Mr. John Everett Reeves

The Life and Legacy Of John E. Reeves: John Reeves was a noble man. John Everett Reeves was born on April 26, 1946 in Detroit, Michigan. He was the firstborn to Gertrude and John H. Reeves, who preceded him in death. John was born to inspire others and served as a tremendous community leader and public servant. At an early age, John became a confirmed member of St. Paul A.M.E. Church in Detroit, Michigan where he was baptized. John was educated in the Detroit Public Schools, graduating from Northeastern High School in 1964. John began his college career at Tennessee State University and was called to serve in the United States Army in 1967. He served as a vital part of the Military Assistance Command in Vietnam and was honorably discharged in 1969. Upon his return from Vietnam, John attended Wayne State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and Management. He also attended the IBM Executive Program at the Harvard Business School. John had a beautiful family. On June 13, 1971, John married the love of his life, Pamela Nell Lawson. They were blessed two years later on their wedding anniversary with their first child, Christa Evette. Seven years later, daughter Kellie Ann was a beautiful addition to their close-knit family. John’s daughters, Christa and Kellie, were his pride and joy, and he was able to see them grow up and become successful in their careers. His greatest joy was to witness the birth of his first grandson, Shaun Everett. John was a spiritual man. In 1976, John and Pam began attending Plymouth United Church of Christ, where they sent their oldest daughter, Christa, to attend pre-school and kindergarten. Members of the church since 1984, they were part of a group of 15 persons to join the church as a condition of Dr. Rev. Nicholas Hood III’s transition to senior pastor. Supportive and fully immersed in the mission of PUCC, John worked tirelessly and faithfully for the church, serving in many leadership positions, including church moderator, chairman of the trustee board and chairman of the deacon board. John could always be counted on as a well-respected, sound, calm voice of the church, helping to mediate and resolve issues, raise needed funds for capital projects and be a fierce advocate for the church’s missions. John was a professional man. A budding businessman, John joined IBM in 1977 working as a Client Executive. He received numerous accolades as a Marketing Sales Leader, achieving twelve 100% Club Awards in sales. After 19 years with IBM, John continued a successful career at SunTel Services as Director of Business Development; at Technical Solutions Inc. as Vice President of Sales & Marketing; and CEO of Global Triad Solutions. Over the course of his business career, John received many awards for his hard work and dedication to the companies where he was employed. John served his community. Always a visionary, John knew that he had more to give, not only to his family, his profession and his church, but also to his community. In 1995, he successfully ran and was elected to the Southfield City Council, becoming the first African-American male to be elected. He served as city councilman for two years, but continued to lend his skills to various community boards and committees for years after that. As a resident of the City of Southfield for more than 30 years, John also served as Vice Chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals, a member of the Local Officers Compensation Commission, a member of the Southfield Public School’s parent committee and President of the Washington Heights Neighborhood Association. He was passionate about the future of the City of Southfield and committed to helping the city prosper. John’s impact in the community went beyond Southfield. He served as a mentor for the Real Life 101 Scholarship Fund, as an appointee of Governor Jennifer Granholm to the Veterans Park Commission and dedicated member of the National and Michigan Democratic Parties, where he served on the Michigan Finance Team for President Barack Obama’s campaign. He was also an active member of the Southfield Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Following his dream to serve people and his community, John received his Master of Health Administration in 2015. He transferred that knowledge and wisdom to his service on the Board of Trustees at St. John Providence Hospital. John was loved by many. John had a congenial personality and a warmth that was felt by every person he encountered. He was spiritual, charismatic and had an infectious smile. John was well known for his genuine spirit and kindness. He was always generous and gave his time, encouragement and advice to those in need. He was a “connector,” connecting people with jobs, internships and opportunities to advance their growth and experiences. John will truly be missed. On April 21, 2017, John made his transition with family members and friends by his side.

Mr. John Everett Reeves

April 26, 1946 - April 21, 2017