Reeves, Willis Gales

Summary

Father: Willis Reeves
Mother: Thisbe Jones

Birth: 16 Mar 1829, Orange County, North Carolina
Birth Source:

Death: -03- 5 Febr 1881, Bartlett, Shelby County, Tennessee
Death Source: Grave marker, Probate Petition

Spouse1: Mary Jane Latta, m. 8 Nov 1854, Hardeman County, Tennessee
Spouse2: Virginia L. Townsend

Narrative

Children of Willis G. Reeves and Mary Jane Latta:

1. Walter S. Reeves, b. 1856, d. 1856
2. Sallie F. Reeves, b. 29 Aug 1859, d. 31 Jan 1861
3. William Arthur Reeves, b. 1862
4. Willis Marion Reeves, b. 06 Nov 1867, d. 21 June 1868

Children of Willis G. Reeves and Virginia L. Townsend:

1. Gales Townsend Reeves, b. 16 June 1873
2. Jennie Reeves, b. 1875
3. Alga Reeves, b. March 1878
4. Warner Reeves, b. 1879

Alga and Jennie's death certificates state the mother was Virginia L. Townsend. Alga's gives her father's full name as Willis Gales Reeves.

From The Daily Memphis Avalanche:

Gen. Willis G. Reeves.
Resolutions of Respect to His Memory.
The bar of Shelby county has lost in the death of Gen. Willis G. Reeves a shining light; the community a good citizen; and his family a kind protector. Peace to his memory.
Gen. Reeves was a native of the state of North Carolina, had resided in Shelby county for about fifteen years. At the close of the late civil war he was appointed by the governor of this state attorney general of the fifteenth judicial circuit of the state of Tennessee, which position he held for a long while, discharging his duties in a manner becoming an honorable gentleman of the profession. Since the close of his official career he has been constantly engaged in the practice of his profession in the courts of Shelby county. It may truly be said that honesty and courtesy were among the crowning beauties of his life.

We miss a brother from our ranks.
The hand we clasped is still and cold;
The one we loved so well to meet.
The silent grave doth now enfold.

His work is done, his voice is hushed,
His home now holds a vacant place;
And sad and lone the hearts that once
Were cheered by his familiar face.

And he hath "laid him down to rest"
Free from earth's sorrows and its strife.
The good die not, they only go
Unto a holier, higher life.

In token of the respect in which he was held by the members of the bar, your committee request the adoption of the following resolutions:
Resolved, That in the death of our beloved brother Reeves, God has removed from our profession one honored and respected by us all, a good citizen and a noble spirit.
Resolved, That we deeply sympathize with his bereaved wife and children, and offer them our condolence and services in the hour of their affliction and trials.
Resolved, That the various courts of this county be requested to spread upon their minutes a copy of this preamble and accompanying resolutions, that the press of Shelby county be requested to publish the same, and that a copy be conveyed by the secretary to the family of the deceased.
JOHN MCBROOKS, }
BEN T. REAVES, } Com.
JOHN R. FLIPPIN, }

Mrs. Jennie L. Reeves petitioned for the estate of Willis G. Reeves, stating she was "widow of the late Willis G. Reeves a citizen of Shelby County Tennessee who departed this life on the 5th day of February 1881 in said County of Shelby, having surviving him petitioner his widow and her four children, the eldest of whom is not yet eight."

Buried Elmwood Cemetery, Shelby, Memphis County, Tennessee.

Sources

Birth:          
Marriage1:  FamilySearch - Tennessee, County Marriages, 1790-1950
Death:        Shelby County, Tennessee Loose Probate Papers, Folder #4329, Reeves, Willis G.
Burial:       Findagrave - Elmwood Cemetery, Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee

1850 Census:  District 4 Fayette County, Tennessee
1860 Census:  Harrisburg, Poinsett County, Arkansas
1870 Census:  District 6, Shelby County, Tennessee
1880 Census:  District 7, Shelby County, Tennessee

The Daily Memphis Avalanche (Memphis, Tennessee), 27 Mar 1881