Arvilla W. Reid, 93 of Tuscumbia, died Monday, March 5, 2019.
Visitation will be 11 a.m. To 1 p.m. Thursday, March 7, 2019, at First Presbyterian Church, Tuscumbia with service immediately following with Rev. Randy Thompson officiating, interment will follow at Colbert Memorial Gardens.
Mrs. Reid was born at Grassy, Lauderdale County, Alabama in 1925, but was a lifelong resident of Tuscumbia. After high school, she worked briefly as a telephone operator in Sheffield, Alabama before resuming her education by attending Baroness Erlanger School of Nursing in Chattanooga, Tennessee. After passing “exhaustive chemistry classes”; as she often put it to her son, she graduated from college in 1949 and worked at then Colbert County Hospital, later becoming an evening supervisor. After her marriage to D.B. Reid of Tuscumbia in 1954, Arvilla worked in private duty nursing until becoming the plant nurse for Ford Motor Company in Muscle Shoals. In 1963, Arvilla took hiatus from her nursing career to be a homemaker, raise her son and help with D.B.’s business. She would later; briefly, return to nursing in 1974 working in Pediatrics at Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital in Florence. Later, Arvilla was co-owner of Plum Tree Fashions in Tuscumbia, with her step daughter before retiring in 1984.
Arvilla was a dedicated member of the First Presbyterian Church of Tuscumbia for over sixty-five years and loved her Church and Church Circle family. Arvilla was a long time supporter, member and one time board member, of the local American Cancer Society and loved working with Meals on Wheels for as long as she was able. In her spare time, she could be found walking or hidden amongst the flowers and plants in her yard, weeding and tending her beds for hours on in and could sprout anything with a little dirt and a Mason jar.
Arvilla was preceded in death by her parents, George H. Walker and Jennie I. Walker; eight brothers and sisters; husband of forty-nine years, D.B. Reid, grandson David Reid, Jr. and stepson Eddie Reid.
Survivors include her son, David W. Reid and wife Kimberly, beloved step daughter Tina German and husband Wayne and their family and blessed with a host of nieces and nephews, so near and dear to her heart.
Pallbearers are Mark Briggs, Phillip Springer, Steve Reid, Andy Thompson, Niles Floyd and Mark Bratton
The family would like to extend their thanks to Hospice of North Alabama, the staff of Cottage of the Shoals Rehab Center and Extended Care and the nursing staff of Helen Keller Hospital.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, Colbert County Animal Shelter or a charity of your choice.
