Born in Cleburne, Texas in May of 1951, Mrs. Glenda Ward Reitzell passed into the arms of Jesus on Friday, the 10th of January 2025. A cancer survivor since 2003, she fought relentlessly over the last several months after a reoccurrence. She was a champion, mentor, prayer partner, and comfort for women battling cancer. She was educated at Neville High School, Monroe, Louisiana, Northeast Louisiana University, and Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, Alabama. She proudly served as a military wife supporting her husband’s notable Army career that included transitioning and moving their family of four 28 times in a period of 28 years. She was immensely proud and supportive of John’s US Army service that led them to pinnacles of leadership that included appointment as Commander of two Brigades, Chief of Staff for Fort Benning, Georgia, US Army Ranger Hall of Fame Induction, and the recipient of four Purple Hearts, five Bronze Stars, and two Legions of Merit.
Among her many personal accomplishments she was most proud of being named American Family of the Year by First Lady Nancy Reagan, earning the national honor as a Woman of Empowerment, and one of very few civilians to receive the Order of Saint Barbara. She also served as elected Mayor of Fort Bragg, North Carolina and in innumerable volunteer and leadership positions related to life and activity as a military spouse. After raising her family, she used her bachelor’s degree in behavioral sciences in numerous capacities including in the legal field as a noted jury consultant. She eventually went on to co-found and serve as CEO of GraceSpace providing resources and opportunities for many of the least and most fragile of us. She was widely known in local, state, and national political circles for her activism and support of conservative candidates and issues.
She was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Welburn C. Ward and Dorothy S. Ward, and sister, Sheila Whites. Those left to mourn the void of her absence are husband, Colonel (Ret) John R. Reitzell; son, Michael Reitzell (Michelle) of West Palm Beach, Florida; daughter, Robyn O’Dell (Brian) of Canton, Georgia; and beloved grandchildren, Emma, Ava, Allie, and Matthew.
The family will receive friends on Friday, the 17th of January 2025 from 12:30PM to 2:30PM at Laughlin Service Funeral Home located at 2320 Bob Wallace Avenue, Huntsville, Alabama. The memorial service will immediately follow at 2:30 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. Glenda will be interred at the Fort Moore Georgia Military Cemetery (formerly known as Fort Benning) in a private service.
The family respectfully requests that in lieu of flowers memorials be made in Glenda’s honor to Still Serving Veterans, 626 Clinton Avenue West, Suite 200, Huntsville, AL 35801 or online at https://ssv.org/donations.