John Wesley Reed

John Wesley Reed, 57, passed away May 12 quietly at his Athens home after a short battle with cancer.
Born in Hartwell, Georgia August 21, 1956, he was the son of Louie Avery Reed and the late Daisy Herring Reed. He was preceded in death by son Michael Warren Reed.
He graduated from Franklin County High School, Emmanuel College and attended the University of Georgia. He later earned the title of Graduate Gemologist from the Gemological Institute of America.
John began his career in the jewelry business at age 15 at Andrews Jewelers in Lavonia and soon realized he wanted to make it his life's work. In 1976 he moved to Athens and joined the staff of Foster's Jewelers and later Kesler's Jewelers. In partnership with his wife Patti, he opened JWR Jewelers in 1993.
As a member of First Presbyterian Church of Athens, John served as elder and sang in the Chancel Choir for 30 years. He was a member of the American Gem Society, Independent Jewelers Organization, and was a board member and past president of Georgia Jewelers Association. Locally he was a member of Athens Touchdown Club, and Classic City Kiwanis, where he served two terms as president. In addition, he served on the board of East Georgia Red Cross, Friends of the Library, and volunteered with the Clarke County Mentor Program.
Survivors include his wife Patti Crow Reed; son Wesley Sloan Reed, daughter-in-law Lori Gordon Reed, grandsons Braxton Warren Reed and Maddox Avery Reed; brothers Michael Robert Reed (Pat) and Donald Allen Reed (Kim) of Lavonia; and a host of aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Visitation with the family will be 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday, May 16 at Lord and Stephens West. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, May 17 at First Presbyterian Church of Athens, with a reception in Fellowship Hall following the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Presbyterian Church of Athens, 185 East Hancock, Avenue, the Cancer Foundation of Northeast Georgia, P.O.Box 49309, Athens, GA 30604, or the charity of your choice.
Lord and Stephens, WEST, is in charge of arrangements.