E. Kemp Reece Jr.

Kemp was born in Greensboro, NC, on November 11, 1958. In 1977, he graduated from Walter Hines Page High School in Greensboro, NC. Kemp then graduated from Wake Forest University in 1981 with a BA in History and was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. He entered the securities and financial advisory business upon graduation and led a distinguished career as a treasured and trusted advisor to countless individuals, families and organizations for over thirty years. Along the way, Kemp continued to seek excellence to better himself in order to serve his clients and profession by earning additional degrees and designations at Duke University and UC Berkeley.

Never content with merely serving in his professional role, Kemp was a true philanthropist. Though he would deflect this fact out of modesty, he simply gave significantly more than he took. He poured himself into causes that not only touched his life and his values, he also devoted himself to causes that inspire and continue to change the world that we know. Among many other roles in the community, he served on the boards of Step Up Ministry and The North Carolina Symphony. Kemp was a tutor and mentor to children in the Mayview community and served as a Deacon and Elder at White Memorial Presbyterian Church.

An avid Demon Deacon fan, Kemp loved sailing, hunting, dogs, classical music, the K&W Cafeteria, Finch’s, and he also loved a bargain. He was a voracious reader, a prolific note-writer, a marathoner and triathlete. He was a dedicated member and founder of a few men’s fellowship groups that will never be the same without his wisdom, insight, compassion and discipline.

Above all else, Kemp Reece was, quite simply, a family man. His unending and complete devotion to his loving wife and remarkable girls remain an inspiration to those he leaves behind as to how good family life can be. Every conversation with Kemp included his life with his wife and daughters. His love for them has no end.

Kemp is survived by his wife, Janice Drach Reece; daughters, Emily Hayworth Reece and Annie Frances Parker Reece; father and stepmother, Mr. and Mrs. Errol Kemp Reece; sister, Anne Reece Collins and husband Jim; parents-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Lee Drach; brothers and sisters-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. David Lee Drach and Mr. and Mrs. John Richard Drach; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Mildred Frances Hayworth Reece.

A Service of Witness to the Resurrection will be held at White Memorial Presbyterian Church on Friday, December 23 at 2pm. Visitation with the family will follow in the Jane Bell Gathering Space adjacent to the sanctuary.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to Step Up Ministry, 1701 Oberlin Road,Raleigh, NC 27608.

Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary’s St. Raleigh, NC.