Blanche Battle Reed, loving wife of the late Lester William Reed Jr. and cherished mother of Lester William Reed III (Pam), Lavin Reed Rowe and Susan Reed Cercone (Joe). She is also survived by brother, Thomas Massengale Battle (Agnes), grandchildren, Ashley Reed Thompson (Mark) and Jennifer Reed Schick (John), as well as seven great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Rev. William Raines Battle and Inez Massengale Battle; brothers, W.R. “Bill” Battle Jr., U.S. Congressman Laurie Battle, Dr. Jean Battle, David Battle; sisters, Martha Davies, Mary Virginia Mudd, and son-in-law, Rev. Arthur Rowe.
Blanche was born in Birmingham, but lived in various north Alabama towns as Rev. Battle was appointed by the UMC North Alabama Conference. She graduated from Deshler High School and attended Birmingham-Southern College and Huntington College. She lived most of her adult life in Birmingham. In 2002 she moved to Newnan, Georgia, but returned to Florence in 2012. Blanche was a devoted wife, mother and homemaker.
The family suggests memorials to Trinity UMC, 1400 Oxmoor Road, Homewood, AL 35209, the Methodist Children’s Home, 1712 Broad Street, Selma, AL 36701, or the Alabama School for the Deaf, 205 East South Street, Talladega, AL 35160.
The family will receive friends Tuesday, July 8, from 10 to 11 a.m., followed by a chapel service at 11 a.m. at Elmwood Chapel.
