Bertha Holyfield Reece

Bertha Jewel Holyfield Reece was born to Jim and Ila Holyfield on September 15th, 1936 in Surry County. Surrounded by her family, she passed away on May 2nd, 2024 at Pruitt Health of Elkin. 

Bert spent the majority of her life as a farmer and textile worker. She enjoyed reading and working on crossword puzzles, but what she enjoyed most in life was spending time with her family. Bert, better known to many as “Memaw”, always gave a listening ear, calming advice and gentle reassurance to her 5 grandchildren who loved her fiercely. In addition to her parents, Bert was predeceased by a baby brother (J.W.), a son (Dennis Reece), her husband of 64 years (Gary L. Reece), her elder sister (Doris H. Wilmoth), a younger sister (Linda H. Mecum), several nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews. 

Bert is survived by her three children James E. Reece, Lynn M. Reece (Linda) and Ann R. Patton (Paul); her 5 grandchildren Jessica R. Jonczak (John), Megan M. Buetner (Brey), Abbie N. Ostrowski (Levi), Evan M. Reece and Tyler M. Reece; great-grandchildren Bryce Buetner, Tristan Jonczak, Reece Jonczak, Teagan Buetner, Sophie Jonczak, Hannah Ostrowski, Tinlee Buetner and Blaine Buetner, as well dozens of nieces and nephews. 

A funeral service will take place Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 2:00 PM in the Moody-Davis Funeral Home Chapel. The family will receive friends 1 hour prior to the service, Saturday, May 4, 2024 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Moody-Davis Funeral Home. Burial will follow the service in the Snowhill Baptist Church Cemetery. 

The family would like to thank Pruitt Health of Elkin, especially Linda Reece, her daughter-in-law of 42 years, for the excellent, loving care she received while there these past few months. Flowers can be sent to Moody-Davis Funeral Home in Dobson; monetary donations can be made to the Pruitt Cares Foundation at pruittcares.org/general-donation.