Mary Graham Reid

Mary Graham Reid died November 16, 2015, at Parkway Village, Little Rock, Arkansas. Mary was born on June 18, 1922, in Kuling, China, the eldest of five children. Her parents and grandparents were Virginians and Southern Presbyterian missionaries to China. In 1936 Mary's family left China for a one-year furlough, but war in Asia prevented their return. Later she attended Wheaton College in Illinois and Westmont College in California. At Westmont she met John G. Reid, whom she married on October, 25, 1945, immediately after his discharge from the U.S. Navy. In the ensuing years they prepared for missionary service, thinking they would go to China. But when circumstances made that impossible, they were led to minister in Japan. Mary and John arrived in Japan on January 2, 1953. Together they served there for 35 years, first in Tokyo and then in Yokosuka, where they established two churches. On their retirement in 1987, they moved to Jackson, Tennessee, and then to Parkway Village in Little Rock, Arkansas. John and Mary were able to make several return trips "home" to Japan. Mary's heart was always with the Japanese, whom she loved and by whom she was loved in return. Mary was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, John, daughter, Mary Beth, sister, Sophie and brothers, Tucker and James. She is survived by two children: Daniel (Cynthia) Reid and LouAnne (Walter) Copeland; four grandchildren: Lindsey (Joshua) Stecker, Colin Reid and Christina (Wato) Murakawa and Emily Copeland; and one great-granddaughter, Vienna Stecker. She has one remaining sibling, Louise Russ. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., January 9, at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1 Covenant Drive, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72211. A reception/visitation will follow. Services entrusted to Arkansas Cremation. Guests may register at www.ArkansasCremation.com.