ames Reed, Sr Obituary
Mr. James Wilson Reed, Sr. of Clay, WV died at his home in Charleston, WV on February 15, 2004, following a long illness. He was 76 years old. James was preceded in death by his parents, Edward Ray Reed and Lulu Wilson Reed, and two of his sons, Edward Clayton Reed and Thomas Hansford Reed.

James Reed graduated from high school from Greenbrier Military School and later obtained a bachelors degree from West Virginia University. In 1952 he graduated from the College of Law at West Virginia University. Later that year James was elected as Prosecuting Attorney of Clay County, WV. James served in the United States Air Force from 1955 to 1959. He was stationed at Norton Air Force Base in San Bernadino, CA.

From San Bernadino he returned to Clay to serve three additional terms as Prosecuting Attorney. He Practiced law in Clay for over fifty years where he was a member of the West Virginia State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Clay County Bar Association, the West Virginia Trial Lawyers Association and Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity. James was active in the oil and gas business throughout his career. James Reed was a member of the Clay United Methodist Church for 61 years. He was a 32nd degree Mason from Clay County Lodge No. 97 and belonged to the Scottish Rites.

James was an avid fisherman all of his life and an ardent student of history. To him Elk River was a source of spiritual inspiration and inexhaustible beauty. For James Clay County was a sacred place and its people the finest to be found anywhere. All who knew James well found him to be warm, friendly, kind, personable and of a generous spirit. He was a wonderful husband, father, brother, and grandfather.

James Reed is survived by his wife of over fifty years, Helen Black Reed, and his sister, Mary Reed Ward of Clay, WV. Also surviving him are his son, Dr. Charles David Reed of Palm City, FL and his son and daughter-in-law, James Wilson Reed, Jr. and Candace Eskew Reed of Clay, WV. Grandchildren are Erin Melissa Reed, Sarah Reed Johnson, James Wilson Reed, III, Brian Michael Reed, Andrew Willaim Reed, Eric Eskew Reed, Jenifer Helen Reed, and Austin Hansford Reed. Mr Reed is survived by one great grandson, Michael Anthony Edward Johnson. Also Surviving to mourn his passing are his daughter-In-Law, Melody Boggs Reed of Ivydale, WV and his brother-In-Law, David R, Black and wife, Kathleen on Minnetonka, MN.