Reeves remembered as ‘dedicated,’ ‘well-respected’

Dr. Maxwell Lynn Reeves affected the lives of Daleville citizens for 30 years, serving as a city council member and the only dentist in the area.

Reeves passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 13, in Canton, Ga. He was 81 years old.

Reeves was born on Dec. 26, 1937, in Enterprise and attended Andalusia High School. He received a track scholarship to attend the University of Alabama, where he graduated with a degree in Industrial Management in 1960 before spending four years in the Air Force.

After his service in the Air Force, Reeves returned to the University of Alabama and later attended the Alabama School of Dentistry, where he graduated in 1969.

Dr. Charles Smith, a retired dentist from Ozark, knew Reeves during his time at Alabama and dental school. They both opened practices in Dale County and bonded over their profession and love of golf.

“By chance, he went to Georgianna when he graduated,” he said. “I remember him telling me at one time there was only one physician there and he was the only dentist. He practiced there for a few years, and then he had the opportunity to come to Daleville.”

According to Daleville Sun-Courier archives, Reeves worked in Georgianna to pay back the conditions of a student loan. The opportunity to work in Daleville came from then-Daleville dentist Jim Murpree, who Reeves worked for part time on weekends.

Soon after, Murpree opened a dental practice in Ozark, and Reeves opened his own practice in Daleville in 1977.

Smith described Reeves as a man who was “dedicated” to his many interests.

“He was dedicated to his profession and his patients,” he said. “He tried to give everybody the best he could. Most all of us do that; some more than others, and he definitely was the type that did.”

Reeves served the Daleville community as a dentist for 30 years, retiring in 2000 and selling his practice.

Reeves was also an active member at the First United Methodist Church of Daleville.

Frank Moore, the church’s treasurer who also knew Reeves from the Daleville Lions Club and the board for the Daleville school system, said Reeves actively attended and served the church on the board and as Treasurer until he moved to be closer to family.

Moore said he became friends with Reeves soon after his family moved to Daleville in the early 70s. In fact, Reeves was the reason he joined the Lions Club, an organization that Reeves once served as president.

“Dr. Reeves was in the Lions Club, and he invited me to a Lions Club meeting,” Moore said. “He was my sponsor.”

Moore was president of Lions Clubs International and is now currently serving as executive administrator and secretary of that same organization.

“If it wasn’t for Dr. Reeves inviting me to join the Lions Club and sponsoring me, I might not have ever been president of Lions Club International or occupying the position I am now,” he said.

Smith also described Reeves as being dedicated to the schools and the students of the city, a testament echoed by Moore and Ken Holder, former Public Affairs Officer of Fort Rucker.

Holder, who served as an assistant volunteer basketball coach for Daleville High School, said Reeves and his wife were actively involved with the kids and the schools, which is where Judy Reeves worked as a teacher and librarian.

Holder described Reeves as “wonderful” and someone who was always willing to help out.

“He was just an all around supporter of the high school,” Holder said.

Moore also said Reeves’ dedication to the schools in the community showed during his time on the school board. He said Reeves was appointed to the school board in the mid-70s. Daleville Sun-Courier archives also show that Reeves was once chairman of the board.

“Lynn was just a tremendous person,” he said. “He was a fine Christian man. He believed in the city; he believed in kids.”

He said Reeves worked well with the other board members to advanced the system and do “whatever they could” for the children and community.

Moore also said Reeves and his wife, Judy, were so invested in the children and the schools, they personally helped many of students who needed it.

“He and Judy would go out of their way to help young people who, for a variety of reasons, might be in a little troubled time,” Moore said. “They were there behind the scenes, never asking to be put forward. They helped a lot of young people.”

He said these actions stemmed from Reeves’ Christian beliefs.

“I think that was part of his Christian journey also,” he said. “They were mainstays in church every Sunday.”

Smith said Reeves also worked hard to help Daleville progress during his time on the city’s council. He served on the city council from 1976-1996.

“He was dedicated to dentistry, and he was dedicated to the City of Daleville,” Smith said. “He wanted to see Daleville progress. He was really dedicated to his city council position.”

“He was a mainstay in the community,” Moore said. “He worked very closely with his fellow city council members (and Mayor Gene Hughes).”

City council member Katheryne Horace served with Reeves on the council. She called him a “person of integrity” and echoed others on just how important he was to the community.

“I had the pleasure of serving on the Daleville City Council with Dr. Lynn Reeves,” she said. “As a council member, I found him to be a person of integrity, strong leadership, involved in the community, as well as very supportive of the school system. He often reached out privately to make a difference in student lives.

“I admired the way he was able to manage his practice in dentistry, maintain involvement with his family and give back to the community.”

Moore said the city lost a great figure even when he moved away later in his life to be closer to family because he was so heavily involved in the community.

“He had been involved in all aspects of the community,” he said. “It was a great loss when they moved.

“Anything he could do to benefit and help Daleville grow and progress, Lynn Reeves was there. He was a progressive individual.

“Even though he was out in front because of the leadership positions he held in the city, he was also one of those who was behind the scenes and did a lot of things people were never aware of unless they were close to him, and that’s the way he wanted it to be,” Moore said.

He also said Reeves had a great, though sometimes dry, sense of humor and loved people.

“Whenever I went to the dentist and he was working on my teeth, he talked the whole time,” Moore said with a laugh. “He loved people; he loved to communicate and talk with him. While he was working, he was either humming or talking to you.

“Lynn was an individual who was very open, easy to talk with and just a very, very close friend, he and Judy,” he said. “I owe Lynn Reeves a lot of gratitude for the opportunities he provided to me.”

Smith also said Daleville was “fortunate” to have had Reeves be a part of the community.

“He was well-respected as a dentist and as a friend,” he said. “I think that Daleville was just lucky to have him.”

During his time in Daleville, Reeves also served as president of AUSA and the Third District Dentist Society. He was also named Man of the Year for 1974-75 by the Daleville Pilot Club, and he served as president of the United Methodist Men at church.

During his dental career, Reeves served on the Alabama Board of Dental Examiners for five years and once served as president of the board.

Reeves was also a Melvyn Jones Fellow, the highest recognition given by the Lions Club International Foundation for an individual’s humanitarian efforts.