Remembering Paul Reeves

Habersham County has lost a man whose name will live on: Paul Jones Reeves. A man known by many for his kindness, generosity, faith and more, he left behind countless memories after passing away July 18 at age 93 surrounded by family and caregivers.

Born Dec. 15, 1925, in Clarkesville, he was the youngest of eight children, according to his obituary. Reeves grew up during the Great Depression.

“One of the stories that sticks with me ... he came from a relatively large family, there was one wood-burning stove in the house ... he and his siblings would hold their blankets to it so it could get warm, and they would run upstairs and wrap up in it and try to fall asleep before it got cold,” said his grandson, Brentt Cody.

Shortly after Reeves’ 17th birthday, he joined the U.S. Navy and served three years with the 5th Amphibious Corp in Saipan, Japan, during World War II. He returned home in 1946 and began his hardware business career by managing his brother’s hardware store in Highlands, North Carolina, according to his obituary. 

Soon after Reeves’ return from service in the Navy, as he was standing at the corner of Cornelia Bank downtown, he saw his future wife, Doris (Elder) Reeves, she said. They were married for 72 years.

Later in 1946, Reeves started Habersham Hardware with his brothers. The original store was located in a small 25-foot by 50-foot building and had five employees, including his new bride, Doris Reeves, who became his bookkeeper and business partner for the next 66 years.

He and Doris Reeves began their family the next year, eventually welcoming four daughters, who were all raised in Habersham County. As their family grew, the business also grew, eventually expanding to another store in Clarkesville and employing over 100 people at its peak his obit reads.

“We had a great marriage and many happy times together,” Doris Reeves said. “We worked together at Habersham Hardware for 67 years and I only remember him firing me one time. I really don’t remember the circumstances, but when he came home for lunch that day, he asked me to come back. We raised four wonderful daughters and are very proud of them as well as all of our grandchildren and great grandchildren.”

Reeves was preceded in death by his daughter, Kathryn Reeves Mathis of Gainesville, and five brothers and two sisters, according to his obituary.

“He expected a lot from all of us growing up,” said his daughter, Susie York. “If you brought home a report card and had made all A’s, but your conduct grade was ‘Unsatisfactory,’ that was what he focused on. It’s a funny thing however, we never saw one of his report cards.”

HABERSHAM HARDWARE

Kathy Harowood, a district administrator who has worked at Habersham Hardware for 39 years (33 with Paul Reeves), said, like many other people, it was his kindness that separated him from other businessmen.

“Just the kind of heart he had for people and his customers,” Harowood said. “He was as loyal to them as they were to him. Very much the same way with his employees.”

Willie Mae Crocker, a Habersham Hardware secretary who has worked there for 40 years, said she recalls Paul Reeves going to the store to open up and help customers hours before and after closing.

“Habersham Hardware was such an integral part of who he was,” said Paul Reeves’ daughter, Dianne Cody. “He was the first person there in the morning and the last to leave each night, Monday through Saturday. He cared about the people who worked for him and when the store was purchased at the end of 2012, there were a number of employees who had worked at the hardware store for over 25 years. I think that says a lot about what kind of employer he was.”

“He was a true champion when it came to being a businessman of integrity. My relationship with him was very rewarding ...,” said former Sen. John Foster.

FAITH & TRADITIONS

One tradition that the Reeves’ daughters and Brentt Cody mentioned was spending summer weekends at Lake Burton. This has been going on since York and Dianne Cody were children.

“As children, we would anxiously wait for him to get home from the hardware store on Saturday night before heading up to the lake,” York said. “As we all married and began having our own families, he continued to add on to the cabin to accommodate the growing family. We have many great memories from those weekends.”

Christmas was also a special celebration to Paul Reeves, after he and his wife would go to the store to run their statements, they’d return to the family to celebrate. 

“... He would put on a brightly colored vest he bought on a trip to Mexico with mom and play Santa, giving out the presents under the tree,” Dianne Cody said.

Although he didn’t get to see to much of Paul Reeves, Pastor Johnny Ray of Cornelia United Methodist Church (CUMC) learned that Paul Reeves’ faith was evident. Paul Reeves was a longtime member of Cornelia United Methodist Church, where he held many leadership positions.

“You could tell he really loved his pastor and tell he really loved the Lord,” Ray said. “... He supported the church even when couldn’t be there. ...”

Paul Reeves also developed a unique relationship with the Rev. Billy Burrell of WCON Radio, who preached at his funeral. Paul Reeves would call in during Burrell’s show “Sunshine Melodies,” for which they’d discuss the Bible, sacred songs and pray.

KINDNESS & WORDS OF WISDOM

Paul Reeves’ daughters said that he had many words of wisdom, but that he taught them more by example.

“He lived by the Golden Rule each and every day and always treated others with the utmost respect and kindness,” York said. “He was tenderhearted and showed great compassion for people who were having a difficult time or for those who were less fortunate.” 

“Back up here, Paul was always very, very nice,” Foster said. “He didn’t pick and choose people based on their wealth, he treated everybody fairly.”

COMMUNITY & LEGACY

A majority of people said Reeves was an integral part of what Habersham County is today.

“Everywhere you go in Habersham County, you can see the nail prints of Mr. Reeves ...,” Burrell said.

“His passing, it leaves a void of a person who made major contribution to his hometown and the cause of human kind as far as I’m concerned ...,” Foster said.

Paul Reeves served for many years on the Board of Directors for First National Bank, where he had begun his career as a janitor, eventually serving for many years as chairman of the board. When First National Bank of Gainesville purchased the local bank, he also served on its board of directors, according to his obituary.

He was a member of the Rotary Club of Habersham County, Cornelia Optimist Club and was a member of the Cornelia Masonic Lodge No. 92 F&AM for 69 years. He also served as a trustee of Piedmont College for many years. In 2015, he was inducted into the Habersham Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame.

In a speech he gave to the men’s club at CUMC about 15 years ago, Paul Reeves said, “If any one thing has been responsible for the success of Habersham Hardware, it has been God’s blessing and the really good people who have helped me throughout the years.”

For more information, see his obituary in the July 24 Midweek edition of The Northeast Georgian.