Fallen Hero: Retired Brigadier General Lee R. Reid, Jr.

Hattiesburg; Jackson

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Funeral Home

Wade Funeral Home

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Obituary

Military Service Tribute, Honors, and Obituary:

Recognizing and Honoring a Fallen Hero, Who Served Within the Mississippi National Guard. “Fallen, Yet Not Forgotten”.

In recognition of our proud American tradition of honorable service which our military men and women have given to their country and our State, we honor a Fallen Hero. Our nation, our state, and the National Guard Association of MS (NGAMS) regard the memorializing of its retired military deceased as an honorable and sacred obligation.

Another great Soldier and Fallen Hero has been released from duty, passed from our ranks on Aug 13, 2024 and has moved on to his heavenly home. Retired Brigadier General Lee R. Reid, Jr., age 84, who had served within the MSARNG within the 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group and the MSARNG OCS Academy has departed and gone to a better place with our good Lord. Lee had worked fulltime and served as commander at both of these unit assignments.

It takes a special person to serve within the military for their country, giving up their family time, comfort, and safety for their country, ultimately for all Americans to enjoy their freedoms, safety, and way of life. We now applaud you for your service to our country. A special message from General Douglas McArthur remains applicable today for our servicemen that have passed: “Old Soldiers never die; they just fade away”.

Rest in Peace Soldier. We applaud your patriotism, sacrifices, and brave efforts in serving our country and your family for their support of your service. We thank you for your service. Without your efforts and your families’ support, our country would not stand so boldly, shine so bright, and live so free.

You now have earned a rest, so go fly with the Angels, go rest high on that mountain; your work on earth is done. Go to heaven a-shoutin’ Love for the Father and the Son.

Another great Soldier has gone home, “Fallen, Yet Not Forgotten, Soldier for Life”.

Obituary, Visitation, and Service details:

A memorial service will be held at a date to be announced in the Chapel at Wade Funeral Home for Brigadier General Lee Rhodes Reid, Jr. General Reid, age 84, passed away from this life on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, in Oak Grove. Inurnment will be in Willow Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.

Wade Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Lee Rhodes Reid, Jr. was born on December 2, 1939, in New Haven, CT, to Lee Rhodes Reid, Sr. and Augusta Blanch Wein Reid. General Reid was honored by Congressman Trent Kelly and the United States Congress upon retirement as “A superb Soldier and citizen for his tireless commitment to the United States Army, serving our Nation for 31 years, including as the Commandant of the Mississippi Military Academy at Camp Shelby, the largest Reserve Component training site in the United States. After his retirement from the Army National Guard in 1994, Brigadier General Reid continued to serve Mississippians with his position at Pearl River Community College, where he provided education and training for local businesses and industries. Now that Brigadier General Reid is fully retired, I believe it is fitting to recognize his service and dedication to his local community, the State of Mississippi, our Armed Forces, and this great Nation.

Brigadier General Reid’s commitment to service enabled him to excel in numerous leadership positions throughout his Army career. He began his career by commissioning in the U.S. Army in 1963 after graduating from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Lee was selected as one of the first Platoon Leaders to join the newly reactivated 11th Air Assault Division (Test), in Fort Benning, Georgia. This Air Assault Division was developed to explore the theory and practicality of an alternative means by which the Army Infantry and Aviation conducted future conflicts. Helicopter assault tactics and the equipment required to operate effectively in this role had never been utilized in combat operations, and Brigadier General Reid contributed to this significant revolution in military tactics.

Throughout the rest of his amazing career, Brigadier General Reid commanded Soldiers at every level from platoon through battalion, always placing the needs of his Soldiers and their families first. He also completed numerous demanding Army schools, to include Airborne School, Ranger School, the Special Forces Qualification Course, and the Command and General Staff Course. He distinguished himself as a tactical and technical expert, serving in several overseas training missions to England, Germany, Spain, as well as responding to several State Emergency Operations. In recognition of his achievements, Brigadier General Reid was awarded the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, the Mississippi Magnolia Cross, Mississippi Magnolia Medal, and the Mississippi War Medal.”

General Reid was a member of Temple Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father.

Survivors are his wife of 34 years, Theresa Sumrall Reid of Oak Grove; his son, Lee Rhodes Reid, III (Dana) of Milton, GA; his daughter Jennifer Attaway (Michael) of Alpharetta, GA; 5 grandchildren, Lauren Reid, Jackson Reid, Cali Campbell, Cameron Campbell, and Caroline Campbell; and his sister, Betty Ann Gill of Madison; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.