, and Randy Huddleston.

Honorary pall-bearer: Airman Joel Price - U.S. Air Force, Active Duty and Malcolm Bennett Reaves.

The family would like to thank all those who lovingly helped our family and loved Don as if he was their own family member the past 16 months: his precious home caregivers, Robbie Vaughn, Geraldine Clark, and Rachel Dulaney, all the nurses and physicians at St. Vincent’s East, physicians at UAB Movement Disorder Clinic, and the nurses and staff of Compassus Hospice and SouthernCare New Beacon Hospice.

Thank you to the countless others who held the family up in prayer.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.graybrownservice.com for the Reaves family.